Why in the world are the 49ers favorites against a very good Eagles team at home?

This a question I think a lot of folks are asking themselves as we get ready for a doozy of a game on Sunday. Look, the 49ers are good on both sides of the ball, but Philadelphia is a very tough place to play with relentless and loud fans. To me the location of this game means a lot. You put this game in San Fran and I like San Fran, but in Philly, I like the Eagles to win in a close one.

The Eagles have shown that they do have weaknesses, but they seem to find a way to win each and every week. There is no giving up with this team, as they always feel like they have a chance even if their down. The challenge for the 49ers on defense is how do you defend the Eagles. You can try and load the box to stop D’Andre Swift and Jalen Hurts but when you do that it opens up holes on the pass defense. Or do you play the pass and let them run a little bit. Do you blitz against Hurts? That’s fine but he can escape most pass rushers and run for 5-10 yards. He is a very smart and athletic quarterback.

When I look at the coaches I like Kyle Shanahan, but don’t sleep on Nick Sirianni. I don’t think there’s a coincidence between the Eagles being 10-1 and Sirianni coaching at a every high level. He also has a top notch coaching staff with a winning culture. This game will be close with the home team pulling it out. I think the Eagles will put pressure on Brock Purdy and make it difficult on him to pass the ball. In addition, they will have a game plan for Christian McCaffrey and try to contain him as much as they can.

Prediction: Eagles 34 49ers 30

The post NFL Game of the Week appeared first on Pro Football Mania.

If you notice 31 points happens to be a very friendly number when guessing the outcome in the Super Bowl. In the past 12 years 31 has hit 4 times. Meanwhile 34 has hit 2 times. These games tend to not be low scoring and I don’t anticipate that to happen in Super Bowl 57. We have two prolific quarterbacks with a number of key weapons. As we dig deep in the game coming up between the Chiefs and Eagles let’s look at what to expect for scoring.

I anticipate a few field goals getting kicked, although these coaches also like to go for it on 4th down. I think it will depend on where they are on the field. The Eagles have a very formidable defense that will try to disrupt Patrick Mahomes as much as they can. This makes the running game very important in this game for them. Not just for that reason but also it keeps the Eagles high-flying offense off the field. In fact, the running game will be important for both teams. With that said, I expect the Chiefs to put three touchdowns and two field goals. Mahomes is to good and in this spotlight on two weeks rest he should find Kelce and his other options three times. With that math, Chiefs will be at 27.

Now let’s look at the Eagles side of the ball. Run, run, run will be the ticket for them, and that includes both Jalen Hurts and their running backs. With Chris Jones on the Chiefs side of the ball, dropping back to pass isn’t the best option for them. If this happens I anticipate them having three touchdowns also, two running and one passing. Eagles will not kick any field goals in this one as they love to go for it on 4th down, and Nick Sirianni isn’t just sitting back getting three points. With that math, Eagles will score 21 points which will not be enough against the experienced quarterback and hall of fame coach led Chiefs. When your getting your bets ready for a chance to win a large prize remember a few things.

1. These games tend to be higher scoring.
2. 34 and 31 are popular final score predictions for teams.
3. Your safe to guess the score between 24 and 34 for each team.

Good Luck!

FINAL SCORE PREDICTION:

CHIEFS 27 EAGLES 21

The post Super Bowl Betting Tips – Your Guide to Predicting the Final Score appeared first on Pro Football Mania.

How will the Chiefs slow down the Eagles rushing attack?

The Eagles once again ran all over their opponent scoring 4 rushing touchdowns. They totaled 148 yards on the ground against the leagues best defense. Jalen Hurts really didn’t need to do much through the air as the Eagles dominated the line of scrimmage. Stopping the Eagles rushing attack will no doubt be the #1 game plan for the Chiefs going into the Super Bowl. The issue will be if they load up to stop the run Hurts has the ability to beat them on the deep ball.

How will injuries play a role?

A bum ankle didn’t stop Patrick Mahomes from delivering in the clutch. You could see it affect him on some throws but he is a baller and delivered on several key plays down the stretch. I am not worried about Mahomes for this game as he will have plenty of time to rest but the Chiefs have other injury concerns. L’Jarius Sneed went down early in the game with a hand injury but was ruled out later due to a concussion. If Sneed were to miss this game it would be a huge blow for the Chiefs. He is arguably there best defender and is critical in the passing game. The Chiefs are also dealing with injuries at the wide receiver position as we wait to see the status of JuJu Smith-Schuster and Mecole Hardman.

Can the Eagles stop Travis Kelce?

Travis Kelce is the key to the Chiefs offense. Everybody knows this so why is he so hard to stop? Kelce has great instincts and is a master at finding open space. Also the chemistry between him and Mahomes is the reason they have so much success. Mahomes has the ultimate trust in him. The Eagles will no doubt try to disrupt him at the line of scrimmage with their talented defensive line. They can only hope to disrupt the rhythm and keep everything underneath.

Andy Reid vs. Nick Sirianni

Andy Reid will look to hoist the Lombardi trophy vs his former team. Reid coached the Eagles for 14 years before jumping ship to lead the Chiefs. He had success during his time in Philadelphia but they never won the big one. On paper Reid vs. Sirianni seems like a mismatch. Reid will be a Hall of Famer one day and Sirianni is coaching in just his second season but this isn’t a complete mismatch. Sirianni has found the right buttons to push for his team and they seem to really rally around him. Let’s see how this plays out on Super Bowl Sunday.

Patrick Mahomes vs Jalen Hurts

Two MVP candidates, two of the best quarterbacks in the game and it all comes down to this. Mahomes vs. Hurts will be a heavyweight battle and I for can’t wait to see who comes out on top. Mahomes has been here before so the stage won’t be too big for him. Hurts looks to continue his amazing season by leading the Eagles to a Super Bowl victory. If Mahomes is fully healthy you have to give the Chiefs the upper hand but not by much. The Eagles and Jalen Hurts have mastered the RPO offense and will look to continue their winning ways as they aim for the ultimate prize.

The post Super Bowl Preview: 5 Early Thoughts appeared first on Pro Football Mania.

By: Jeremy Trottier

This NFL season has most definitely been a memorable one, to say the least, with some of the best teams completely underperforming, and some of those we thought would be the worst at the top of their game.  The primary reason some of these teams with lower-tier rosters have been able to get to the top of their division or near to it has been their head coaches.  Head coaching is a huge deal at this level of play, hence why the NFL hands out a Coach of the Year award every season.  In this article, I will be detailing the top 5 candidates for this award so far this season and briefly describe why they deserve this award. 

#1 ”“ Nick Sirianni ”“ Philadelphia Eagles

As of right now, it should be a no-brainer who the leading candidate is for Coach of the Year, as winning is a huge factor in this award, and Nick Sirianni of the Philadelphia Eagles is currently 8-0 as of the writing of this article.  After building this roster with young talents through the draft and flashy trades, Sirianni and GM Howie Roseman have brought the Eagles back to a winning culture, which is due to coaching just as much as the players.  Jalen Hurts has been developed into a very quality starting QB in this league under Sirianni,  which has propelled the Eagles from a middle-ranking team to the top of their conference and the only remaining undefeated team for now. 

#2 ”“ Robert Saleh ”“ New York Jets

Second place is tough, as there are a lot of underwhelming rosters outperforming their skill due to great coaching, but the New York Jets have been able to do it against premier teams in the NFL, which is what I took into consideration here.  Just last week the Jets took on the Buffalo Bills, who are one of the if not the most well-rounded roster in the NFL, and beat them 20-17 on the back of a phenomenal defensive performance.  Know who was responsible?  Head coach Robert Saleh has found his footing in his second season as the Jets head coach and led them to a 6-3 record as of the writing of this article. 

#3 ”“ Kevin O’Connell ”“ Minnesota Vikings

Next up we have a rookie head coach and one of the youngest head coaches in the league, Kevin O’Connell of the Minnesota Vikings.  While they may have some of the top premier talents in the league, such as Justin Jefferson and Dalvin Cook, they have also been coached up to a 7-1 record after struggling with a very similar roster last season under Mike Zimmer.  While their schedule has been slightly weak to start off the season, they have also performed well enough on the field to warrant this record, and seem to be a shoo-in as NFC North division winners this season as long as they do not fold under the pressure down the stretch.

#4 ”“ Brian Daboll ”“ New York Giants

It feels almost wrong putting Daboll so low on this list, but that just goes to show how great the head coaches have been this season.  Another rookie head coach, Daboll has led the New York Giants, one of the lesser rosters in the NFL entering the season, to a 6-2 record, and straight into the dogfight for the NFC East division title.  The giants have had 3 statement wins so far this season, against the Tennessee Titans (21-20), the Baltimore Ravens (24-20), and the Green Bay Packers (27-22).  Overall, Daboll has done a great job utilizing the run game with Saquon Barkley correctly and has turned this franchise back into its winning ways in only half a season.

#5 ”“ Mike McDaniel ”“ Miami Dolphins

Another AFC East head coach coming from the San Francisco 49ers previously would be Mike McDaniel, who has been able to handle the turmoil of losing Tua Tagovailoa mid-season relatively well and has coached this offense into something teams fear now.  Just 3-4 years ago this team was at the bottom of the league scraping up losses to try and tank for Tua, and now they sit only a half-game back of the AFC East title and are doing everything in their power to take this division away from the Jets, Bills, and Patriots.  McDaniel has the assets to work with, hence why he is lower on this list slightly but is absolutely deserving of this award if he can keep this team on track going the distance. 

The post Top 5 candidates for Coach of the Year so far this season appeared first on Pro Football Mania.

By: Jeremy Trottier

The Philadelphia Eagles have started off the season hot going 3-0 and being the only team in the conference that is currently undefeated.  This has largely been the product of a few different factors, including a revamped roster via way of Howie Roseman, Jalen Hurts developing exceptionally well, and some all-around great coaching by 2nd-year head coach Nick Sirianni.  In this article, I will be covering 3 reasons why Sirianni could win coach of the year this season, and why I believe he is in the top 3 to be nominated for the award at this moment.  So without further ado, let us start with the first reason.

Low strength of schedule = high win total

One of the main benefits for the Philadelphia Eagles this season would be their strength of schedule, as they are tied for playing the least amount of 2021 playoff teams this season at only 6.  According to Sharp Football Analysis, the Eagles have the 2^nd easiest strength of schedule, only more difficult than the Giants’ schedule.  Why does this play a role in how Nick Sirianni can win coach of the year? 

The reason this has such a huge impact is that despite teams improving over the offseason, the odds that the bad teams remain bad are pretty high.  This should allow the Eagles to make a pretty easy playoff push, with a 93% chance of making the playoffs according to FiveThirtyEight (see tweet below). 

A coach taking a team that was 4-11 the year before he came into the head coaching position to 9-8 last season, and 3-0 already this year, is a drastic improvement in only two seasons.  With such a seemingly weak schedule as well, if the Eagles can take a top seeding, this should all but guarantee Sirianni the coach of the year honors. 

Drastic production increases on both sides of the ball

A very interesting statistic to monitor for NFL teams is points for/points against, as well as points differential, which is notable for offensive and defensive production, and how much one may outweigh the other.  The Eagles are on track for 487 points this season, which would be their highest total in team history, the next closest being 474 in 2014.  As for points against, they have only allowed 50 so far, which would mean they are on pace to allow approximately 283 points this season, the lowest total since 2004 in which they went 13-3 and made it to the Super Bowl.  If you take the points differential for these stats, it would be 191 in favor of the Eagles, meaning they outscored all opponents on the season by 191 points.  This would be their highest total since 1949 in which they won the Championship, and 1948 respectively in which they also won the Championship (both pre-Super Bowl era). 

Now granted, the likelihood of the Eagles keeping this up all season is pretty slim.  But the fact that they had a -84 points differential prior to Sirianni joining, and then immediately went to +59 and now are on track to set records for points differential on their team is immensely impressive.  It goes to show how much impact good roster development and coaching have on a team. 

Developmental Prowess

Let’s just take a look at the players Sirianni has developed in the last two years to be high-tier draft talents or better than they were before:

• Landon Dickerson (0 sacks allowed this season, 2 penalties in 207 snaps)
• Jalen Hurts (916 passing yards, 4 touchdowns, 1 interception, 67.3% completion rate)
• Devonta Smith (249 receiving yards, 1 touchdown, 65.2% catch rate)
• Jordan Mailata (1 sack allowed this season, 3 penalties in 218 snaps)

While Sirianni has not necessarily been the best developmental coach of all time or anything, he has done well to turn the prospects he has into functional contributors to the team.  This is key with any new head coach who is taking the spot after previously being a coordinator, as it shows they not only know how to call plays for their side of the ball, but also know how to develop talent, and work other parts of the team. 

The post 3 reasons why Nick Sirianni could win coach of the year this season appeared first on Pro Football Mania.

By: Jake Rajala

The Philadelphia Eagles made a witty blockbuster trade for Tennessee Titans wide receiver A.J. Brown on yesterday’s first day of the NFL Draft. Brown will join a Philadelphia Eagles offense that also features the ascending Jalen Hurts, DeVonte Smith, Dallas Goedert, and Miles Sanders. After Nick Sirianni used his magic to acquire Brown, their odds to win the NFC East have improved (see below).

It’s obvious that Brown will deliver magic to Nick Sirianni’s team that made the playoffs last season (despite Hurts missing two games). Brown’s rookie season (2019) was quite phenomenal, as he notched 1,051 yards, 8 touchdowns, and registered a very impressive 20.2 yards per catch.

Brown nicely improved in 2020 and unleashed 1,075 yards (career-high) AND 11 touchdowns (career-high). The WR’s production dipped last season, as he recorded 63 receptions, 869 yards, and five touchdowns. Coincidentally, Ryan Tannehill had a porous season in 2021: 21 passing touchdowns and 14 interceptions.

The Eagles really need a boost at their WR2 position. The NFL fan base has virtually sacrificed Jalen Reagor, as he’s failed to live up to the power of Justin Jefferson. Reagor has knocked out a mere 695 yards and three touchdowns in two seasons combined. The Eagles offense also missed the production of Zach Ertz after he was shipped off to Arizona in 2021.

The Los Angeles Chargers brought in multiple big-name profiles to strive to win a Super Bowl with Justin Herbert “and his rookie contract”. It’s clear that Sirianni wants to keep the gas on the pedal and aim to contend for a seat at the NFC championship in year three of Jalen Hurt’s career. The former Alabama QB legend and his hungry WR duo have really jolted the NFC East and the Eagles should really be aiming for “at least a playoff berth” in each future season for the foreseeable future.

The post What does A.J. Brown bring to the Eagles? appeared first on Pro Football Mania.

By: Andy Davies

Plenty of uncertainty surrounds the Detroit Lions, Philadelphia Eagles, and Houston Texans going into the 2021 season. Their quarterback situations are far from clear and their overall rosters are mediocre at best.

The same goes for their head coaches, with all three going into their first seasons at the franchise. Neither of Dan Campbell, Nick Sirianni, or David Culley has been a full-time head coach in the NFL. Campbell is the only one to have some experience, with his spell as interim head coach of the Miami Dolphins in 2015.

Here is why you should be expecting the Lions, Eagles, and Texans to have the three worst records in the league in 2021.

Saying Goodbye To A Franchise Legend In Detroit. Struggles For The Replacement

Matthew Stafford was the number one overall pick in 2009, with the entire city of Detroit hoping he would be the man to turn around the fortunes of the franchise. Despite three seasons of making the playoffs, the Lions and Stafford never won a single postseason game as the wait continues. The Lions remain the team with the second-longest period without a playoff win, their last taking place on January 5th, 1992.

Stafford had some great individual moments as a Lion, most notably his Mic’d up moment during his 2009 rookie season. In a week eleven game against the Cleveland Browns, he overcame injury to produce a moment of pure heroism. He played with a separated shoulder despite the efforts of the medical staff to keep him off the field, leading the Lions to a touchdown-winning drive.

Jim Caldwell guided the Lions to these playoff appearances but was not seen as good enough to take them to the next step. New England Patriots assistant head coach Matt Patricia was brought in but never took to life as head coach. The Lions had three consecutive losing seasons under the coaching of Patricia. They will hope that they have found their guy in Dan Campbell. His press conference was certainly not dull, with Campbell referring to “biting kneecaps”. As a former Lions player, he knows what it takes to play in the league. He also knows about the city of Detroit and his intentions are both positive and clear. If he is given time, he has the desire to bring the good times back to Detroit. However, he is inexperienced as a head coach and the roster is below average.

New quarterback Jared Goff has the potential to struggle. This is despite the drafting of offensive lineman Penei Sewell at seventh overall, a selection that had Campbell and new General Manager Brad Holmes very excited.

Despite his brilliant 2018 season that saw the Rams reach Super Bowl 53, Goff had a poor game and struggled in 2020 as he and head coach Sean McVay’s relationship deteriorated.

Goff struggled despite a plethora of offensive talent around him. Robert Woods and Cooper Kupp form one of the best wide receiver duos in the NFL. He is going to a franchise that let go of their two best wide receivers and failed to replace them.

The Lions have a schedule that features the San Francisco 49ers, Baltimore Ravens, Cincinnati Bengals, Los Angeles Rams, Pittsburgh Steelers, Arizona Cardinals, Atlanta Falcons, and Cleveland Browns. There are also two games against their division rivals, the Green Bay Packers, Minnesota Vikings, and Chicago Bears. The Lions do not have it easy.

Prediction: 3-14

Trouble In Philadelphia; Reason For Hope?

The Eagles have seen three years of gradual decline after winning Super Bowl 52. The 2017 season saw the Eagles lift the Lombardi Trophy for the first time after two previous attempts.

Doug Pederson was the head coach to guide the Eagles to a Super Bowl but was fired after the conclusion of the 2020 season. His decision to bench rookie quarterback Jalen Hurts in order to lose and gain a higher draft pick appeared to be the final nail in the coffin.

Carson Wentz had an MVP caliber season before an injury derailed hopes of winning the award. Backup Nick Foles stepped in and guided the Eagles to the Super Bowl 52 win. He also stepped in a year later and guided the Eagles to a shock Wildcard Round win against the Chicago Bears, with thanks also going to a Cody Parkey missed field goal.

Both Foles and Wentz are no longer Eagles players. Out of the starters in that Super Bowl 52 win, only seven remain with the franchise. Their decision to draft Jalen Reagor over Justin Jefferson continues to be mocked by rival fans and nobody knows how new head coach Nick Sirianni will do in the role.

The schedule is mixed for Philadelphia. Whilst they face the New York Jets, Lions, and twice play the New York Giants, they also have to face the Atlanta Falcons, Carolina Panthers, Tampa Bay Buccaneers, San Francisco 49ers and the Kansas City Chiefs.. This is as well as facing a rising Washington Football Team twice as well as playing the Dallas Cowboys both home and away.

Reports have surfaced in recent days of the Philadelphia Eagles being the favourites for Deshaun, with talks said to be “heating up”.

This could be a move that transforms the franchise. However, Deshaun Watson had his best statistical season yet the Texans only managed four wins all year. This proves that whilst it is very important to have a good quarterback, you need more around to be successful.

Unless the Eagles do something in what remains of the offseason, they will continue to be mediocre if their roster continues to be this poor. If they get offensive or defensive talent in the next one or two offseasons, then they are a team that will compete for years to come. Otherwise, the Eagles will fail to be a threat to both the NFC and NFC East.

This is why Deshaun should avoid the Eagles at this present time. He will be going into a situation no different to what he experienced in Houston.

Prediction: 4-13

What A Difference A Year Makes

Where do we start with the Houston Texans? The 2019 season saw them take a 24-0 lead against the Chiefs in the Divisional Round. However, they allowed 41 unanswered points as they lost 51-31. What has unfolded since in the following nineteen months has been reminiscent of a Greek tragedy.

Head coach Bill O’Brien, who also was general manager, made the unusual decision to trade star wide receiver, Deandre Hopkins. In exchange, the Texans received a running back past his sell-by date in David Johnson, one second-rounder and one fourth-round pick. O’Brien only lasted four games in the 2020 season as they finished the campaign with just four wins.

Since the conclusion of the 2020 season, franchise legend J.J Watt has left and there continues to be an uncertain future surrounding quarterback Deshaun Watson. Houston’s quarterback requested a trade in January before allegations of sexual assault arose. These have lingered throughout the remainder of the offseason. It is unclear if Watson will play in the NFL at all in 2021 but even if he does, it is unlikely that he will be wearing a Texans jersey.

Houston has said they would listen to trade offers for Watson, with the franchise said to be wanting three first-round picks. They have also acquired Tyrod Taylor via Free Agency and used their first pick in the draft on Davis Mills in the third round. Even if the Eagles stick with Hurts, there will be plenty of other suitors.

Even with Watson, the Texans are light on the ground when it comes to elite talent. Linebacker Zach Cunningham and Laremy Tunsil are talents and despite adding Phillip Lindsay and Mark Ingram to the running back room, the roster is one of the league’s worst.

David Culley has developed somewhat of a worrying reputation after his time with the Eagles, Chiefs, and Baltimore Ravens. During his fourteen-season spell with the Eagles, his four seasons with the Chiefs, and two years with the Ravens, he had 0 wide receivers earn a PFF grade of 80 or above.

The Chiefs wideouts went an entire season without a touchdown under Culley. With a wide receiver room featuring Brandin Cooks, Nico Collins and Anthony Miller, this is not exactly a position of strength for the Texans. Culley is unlikely to see any of these receivers score high PFF grades.

Whilst the Texans might be playing the Jacksonville Jaguars twice and the Jets, they have a tough schedule. They will face the Cleveland Browns, Buffalo Bills, Arizona Cardinals, Los Angeles Rams, Miami Dolphins and Seattle Seahawks. Houston will also play the Los Angeles Chargers and the San Francisco 49ers as well as the Indianapolis Colts and Tennessee Titans twice.

They are unlikely to win many of these games. Fans should be expecting a difficult season.

Prediction: 2-15

The post Expect the Lions, Eagles, and Texans to have the worst records in 2021 appeared first on Pro Football Mania.

By: Jake Rajala

The Philadelphia Eagles are strongly considering acquiring Houston Texans star dusted, controversial Deshaun Watson. According to Howard Eskin, who is a sports reporter in Philadelphia, he believes there is a 90% chance Philly reels in the elite Texans QB. There is clearly an ascending belief around Eagles nation that the fit makes too much sense and a deal will most likely be put in place for Nick Sirianni to snag his targeted QB. 

In terms of Watson’s outlook, the QB who is under lots of uncertainty believes there is a “good chance” he suits up in 2021. If a deal is established between Eagles nation and Watson, then Watson proceeds to play in 2021, the question begs to ask: What would the Eagles team look like next season under the new signal-caller? 

The former Eagles team led by Doug Pederson finished dead last in the NFC East a year ago. If Watson is in the building with the new leader Nick Sirianni, it would be at least a three to five game winning difference in 2021. With a generational talent like himself, it is enjoyable and possible to imagine a deep playoff run, but it really would put themselves with a fine, noticeable, yet not an unearthly improvement.

They should boast an extraordinarily strong chance of claiming at least 7 to 9 wins with Watson under the helm. It may not be a superior juggernaut team in the NFC, but they would at least be able to compete for the East title down to the wire. The Washington Football Team under Ryan Fitzpatrick at QB appear as the clear favorites to capture NFC East prominence for the second year in a row, but Watson’s mobility against the fiery Washington pass rush rotation in a head-to-head matchup (Eagles play Washington Week 15 and Week 17) is sure to be a serious a clear x-factor.

The Eagles and Washington are clearly different teams, under new coaching staffs, with a new attitude, but the Eagles did put up a serious fight against Washington in Week 17 of last season. Even with the unpopular benching of Jalen Hurts, the Eagles lost to the WFT by a score of 20-14. The Eagles would have slightly different tweaks around the roster, but a sizable improvement at QB. Meanwhile, the Washington team will still have an average ranked QB in Fitzmagic with largely the same team.

Throughout the season, If the Eagles defense plays average at least, it should be enough for Watson to get enough victories with his utmost prominent playmaking ability himself. Some may question why Watson could carry the hopeful Eagles if he could not bring the Texans to playoff royalty with an MVP-like season, he flexed in 2020. Well, the Texans defense didn’t just do a poor job at complementing Watson, they did a flat-out horrific job. The Eagles total defense was 19^th in the total YPG allowed, while the Texans defensive unit was 30^th in the league. The Texans just gave up three fewer yards than the 32^nd ranked Lions defense that played Aaron Rodgers twice a season.

It is also important to note that the Texans had two teams in their own division that made the playoffs: Indianapolis Colts and Tennessee Titans. The Texans flashed a combined 0-4 record against those opponents. In the East, there was not a true playoff-like talent, but rather a team that won the “least” NFL division with six wins. The rule that every division must send a team to the playoff dance is certainly questionable, especially during NFL seasons like last year.

On the horizon, Watson has been working relentlessly this offseason, as the former Clemson star has a massive chip on his shoulder. If he heads up north, he should have very strong weaponry to utilize. The Eagles currently possess the top TE duo in the league (Zach Ertz, Dallas Goedert), a young talented wideout in Jalen Reagor, and all of this explosion will be taking place behind an offensive line led by the well reputable Lane Johnson, a unit that could be stout if it can stay healthy. Expect Watson to show another elite season of play with a more talented supporting cast, amid a weaker division.

The post Would the Eagles be NFC East favorites with Deshaun Watson? appeared first on Pro Football Mania.

By: Ladarius Brown

Looking at this division, you have a mixed bag of head coaching experience. Two head coaches have coached in a Super Bowl, one who is entering year two, and one who is a rookie head coach. That being said, here are my rankings of the head coaches in the NFC East. 

4. Nick Sirianni, Philadelphia Eagles 

I am a believer in the importance of making the right first impression. If you are an Eagles fan, his introductory press conference made an impression for sure. Biggest takeaway: systems. Speaking of systems, I am curious to see what Sirianni brings to this Eagles team. He was the Colts’ offensive coordinator for the last three seasons under Frank Reich. One of the things that the Colts were good at offensively under Sirianni was scoring on their drives.  

In two of his years, the Colts scored on over 40% of their drives. In 2020, the Eagles were 31st in the league, scoring on just 27.9% of their offensive drives. It helped that Sirianni had some great running backs in Marlin Mack and Jonathan Taylor on the roster in Indy. In Philly, he has a pair of good running backs in Miles Sanders and Boston Scott. Given the state of their offense, the Eagles’ run game is the x-factor. 

Their pass game got better with drafting wide receiver DeVonta Smith of Alabama in the 1st round of this year’s draft. Smith joins wide receivers Jalen Reagor and Travis Fulgham as weapons for 2nd-year quarterback Jalen Hurts. Hurts will enter into the season knowing he will the guy under center after Wentz was shipped to the Colts.  

Sirianni and the coaching staff have the task of molding Hurts and there is a lot of talent to Hurts. Seeing Brian Johnson as the quarterbacks coach is an assurance in my estimation that Hurts has the right guy molding him. Johnson worked with now Buccaneers quarterback Kyle Trask while at the University of Florida. Hurts will pick up the “system” sooner rather than later. 

3. Joe Judge, New York Giants 

In his 1st year, Judge led the Giants to a 6-10 record, good for 2nd place last year. Their defense under defensive coordinator Patrick Graham finished in the top 15. The offense, however, was next to last in the league at 31st. This year, the Giants upgraded on the offensive side of the ball, signing wide receiver Kenny Golladay from the Lions and Kyle Rudolph from the Vikings. It is clear to Judge and everyone in the Giants organization that quarterback Daniel Jones has to take that leap in year three. If he does not, the gavel will drop on Judge. 

The Giants have fired the previous two coaches, Pat Shurmur and Ben McAdoo, after two years. One way Judge can get the 3rd year in the Big Apple is if the 2018 AP ROTY Saquon Barkley is healthy. Barkley suffered a torn ACL in his right knee along with the MCL and meniscus damage. There is a chance we will see him in the backfield come Week 1 versus the Broncos. Working under Belichick from 2012-2019 & Saban at Alabama from 2009-2011, Judge has learned under the greatest coach in NFL & college football over the last decade.  

Plus, the special teams improved as well. Kicker Graham Gano went 31/32 (96.9%) in 2020. Being a special teams coordinator under Belichick, Judge knows how important this aspect of the game is. If Daniel Jones can be that guy and Barkley is 100%, the Giants could sneak up on some teams. However, the jury is still out on Judge’s squad. 

2. Ron Rivera, Washington Football Team (WFT) 

Before I talk about Ron Rivera the coach, let me briefly talk about Ron Rivera the man. He beat cancer after being diagnosed in August 2020 with squamous-cell cancer detected in a lymph node. He still coached and his team won the division last year. You did not have to be a fan of the Washington Football Team to love his journey. Shifting back to coaching, Riverboat Ron is turning this team around. Statistically speaking, the WFT had the 2nd best defense in the league and defensive end Chase Young won defensive ROTY. Rivera’s defense allowed the 3rd fewest 1st downs (289) and 6th in 3rd down efficiency (37.5). 

As for the offense, they ranked 30th in the league and finished 28th in rushing yards per attempt (4.03). They started three quarterbacks: Alex Smith & Dwyane Haskins (six games) and Kyle Allen (four games). Combined, they had 16 passing touchdowns and 16 interceptions. This offseason, they re-signed quarterback Taylor Heinicke and signed Ryan Fitzpatrick. Fitzpatrick will likely serve as the bridge quarterback to either Heinicke or Allen since they did not draft one this year. Their run game with running back Antonio Gibson was a bright spot on this offense. He had 795 rushing yards and 11 rushing touchdowns, which was tied for 7th in 2020.  

The question mark for me is their offensive line. They allowed 50 sacks, which was tied for the 2nd most in the NFL. Signing left tackle Charles Leno Jr. after the Bears released him and drafting tackle Samuel Cosmi of Texas in the 2nd round were ways to shore up the line. The question is can FitzMagic finds its way into the nation’s capital? 

1. Mike McCarthy, Dallas Cowboys 

Despite last season, McCarthy is atop this list mainly for his time with the Packers. He has a 17-26 in his last three seasons as a head coach. In his first season as the Cowboys head coach, he lost his franchise quarterback Dak Prescott in Week 5 at home versus the Giants to a dislocated and compound fracture of his right ankle. Throw in a slew of other injuries and it was a down year in Big D. I almost forgot: the defense was bad…I mean bad. 

The Cowboys allowed the most points in franchise history (473) and finished 31st in the league in run defense. Defensive coordinator Mike Nolan switched the scheme from the 4-3 to a hybrid. Needless to say, Nolan and defensive line coach Jim Tomsula was let go after the last season. They made a run towards the end of last season as the defense had 12 takeaways in the last four games after getting just 11 in the first 12. Last year, Dan Quinn was fired by the Falcons after Week 5, he was hired as the Cowboys’ new defensive coordinator in the offseason. He was the defensive coordinator in Seattle as they had the No. 1 defense in 2013.  

If McCarthy and the Cowboys expect to compete in this division and be a possible Super Bowl contender, Quinn has to turn this defense around this year. The last time the Cowboys won a Super Bowl, Michael Jordan came out of retirement. If the Cowboys make it back to the Super Bowl, will HOF wide receiver Michael Irvin come out of retirement?  

The post Ranking the head coaches of the NFC East appeared first on Pro Football Mania.

Jacob Keppen

It seems quarterback controversy never leaves Philadelphia. Last week I took a look at the top five Eagles quarterbacks since 2000, and the consistent theme I noticed was quarterback controversy. Even with his success in Philadelphia, bringing the Eagles to multiple conference championships, there was still a bit of a contentious relationship with the fans and Donovan McNabb. There was almost a yearly quarterback controversy after McNabb too, Philadelphia loves a quarterback controversy.

We all hoped the madness would stop in 2016. The hope was that Carson Wentz would be the guy in Philadelphia for the foreseeable future. Wentz would be the next McNabb, but with more of the fanbase behind him. Sadly this did not turn out to be the case, the fanbase almost divided in half on Carson Wentz by the end of his tenure in Philadelphia. 

Here we are about two months to the draft, slightly unsure of where to go as a franchise moving forward. I’m proposing an idea though. How about, we don’t have a quarterback controversy. For once, let’s throw all of our support as an organization and fanbase behind one guy. Let’s give Jalen Hurts a real chance to prove that he can be our next franchise quarterback.

Jalen Hurts is the perfect embodiment of Philadelphia. He is tough as nails. He does not back down from pressure, doesn’t cower from adversity. Hurts has seen his fair share of adversity, a lot more than the average quarterback prospect. 

In 2016, Jalen Hurts became the first true freshman to start at quarterback for Alabama since 1984. He led the Crimson Tide to the National Championship where they would lose to Deshaun Watson’s Clemson Tigers. The next year at the National Championship, Hurts would be benched at halftime. His spot as a starter at Alabama was no more. He didn’t create controversy, sticking with Alabama the next year before transferring to Oklahoma for the 2019 season. Given a chance to be a starter again, Hurts brought the Sooners to the college football playoffs and finished second in the Heisman race.

Jalen Hurts showed throughout college why he has the intangibles to be a star quarterback in the NFL. There’s much more to being a quarterback in the NFL than just straight up on field ability. You have to have the intangibles as well. You have to be able to rally your men and lead them to victory. Jalen Hurts the past year has been praised tremendously for his great leadership. Hurts has been praised by coaches, teammates, and nearly every media member who has come into contact with him.

Philadelphia is one of the hardest places to play in. As Jason Peters said, Philadelphia will eat you up if you don’t bring it. You need to be able to bring it every down, have the mental and physical toughness, leadership ability, and overall it-factor. Ultimately Jalen Hurts has proven over the years that he is bred to thrive in a place like Philadelphia.

Of course you need to be able to play the game of football. Just being a great guy and leader doesn’t make you a starting quarterback. You still have to show something on the field. I believe that given his small sample size, with the situation he was in, Jalen Hurts showed enough to warrant a shot at the job.

Despite not having the best of receivers, an injury ridden offensive line, and head coach that was on his way out of the door, Jalen Hurts still managed to have some magical moments in his 3 ½ games as the Eagles starter. In his first game as a starter, he willed the Eagles to a 24-21 win over the then 10-2 New Orleans Saints. He has over 100 yards  on the ground.

The next week he battled Kyler Murray and the Cardinals, throwing for over 300 yards and three touchdowns in a close loss. The next game against Dallas wasn’t his best, maybe calling only six rushing plays in the 2nd half wasn’t the best idea, but he still battled and threw for over 300 yards. It wasn’t all pretty but he was a young quarterback without a preseason, thrown into the fire without much help who showed a lot of grit and good play.

Is Jalen Hurts the future of the Philadelphia Eagles? Is he the next star franchise quarterback who’s going to lead the Eagles back to greatness? In all honesty, nobody knows yet. Nobody knows that he isn’t that possible franchise quarterback for the Eagles though. No player can be judged based on just four starts. Peyton Manning threw 11 interceptions in his first four games. Russell Wilson threw as many interceptions as touchdowns and did not eclipse 200 passing yards in any of his first four games. 

Maybe Jalen Hurts isn’t going to be as good those guys, but imagine if they were written off after just four games. Imagine if no quarterback was given time to grow and develop. Hurts has shown you a lot of bright things though a ton of uncertainty and he deserves the shot to prove himself next year.

The post Why The Eagles Should Give Jalen Hurts a Chance appeared first on Pro Football Mania.