Tomorrow's Pick From Philadelphia Enquirer...

[adallastiger]

Sounds about right, just maybe with a little less scoring...

Your thoughts?

Eagles vs. Panthers: The pick

I THINK there's a good chance the Eagles will be a better team than the Panthers by the end of the season.

The game, however, seems to be scheduled for this week.

I was leaning hard toward the Panthers even before yesterday's Shawn Andrews/Jon Runyan follies. Yesterday pretty much clinched it for me. I didn't get a strong "taking this in stride" vibe from anybody.

The middle of the defense might be a bigger problem right now than the offensive line.

"We certainly understand where teams want to attack us," new defensive coordinator Sean McDermott said yesterday. We'll see whether understanding it and being able to stop it are the same thing. In the preseason, you could screen the Eagles or throw underneath on them all night long. Hard to imagine the strong Carolina o-line letting the Birds' pass rush really tee off on Jake Delhomme.

Can't pretend to know much about the Panthers, other than that they were 12-4 last season and then bombed spectacularly in the playoffs. That's part of what makes openers hard - nobody foresaw a 38-3, season-opening romp for the Eagles last year, because nobody knew exactly how awful the Rams were going to be.

Nationally, I see a lot of people picking the Eagles to win. Am I just too close to these day-to-day struggles, or are they too far away?

Prediction: Panthers 33, Eagles 31

[Cpanthers5851]

id like that outcome to happen. but this game has me very nervous.

[Johnny Rockets]

I think that is how most Philly fans feel.....as much as I want to win this for my own personal reasons (living in the Charlotte area and being am Eagles fan) I think we are fighting an uphill battle right now.

[rayzor]

yeah, i read that earlier.

i don't think that score is too far off from where it will be. i was thinking 31-28 but i could see this as wel.

both teams have really good offenses. both teams have suspect defenses.

high score can happen.

[Cpanthers5851]

both teams have really good offenses. both teams have suspect defenses.

aaaannnddddd thats why this game makes me nervous.

[SorthNarolina]

a high scoring game doesn't scare me because ours is based off the run and theirs is based off the pass, unless our defense is truly horrible we should be able to control the ball better and outlast them

[rippadonn]

I think after pounding and pounding our run game will finally bust a couple D deflating 30+yrd runs.

31-21 Panthers

[firstdayfan]

yeah, i read that earlier.

i don't think that score is too far off from where it will be. i was thinking 31-28 but i could see this as wel.

both teams have really good offenses. both teams have suspect defenses.

high score can happen.

I never quite no what to expect from these types of games. Both teams are really evenly matched with both sides coming off not so spectacular preseasons. Should be fun but I still have that feeling that the Eagles will be able to move the ball towards the end of the game with the short quick passes. We lose by a last minute TD or field goal.

[joemac]

I think that prediction makes some really good points. Their offensive line is going to be absolutely putrid, as will the middle of their defense. The only thing missing from our defense is Kemo....while he is sorely missed, I think that we will be able to manage without him. Philly lost their very good MLB. Think about how bad our defense would be if Beason was out for the season.

I think that the lack of them having a defensive presence, and our offensive line and running backs being who they are, that we are not going to have a lot of trouble scoring on them. Then on our defense, we should be able to create havoc for McNabb with Peppers, Brayton, Brown and Johnson.

[ItsNotGonnaBeAlright]

I think that prediction makes some really good points. Their offensive line is going to be absolutely putrid, as will the middle of their defense. The only thing missing from our defense is Kemo....while he is sorely missed, I think that we will be able to manage without him. Philly lost their very good MLB. Think about how bad our defense would be if Beason was out for the season.

I think that the lack of them having a defensive presence, and our offensive line and running backs being who they are, that we are not going to have a lot of trouble scoring on them. Then on our defense, we should be able to create havoc for McNabb with Peppers, Brayton, Brown and Johnson.

Keep that poo to yo'self. I don't need more nightmares, dammit!

[cheynehowell]

But when does our D really ever capitalize on a weak O Line??? Honestly If we only rush four on 3rd and long tomorrow we deserve the consequences

[Proudiddy]

Wow. I'd like to say that they're grossly mistaken about both teams offensive capabilities, but as the article mentions, it's gonna be a shootout if the middle of both defenses are exposed.

I think more highly of Bunkley, Laws, and Patterson than Lewis and Hayden right now. I really want to see what Leonard can do and hope he supplants Hayden as the starter. We'll see though. The difference maker though maybe Beason > than whatver they lineup at MLB after Bradley's injury.

Man I hope we pound the rock on them. My main concern is our tackling though, if we do it effectively, we'll win. If not, FIRE MEEKS lol.