Week 4 Predictions: Eagles @ 49ers
By Todd Duvall
Sep 21, 2014; Philadelphia, PA, USA; Philadelphia Eagles quarterback Nick Foles (9) lies on the field after begin hit by Washington Redskins defensive end Chris Baker (92) at Lincoln Financial Field. The Eagles defeated the Redskins, 37-34. Mandatory Credit: Eric Hartline-USA TODAY Sports
Bret Stuter, Staff Writer
The NFL season for the Philadelphia Eagles hinges on this week. Yes, Week 4. Before the season started, I was very optimistic in a number of articles: in one I predicted the Eagles to win the Superbowl. In another I predicted a 12-4 season. Commenters and readers had some skepticism, but standing at 3-0 heading into week four, perhaps I saw the team’s improvement objectively.
This week is a true test, a battle on every level. This is the opposite of the 2011 meeting of the 49ers coming to Philadelphia. In that game, the Eagles ran up a huge lead, only to see it vanish in the second half. At the end of that game, an interview with 49ers running back Frank Gore cut deeper than the scoreboard. He claimed that the Eagles, who lost by a mere 2 points, simply quit in the second half. That began the downfall. The Eagles ended the season 8-8, while the 49ers ended the season 12-4.
Now it’s Jim Harbaugh who is the coach on the hot seat. Now it is the Eagles who have made three late game comebacks translate into three wins. Now it’s the 49ers who struggle to score points in the second half. Now it’s time for the Eagles to reclaim their mojo and defeat the San Francisco 49ers.
This game won’t be easy. It’s a coast to coast trip (Eagles suffer terribly with those). It’s a game with the Eagles patched together, successful, and rumbling discontent from the likes of cornerback Cary Williams. Meanwhile the 49ers have lost two, are arguably one of the bigger disappointments in the NFL so far, and dangerous.
So far this season, despite the fact that some receivers have been open but have not gotten the ball, quarterback Nick Foles leads the NFL in passing yards. The Eagles offense is once more the second ranked offense in the NFL. They can score. But the game against the Redskins brought back nightmares of 2013’s rocky defensive start. That has to be addressed this week. The Eagles are 30th in passing defense after Cousin’s career game.
But the Eagles had an answer for Andrew Luck, and will have the answer for quarterback Colin Kaepernick. The key will be the play of the Eagles defensive line, where both defensive end Fletcher Cox and nose tackle Bennie Logan have been stellar through three games. This is a huge game folks. If the Eagles win, they likely could see offensive linemen returning healthy to a team already hot and winning.
In a game where “They Quit!” faces “We Fight!”, I have to go with the road team. They fight to a victory. This will be a hard fought game, where the Eagles will likely be down by 17 early. But believe Eagles fans!