Eagles Prospects Looking a Little Brighter
The Eagles saved their season with Sunday’s 25-22 win over the New York Giants. It also ended any hope for the 3-8 Giants, who had won two in a row but squandered a 19-3 lead against the Birds.
Now the Eagles (5-6) trail the Dallas Cowboys and Washington Redskins by a game in the NFC East. The Eagles are also just one game out of a wildcard spot, but the best option to the playoffs appears to win the NFC East.
As we have been writing all season, winning the division is a very attainable goal.
The Eagles next two games are against the Redskins and Dallas. (With Dallas having a win against the Eagles, that second matchup in Arlington, Texas, will be huge since a Cowboys win would give the Cowboys a major tiebreaker edge over the Eagles).
Then again, the Eagles have to take care of business against an injury-depleted Redskins team, that is now going with journeyman Colt McCoy at quarterback in place of Alex Smith, who suffered a season-ending broken leg during a Nov. 18 loss to the Houston Texans.
McCoy’s first start came in the Redskins 31-23 loss at Dallas on Thanksgiving in a game that wasn’t as close as the final score indicated. The Skins scored the game’s final 10 points, including a field goal with 1:13 left that wrapped up the scoring.
McCoy completed 24 of 38 for 268 yards, two touchdowns, but three interceptions. He is a mobile quarterback who also gained 28 yards on five carries.
McCoy, who has sacked three times, will likely have to use his mobility against the Eagles due to his injury-depleted offensive line.
Plus the top running back threat is 33-year-old Adrian Peterson, a future Hall of Famer, but one whose better days are behind him.
So the Eagles should take care of business Monday against the Skins, especially if they continue to use the running game more.
Against the Giants, the Eagles ran the ball 29 times for 127 yards (4.4 avg.) and one TD. It is also becoming apparent that Josh Adams is now the Eagles go-to back.
A local product from Central Bucks South, Adams was a free agent signee from Notre Dame. Some were surprised that he wasn’t drafted and now we can see why.
At 6-foot-2 and 225-pounds, he has the power to run between the tackles, but also the burst to get outside. Against the Giants he rushed for 84 yards and a TD on 22 carries. The 3.8 yards per carry isn’t overly impressive, but Adams kept wearing down the Giants defense.
In his last four games he has rushed for 245 yards and two TDs on 45 attempts for a 5.4 average. Entering the Giants game, he has 34 carries, so the 22 he added against New York was significant.
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So things are looking up for the Eagles, who control their own destiny and their season will likely be defined by these next two games.
© SouthJersey.com 2018. All rights reserved. This article or parts thereof may not be reprinted or reproduced by any other party without the express written consent of SouthJersey.com. For more information, please call 856-797-9910.
For more Local Sports features, visit our South Jersey Sports page.
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So things are looking up for the Eagles, who control their own destiny and their season will likely be defined by these next two games.
© SouthJersey.com 2018. All rights reserved. This article or parts thereof may not be reprinted or reproduced by any other party without the express written consent of SouthJersey.com. For more information, please call 856-797-9910.
For more Local Sports features, visit our South Jersey Sports page.
Author: Marc Narducci
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