The Eagles have released QB Jeff Garcia to make room on the roster for Jeremiah Trotter.  Garcia only played in 1 game for the Eagles this season and he carried the ball 3 times for -2 yards (-0.7 ypc).  Garcia’s career in Philly appears to be over.  He played in 9 games for the Eagles in his career and he completed 116 of 188 passes (61.7%) for 1,309 yards with 10 TD passes and 2 interceptions (95.8 QB Rating).  He also carried the ball 28 times for 85 yards (3.0 ypc) for the Eagles.  The Eagles must feel that Donovan McNabb is getting close to returning and they feel confident that Kevin Kolb and Michael Vick can back him up.

The Eagles have signed 32-year old linebacker Jeremiah Trotter.  Trotter last played in the NFL in 2007 with the Buccaneers.  Trotter has played in 134 games in his NFL career in which he has made 876 tackles, has defensed 50 passes, 12 1/2 sacks, forced 8 fumbles and he has picked off 9 passes (2 returned for a TD).  Trotter played 7 years for the Eagles earlier in his career and he’s glad to be coming back to the City of Brotherly Love.  This was a good move for the Eagles.

The Eagles dominated this game from start to finish.  A lot of the younger players on offense really stepped up for the Eagles in this win.  It all starts with the QB and Kevin Kolb was sharp completing 24 of 34 passes for 327 yards with 2 TD passes and 0 INTs. Kolb also had a 1-yard TD run in this game.  Lesean McCoy stepped in for a injured Brian Westbrook and he carried the ball 20 times for 84 yards (4.2 ypc) with a TD and he also caught 1 pass for 9 yards.  WR Desean Jackson had another huge game against the Chiefs with 6 receptions for 149 yards (24.8 avg) with a TD grab.  TE Brent Celek was also really busy in this game with 8 receptions for 104 yards (13.0 avg) with a TD grab.  The Eagles finished up with 420 total yards on offense (93 rushing, 327 passing) in this game.

The Eagles’ defense was electric in this game.  LB Omar Gaither led the way with 9 tackles, a sack and a tackle for a loss.  DE Trent Cole also had a good game with 8 tackles, 1/2 a sack and a tackle for a loss.  The Chiefs could only muster 196 total yards on offense in this game (99 rushing, 97 passing).  The Eagles are now 2-1 on the season.

The Chiefs couldn’t possibly play the Eagles at a better time with Donovan McNabb out of action.  Matt Cassel looked rusty in his first start for the Chiefs last week but with another week under his belt he should be better.  He will have to be careful with the football however as the Eagles already have six interceptions this season.  The Eagles also like to blitz a lot as they already have 7 sacks this season so Cassel might have to unload the ball quickly.  The Eagles are allowing 109.5 yards rushing per game so maybe this is the week that Larry Johnson gets going (98 yards rushing, 2.8 ypc).  If Johnson can rush for over 100 yards in this game the Chiefs have a chance to pull a huge upset on the road.

The Eagles have always been a pass first team but they would be smart to run the ball against the Chiefs this week.  The Chiefs have allowed 132.5 yards rushing per game (4.0 ypc) this season.  Brian Westbrook is a little gimpy right now but Lesean McCoy and Leonard Weaver could help him out in this game.  The Chiefs are not that bad of a pass defensive team (201.0 yards, 49.3% completions) and Kevin Kolb loves throwing the ball to the other team.  Michael Vick is elgible to play in this game and he will likely run the ball a few times.  But if the Eagles get behind like they did last week Jeff Garcia will be the one coming off the bench.

PREDICTION:  EAGLES 20, CHIEFS 17

The Eagles have signed 24-year old TE Martin Rucker to the practice squad.  He played in 5 games (1 start) for the Browns last season and he caught 2 passes for 17 yards (8.5 avg).  Despite not showing much with the Browns he was a good receiver in college at Missouri so maybe he can help the Eagles down the road.

The Philadelphia Eagles quarterback Donovan McNabb has not practiced all week and most likely will not play this week against the Kansas City Chiefs.  Michael Vick on the other hand will be playing, as his two game suspension is over.  Vick will not be the starting quarterback though, as Kevin Kolb will be starting again in McNabb’s spot.

Kolb looked good in some plays and did throw for 391 yards, but it was on 51 attempts as the Eagles were playing catch-up most of the game in their week two loss 48-22 to the New Orleans Saints.  Kolb threw two touchdowns, but he also gave it away three times with three picks.  Kolb is inconsistent and not really ready to be a starting quarterback in the NFL.  Look for Vick to get about 15-20 plays, with most coming at the quarterback spot in the wildcat formation or the shotgun.

I know Vick hasn’t played in an NFL game in two years but if he is physically ready to go I don’t see why the Eagles are not putting him at quarterback.  He still has those play-maker’s legs and strong left arm and I don’t see him making that many more mental mistakes than Kolb would.  So, I think Vick should definitely be the starting quarterback this week, but Andy Reid and the Eagles obviously see something in Kevin Kolb that I don’t.

I even think Jeff Garcia should be staring over Kolb, as I really don’t think Kolb has what it takes to be a consistent starting quarterback in this league. Kolb is not going to win you very many games and the Eagles are lucky they are playing the 0-2 Chiefs this week.  If Kolb struggles early and Vick is effective in the few opportunities he is given, I could see Vick getting more and more snaps late in the game…at least that is what I would like to see.

The Philadelphia Eagles had to know this would be a tough game for them to win.  But they were only down 17-13 at the half before the roof caved in.  Kevin Kolb completed 31 of 51 passes in this game for 391 yards with 2 TD passes and 3 interceptions (one was a pick six by Darren Sharper of the Saints….it went for 97 yards!).  Brian Westbrook led the way in the running game with 13 carries for 52 yards (4.0 ypc) before leaving the game with a injury.  DeSean Jackson caught 4 passes for 101 yards (25.3 avg) with a TD.  He also carried the ball 3 times for 15 yards (5.0 ypc) in the game yesterday.  TE Brent Celek (8 rec, 104 yards) and WR Jason Avant (7 rec, 79 yards, TD) also pitched in for the Eagles in the passing game.  The Eagles finished up with 463 total yards on offense (85 rushing, 378 passing) but it wasn’t nearly enough to deal with the Saints in this game.

Safety Quintin Mikell (11 tackles) and LB Akeem Jordan (9 tackles, interception) led the way for the Eagles’ D in this game.  The Saints finished up with 421 total yards in this game (133 rushing, 288 passing) and that won’t cut it.  The Eagles fell to 1-1 on the season with this loss.

The Philadelphia Eagles now have three former Pro Bowl quarterbacks, but none of them are starting Sunday.  With Donovan McNabb out with a cracked rib, Michael Vick still serving his two game suspension, and newly acquired Jeff Garcia not ready to go yet, the Eagles will be relying on quarterback Kevin Kolb to lead the offense.  The Eagles still haven’t entirely ruled out McNabb playing, but highly doubt he will.

The Saints offense looked amazing last week, but they were playing the Detroit Lions.  Still, the Eagles defense has themselves quite a challenge against Drew Brees and his slew of receivers.  Their Saints running game looked great last week as well, so its going to be a tough match-up for the Eagles defense.

With McNabb most likely out and the inexperience Kevin Kolb running things, I think the Eagles are going to have a tough time coming out with win in this game.  The Saints have so many offensive weapons, so the Eagles are going to need some production from their offense.  I just don’t see them getting enough out of Kolb and I think the Saints are going to win this one by at least a touchdown.

FINAL SCORE PREDICTION:  Saints 28, Eagles 20

DeSean Jackson is off to a hot start for the Eagles again this season.  He only caught 2 passes for 9 yards (4.5 avg) and he carried the ball 2 times for 33 yards (16.5 ypc).  But where Jackson was electric was when he was returning punts.  He returned two punts for 106 yards (53.0 avg) including a 85-yard return for a TD.   Look for Jackson to become even more dangerous when they get him back involved in the passing game.

The Eagles have released 27-year old WR Hank Baskett to make room on the roster for Jeff Garcia.  Baskett caught 1 pass for 6 yards in the Eagles’ season opener against the Panthers.  He played in 48 games for the Eagles in his career and he caught 72 passes for 1,052 yards (14.6 avg) with 6 TD grabs.  Baskett shouldn’t have any problem finding a new job soon.