The Eagles couldn’t match points with the Bears yesterday at Soldier Field.  Michael Vick was solid again as he completed 29 of 44 passes for 333 yards with 2 TD passes and 1 INT.  He also carried the ball 9 times for 44 yards (4.9 ypc) yesterday.  Lesean McCoy pitched in with 10 carries for 53 yards (5.3 ypc) and he also caught 8 passes for 67 yards (8.4 avg) in this game.  WR Jason Avant (8 rec, 83 yards), TE Brent Celek (3 rec, 50 yards, TD) and WR Jeremy Maclin (4 rec, 47 yards, TD) led the way through the air in this game for the Eagles.  The Eagles finished up with 105 yards rushing on 22 carries (4.8 ypc) and they also completed 29 of 44 passes for 293 yards.

The defense couldn’t match the offense’s output yesterday as they had no answer for the Bears’ offense.  LB Stewart Bradley (5 tackles), LB Ernie Sims (5 tackles, 1 tackle for a loss), CB Trevard Lindley (5 tackles) and DE Trent Cole (5 tackles, 2 sacks, 3 tackles for a loss and 2 QB hits) led the way for the Eagles on D.  The Bears finished up with 131 yards rushing on 28 carries (4.7 ypc) and they also completed 14 of 21 passes for 218 yards.  The Eagles are now 7-5 on the season as they are tied once again with the Giants atop of the NFC East.

Both of these teams are hot but they go about things in different ways.  The Eagles have won three games in a row by a combined score of 112-69.  The Eagles have been winning with offense.  The Bears have also won three games in a row by a combined 65-32 as they are winning with defense.  Something has to give in this game.  Here is  a look at the matchups in this game:

When the Eagles have the ball:  The Bears are going to be coming after Michael Vick with Julius Peppers.  The Bears will likely try to contain Vick in the pocket where he’s just not as good.  The Eagles will need to mix things up to be effective against the Bears’ D which is pretty stout.  Lesean McCoy and Michael Vick are going to find rushing yards hard to get against a Bears’ D that is allowing only 78.0 yards rushing per game and 3.5 yards per carry.  The Eagles hope that they give Vick enough time to try to go down the field to Desean Jackson and Jeremy Maclin against a Bears’ D that is allowing 212.4 yards passing per game.  The Bears have only given up 6 TD passes while picking off 15 of them this year.

When the Bears have the ball:  The Bears have been mixing things up well on offense the last few weeks as they have been sticking with the running game even if it’s not working to keep the opposing D honest.  They will likely do that again with Matt Forte and Chester Taylor running the ball against a Eagles’ D that is allowing only 99.7 yards rushing per game but 4.0 yards per carry.  The Bears’ O-Line has allowed 37 sacks this year and the Eagles’ love to blitz as they already have 26 sacks.  The Eagles also have 19 interceptions but CB Asante Samuel won’t be playing in this game due to injury and he has 7 INTs.  Jay Cutler will have to be careful with the ball but the Eagles are allowing 213.6 yards passing so there are plays to be made in the air.

PREDICTION:  BEARS 20, EAGLES 17

The Eagles were behind 17-16 with 13:35 left in this game and that’s when they came alive.  Michael Vick was so-so in this game as he completed 24 of 38 passes for 258 yards with 0 TD passes and 0 INTs.  He also carried the ball 11 times for 34 yards (3.1 ypc) with a TD run but he also lost a fumble.  Lesean McCoy was awesome late in this game as he finished up with 14 carries for 111 yards (7.9 ypc) with a TD run and he also caught 5 passes for 29 yards (5.8 avg).  WRs Jeremy Maclin (9 rec, 120 yards) and Desean Jackson (5 rec, 50 yards) led the way in the passing game for the Giants last Sunday Night.  The Eagles finished up with 148 yards rushing on 26 carries (5.7 ypc) and they also completed 24 of 38 passes for 244 yards.

Defensively the Eagles were outstanding in this game.  CB Dimitri Patterson (7 tackles) and LB Stewart Bradley (5 tackles, 3 passes defensed and 1 interception) led the way for the Eagles on D.  But it was CB Asante Samuel who was a big time difference maker in this game.  The Giants rushed for 61 yards on 19 carries (3.2 ypc) and they also completed 20 of 33 passes for 147 yards.  The Eagles are now 7-3 on the season.

The Eagles have won two games in a row but they are only 2-2 at home this year.  The Giants have won three games in a row on the road in which they have outscored their opponents 116-52!  So this isn’t going to be easy for the Eagles.  Here’s a look at the matchups in this game:

When the Eagles have the ball:  The Eagles need to mix things up in this game because the Giants’ D is pretty darn good.  Lesean McCoy will likely be busy against a Giants’ D that is allowing only 83.3 yards rushing and 3.5 yards per carry.  The Eagles must stay balanced or the Giants are going to bring the house after Michael Vick.  Vick will need to buy time with his feet in the pocket and it’s not going to be easy against a Giants’ D that already has 25 sacks this year.  The Giants also have a solid pass defense as they are only allowing 186.9 yards passing per game.  The Eagles might not have time to throw deep so Desean Jackson, Jeremy Maclin and Jason Avant might have to take some hits this week.

When the Giants have the ball:  The Giants might just tighten up the chinstraps and give the ball to Ahmad Bradshaw and Brandon Jacobs in an attempt to control the clock which is something they’re really good at.  The Eagles’ front seven had better be up for that challenge.  For all the hype the Eagles receivers get, Hakeem Nicks has more TDs than any of them (9) so he’s the guy the Eagles need to shut down. 

PREDICTION:  GIANTS 30, EAGLES 23

52-year old head coach Andy Reid is looking like a genius for dealing Donovan McNabb to the Redskins.  He has been getting amazing play from Michael Vick this year and let’s face it…..Reid is a offensive minded coach.  The Eagles are averaging 400.2 yards per game and 28.6 points per game so far this year and that is the main reason why they are 6-3 and tied with the Giants at the top of the NFC East.  The Eagles are now 114-70-1 (62%) in  Reid’s 12 years during the regular season.

The Eagles totally destroyed the Redskins last night in Washington.  The Eagles scored 28 unanswered points in the 4th quarter and they led this game 45-14 at the half!  What an amazing performance by Michael Vick.  He completed 20 of 28 passes for 333 yards with 4 TD passes and 0 INTs.  He also carried the ball 8 times for 80 yards (10.0 ypc) with 2 TD runs last night!  Jerome Harrison led the way on the ground for the Eagles in this game with 109 yards rushing on 11 carries (9.9 ypc) with a TD run.  He also caught 1 pass for 15 yards last night.  Lesean McCoy pitched in with 43 yards rushing on 11 carries (3.9 ypc) and he also added 5 grabs for 51 yards (10.2 avg) with a TD grab.  WRs Desean Jackson (2 rec, 98 yards, TD), Jeremy Maclin (4 rec, 79 yards, TD) and Jason Avant (5 rec, 76 yards, TD) led the way in the passing game last night as Vick was spreading the wealth around.  The Eagles finished up with 260 yards rushing on 38 carries (6.8 ypc) and they also completed 20 of 28 passes for 332 yards as they had possession of the ball for 38:11 last night.

The defense gave up a lot of yards in garbage time but it didn’t matter.  LB Stewart Bradley (7 tackles, 1 tackle for a loss and 1 pass defensed), CB Dimtri Patterson (5 tackles, 2 passes defensed and 2 INTs (one was returned 40 yards for a TD) and safety Kurt Coleman (5 tackles, 1 pass defensed and 1 interception) led the way for the D last night.  The Redskins finished up with 105 yards rushing on 18 carries (5.8 ypc) and they also completed 17 of 31 passes for 270 yards last night.  The Eagles are now tied atop of the AFC East with the Giants at 6-3.

The Eagles have won 3 of their last 4 games and they are looking to avenge a earlier loss 17-12 to the Redskins in Philly.  The Redskins are coming of a bye after losing 37-25 to the Lions in Detroit the week before.  Here is a look at the matchups in Round #2 of the McNabb Bowl:

When the Eagles have the ball:  The Eagles are healthy now on offense and they are clicking on all cylinders.  Michael Vick will be aiming at a Redskins’ secondary that is giving up 280.9 yards passing per game this year.  Desean Jackson, Jeremy Maclin, Lesean McCoy and Brent Celek will likely be very heavily involved in the passing game for the Eagles this weekend.  The Eagles won’t forget to run the ball either as Lesean McCoy and Michael Vick will be targeting a Redskins’ D that is allowing 112.4 yards rushing per game and 4.6 yards per carry.

When the Redskins have the ball:  When Donovan McNabb is a little down that’s when he’s the most dangerous and I think that is the case right now.  Still, the Eagles played well against him the first time around so I don’t see them changing the defense too much from the first time these two teams played.  Ryan Torain and maybe Clinton Portis will try to give the Redskins a balanced attack.

PREDICTION:  EAGLES 27, REDSKINS 17

The Eagles pushed the Colts around yesterday as the refs were the only thing keeping the Colts in this game.  Michael Vick was outstanding in this game for the Eagles as he completed 17 of 29 passes for 218 yards with 1 TD pass and 0 INTs.  He also carried the ball 10 times for 74 yards (7.4 ypc) with 1 TD run.  Lesean McCoy led the way on the ground for the Eagles in this game with 16 carries for 95 yards (5.9 ypc).  He also caught 3 passes for 8 yards (2.7 avg) in this game.  Desean Jackson was incredible in this game with 7 grabs for 109 yards (15.6 avg) with 1 TD grab.  He also carried the ball 3 times for 20 yards (6.7 ypc) yesterday.  Jeremy Maclin pitched in with 4 grabs for 48 yards (12.0 avg).  The Eagles finished up with 195 yards rushing on 31 carries (6.3 ypc) and they also completed 17 of 29 passes for 207 yards.

LB Stewart Bradley (8 tackles, 2 passes defensed), safety Quintin Mikell (8 tackles, 1 pass defensed) and LB Ernie Sims (6 tackles, 1 sack, 2 tackles for a loss and 1 pass defensed) led the way for the Eagles’ D in this game.  CB Asante Samuel continues to own Peyton Manning as he picked him off two more times yesterday.  The Colts finished up with 62 yards rushing on 19 carries (3.3 ypc) and they also completed 31 of 52 passes for 276 yards.  The Eagles are now 5-3 on the year.

The Eagles had a bye week to get healthy and ready for the Colts.  The Colts have won three games in a row but they have not played their best football on the road.  Here is a look at the matchups in this game:

When the Eagles have the ball:  I see the Eagles playing a lot of Sandlot type of football in this game.  The Eagles will send receivers deep and Vick will either take a shot to Jeremy Maclin or Desean Jackson or he will take off running.  The Colts are allowing 133.1 yards rushing per game and 4.9 yards per carry so Lesean McCoy and Michael Vick will likely team up for a lot of yards in this game.  Jeremy Maclin and Desean Jackson will handle the deep stuff with Brent Celek and Jason Avant doing the dirty work.

When the Colts have the ball:  The Eagles are going to blitz Peyton Manning which most teams don’t do.  If they can get to him they can rattle him just like the Texans did when they beat the Colts in the season opener.  If they don’t get to Manning though it could turn out to be a long day with him targeting Reggie Wayne, Pierre Garcon and Jacob Tamme.  Donald Brown is going to start for the Colts at RB and he doesn’t scare the Eagles too much.

PREDICTION:  EAGLES 34, COLTS 27