The Eagles will be without #3 CB Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie for the next 2-4 weeks due to a high ankle sprain.  He has played in 9 games for the Eagles so far this year and he has 20 tackles, 1 sack, 5 passes defensed and 1 tackle for a loss.  This is too bad for Rodgers-Cromartie as he has been upset about his P.T. so far this year.  It’s hard to move up the depth chart when you can’t run.

The Eagles couldn’t get much going against the Cardinals offensively yesterday and it cost them this game.  Michael Vick was awful as he completed 16 of 34 passes for 128 yards with 0 TD passes and 2 INTs.  He also carried the ball 8 times for 79 yards (9.9 ypc) in this game.  Lesean McCoy pitched in with 81 yards rushing on 14 carries (5.8 ypc) with 1 TD run and he also caught 3 passes for 12 yards.  TE Brent Celek (4 rec, 53 yards) and WR Steve Smith (5 rec, 47 yards) led the way in the passing game for the Eagles in this game.  The Eagles finished up with 166 yards rushing on 24 carries (6.9 ypc) and they also completed 16 of 34 passes (47.1%) for 123 yards as they only had possession of the ball for 28:18.

The defense was pretty bad against the pass for the Eagles in this game.  Safeties Kurt Coleman (10 tackles, 1 tackle for a loss) and Jaiquawn Jarrett (7 tackles) led the way for the Eagles on D in this game.  LB Jamar Chaney also had a solid game with 6 tackles, 2 tackles for a loss, 1 sack, 1 pass defensed and 1 QB hit.  CBs Asante Samuel (interception that he returned 20 yards for a TD) and Nnamdi Asomugha (interception) pitched in with some big plays for the Eagles’ D yesterday.  The Cardinals finished up with 88 yards rushing on 29 carries (3.0 ypc) and they also completed 21 of 40 passes (52.5%) for 282 yards in this game.  The Eagles have sunk to 3-6 on the year.

The Philadelphia Eagles will look to rebound after losing 30-24 to the Bears last Monday Night in Philly.  The Arizona Cardinals finally broke a six game losing streak last weekend against the Rams, 19-13 in O.T.  Here is a look at the matchups in this game:

When the Eagles have the ball:  The Eagles are going to try to get the running game going early this Sunday to set up the passing game.  Lesean McCoy and Michael Vick will likely find more running room against the Cardinals than they did against the Bears last weekend, but the Cards only only giving up 3.9 yards per carry so it won’t be easy.  Michael Vick will also likely have more time to throw the ball, so Desean Jackson and Jeremy Maclin could be in line for big games today.  TE Brent Celek, WR Jason Avant and RB Lesean McCoy are also likely to get targeted a bit in the passing game this weekend, making the passing game even more deadly than usual.

When the Cardinals have the ball:  The Cardinals might try to give the Eagles a heavy dose of Beanie Wells on the ground in this game.  The Eagles will likely try to put a lot of pressure on QB John Skelton, who is making only his second start of the season.  The Eagles will focus on stopping WR Larry Fitzgerald, forcing Skelton to beat them throwing the ball to guys like Early Doucet, Andre Roberts and his TEs.

PREDICTION:  EAGLES 34, CARDINALS 10

The Eagles shouldn’t even have a thought cross their minds about firing 53-year old head coach Andy Reid.  Yes, the Eagles spent the most money in free agency after the lockout was lifted.  I have a feeling that the Eagles jumped the gun in handing out a HUGE contract to Michael Vick before the season started, as he has looked more like the player he was in Atlanta than his 2010 Eagles’ version.  The offensive numbers still are outstanding this year as the Eagles are averaging 434.4 yards per game which is 3rd in the NFL, behind only the Saints and Patriots.  The Eagles still have issues on defense and they are turning the ball over too much offensively.  If Reid and his coaching staff don’t fix things soon, the Eagles will be watching the playoffs on T.V.  At the same time though, it’s way too early to consider getting rid of Andy Reid.  Sure, the Eagles are only 3-5 so far this year, but they are 121-78-1 (60.8%) during the regular season in career with the team.

The Philadelphia Eagles choked last night as the Bears scored the last 13 points of the game to beat them.  Michael Vick completed 21 of 38 passes for 213 yards with 0 TD passes and 1 INT.  He also carried the ball 5 times for 34 yards (6.8 ypc) last night.  Lesean McCoy had a solid game with 16 carries for 71 yards (4.4 ypc) with 1 TD run and he also caught 5 passes for 46 yards (9.2 avg) last night.  Ronnie Brown only got one carry in this game and he made it count as he scored on a 4-yard TD run.  WR Jeremy Maclin (4 rec, 63 yards) and TE Brent Celek (7 rec, 60 yards) led the way for the Eagles in the passing game last night.  The Eagles rushed for 119 yards on 23 carries (5.2 ypc) and they also completed 21 of 39 passes (53.8%) for 211 yards as they only had possession of the ball for 26:33.

The defense was awful for the Eagles last night.  Safety Kurt Coleman (12 tackles) and LB Jamar Chaney (10 tackles) led the way for the Eagles’ D in this game.  LB Brian Rolle (6 tackles, 1 fumble recovery which he returned 22 yards for a TD) and DT Mike Patterson (2 tackles, 1 tackle for a loss and 1 fumble recovery) also had solid games for the Eagles last night.  The Bears finished up with 164 yards rushing on 34 carries (4.8 ypc) and they also completed 18 of 32 passes (56.3%) for 208 yards in this game.  The Eagles are now 3-5 on the season after last night’s tough loss.

The Eagles have won two games in a row as they are starting to look like the dynamo that many “experts” expected them to be in 2011.  The Bears have also won two games in a row and they are coming off their bye week.  Here is a look at the matchups in this game:

When the Eagles have the ball:  The Eagles don’t change for anyone.  They are going to run the ball and throw deep.  The Bears are giving up 5.2 yards per carry so far this year, so Lesean McCoy and Michael Vick should have outstanding games running the ball.  The Eagles O-Line will need to keep DE Julius Peppers out of the backfield and that is easier said than done.  The Bears are also giving up 271.9 yards passing per game, so Vick will likely be taking a lot of shots deep to Jeremy Maclin and Desean Jackson.  Vick will also keep Jason Avant, Lesean McCoy and Brent Celek busy in the passing game this Monday Night.

When the Bears have the ball:  The Eagles have to focus on stopping Matt Forte in this game.  Forte has 672 yards rushing (5.4 ypc) and 419 yards receiving (11.0 avg) so far this year as he has been the focal point of the Bears’ offense.  The Eagles will be getting after Jay Cutler, who tends to throw the ball to the wrong team after he gets whacked good a couple of times in the first half.  He does like using all of his WRs, so the Eagles won’t likely have the luxury of double teaming anyone in this game.

PREDICTION:  EAGLES 30, BEARS 21

Rookie RB Dion Lewis has been returning most of the kickoffs for the Eagles so far this year.  He has returned 14 kickoffs for 296 yards (21.1 avg) so far this year.  RB Ronnie Brown (1 return for 25 yards) and WR Riley Cooper (1 return for 16 yards) have also pitched in on kickoff returns for the Eagles so far this year.  WRs Desean Jackson (8 punt returns for 42 yards, 5.3 avg) and Jeremy Maclin (2 punt returns for 12 yards, 6.0 avg) have not been punted to much by opposing teams and that’s smart on their part as Jackson is a gamebreaker on punt returns.  The Eagles have returned 16 kickoffs for 337 yards (21.1 avg) and 10 punts for 54 yards (5.4 avg) so far this year, and that’s nowhere near good enough.

The Eagles dominated the Cowboys yesterday, only letting them score a mercy TD in the fourth quarter.  Michael Vick was outstanding as he completed 21 of 28 passes for 279 yards with 2 TD passes and 0 INTs.  He also carried the ball 7 times for 50 yards (7.1 ypc) for the Eagles in this game.  Lesean McCoy led the way on the ground in this game with 185 yards on 30 carries (6.2 ypc) with 2 TD grabs.  McCoy also caught 2 passes for 15 yards (7.5 avg) in this game.  TE Brent Celek (7 rec, 94 yards, TD), WR Jason Avant (5 rec, 74 yards) and WR Jeremy Maclin (3 rec, 54 yards, TD) led the way in the passing game for the Eagles last night.  The Eagles finished up with 38 carries for 239 yards (6.3 ypc) and they also completed 21 of 28 passes (75%) for 256 yards as they had possession of the ball for 42:09.

The defense was outstanding for the Eagles last night.  LB Jamar Chaney led the way for the Eagles last night with 7 tackles and 1 pass defensed.  CB Asante Samuel (4 tackles and 1 pass defensed), DE Jason Babin (3 tackles, 2 tackles for a loss, 2 sacks and 2 QB hits) and CB Nnamdi Asomugha (3 tackles, 2 passes defensed and 1 interception) also pitched in for the Eagles in this game.  The Cowboys finished up with 85 yards rushing on 10 carries (8.5 ypc) and they also completed 18 of 35 passes (51.4%) for 182 yards.  The Eagles are now 3-4 on the year.

The Philadelphia Eagles are coming off their bye week, so they have had two weeks to get ready for the HUGE GAME tomorrow night at home against the Cowboys.  The Cowboys thrashed the Rams 34-7 in Dallas last weekend.  Here is a look at the matchups in this game:

When the Eagles have the ball:  The Eagles will likely come out throwing the ball tomorrow night instead of challenging the rock solid run D of the Cowboys (69.7 yards rushing per game and 3.3 yards per carry).  To do that though, the Eagles are going to have to keep the Cowboys’ DEs and OLBs out of the backfield.  That will be easier said than done, as OLB DeMarcus Ware of the Cowboys already has 8 sacks so far this year.  If Vick has time to throw the ball, he’s going to make plays down the field to Jeremy Maclin, DeSean Jackson and Jason Avant.  The Eagles are going to need to get something out of Lesean McCoy against the Cowboys’ D in an effort to keep them honest.

When the Cowboys have the ball:  The Cowboys are going to give the Eagles’ D fits all night long tomorrow.  Rookie RB DeMarco Murray is the kind of back that gives the Eagles fits, as they are on the small side on the inside.  The Eagles’ secondary has also proven to be vastly overrated so far this year.  The Eagles will need to get pressure on Tony Romo and force him into making some mistakes with the football.  If Romo has time to throw, he has the weapons to make the Eagles pay in TE Jason Witten and WRs Miles Austin and Dez Bryant.

PREDICTION:  COWBOYS 30, EAGLES 27

The Philadelphia Eagles are getting good production out of their WRs so far in 2011.  Jeremy Maclin has been the most consistently good WR for the Eagles so far this year.  He has caught 37 passes for 489 yards (13.2 avg) with 3 TD grabs so far this year.  DeSean Jackson is still the best downtown threat for the Eagles.  He has caught 24 passes for 456 yards (19.0 avg) with 2 TD grabs so far this year.  Some have suddenly questioned his toughness over the middle of the field, but overall, he has been solid.  Jason Avant is a solid #3 WR for the Eagles.  He has caught 26 passes for 338 yards (13.0 avg) so far this year.  He does all of the dirty work over the middle for the Eagles.  Steve Smith will be a huge asset when he’s finally back to near 100% healthy.  Smith has caught 5 passes for 63 yards (12.6 avg) so far this year.