Which Brock Osweiler will the Eagles see on Sunday?
The Philadelphia Eagles defense will get to be Brock Osweiler’s first test of the season on Sunday.
The Philadelphia Eagles are set to take on the Denver Broncos this Sunday in Philly. As the Broncos are 3-4 heading into what could be a make or break game for their season, they have decided to shake things up a bit. They have announced that this Sunday veteran quarterback Brock Osweiler will get the start over Trevor Siemian. For the first time since 2015, Osweiler will start for the Broncos.
Eagles fans lit up with excitement when they heard about the change at the position. In comes a struggling and unproven veteran quarterback on a short week against one of the hottest defenses in the NFL. Osweiler, who has been known to struggle big time over the past season will get his shot at redemption on Sunday.
The thought of Osweiler lighting up the Philadelphia defense could be laughable to some. Others could be worried that a fresh start for both, the quarterback and the Broncos offense could be exactly what they needed to pull off an upset win. This Sunday’s matchup is no trap game for the Eagles. The Broncos are tough and have a need to win now. Osweiler will get his third and final chance to prove that he belongs on Sunday. So which Osweiler will the Eagles see? The hungry Osweiler? Or the same old guy that Houston traded to Cleveland for pretty much nothing?
2015 Brock or 2016 Brock?
If you can remember, Osweiler was known to be the backup for the legendary Peyton Manning. Although he did not see the field much, he had the opportunity to gain a ton of knowledge from the future Hall of Famer. It wasn’t until 2015 that Osweiler got to take the field for more than five games.
When Manning was sidelined due to injury, Osweiler got his opportunity to play in eight games. For the most part, he looked really good. He ended up going 5-3 with a touchdown/interception ratio of 10-6 in his eight games. Those eight games had the Broncos ready to give him the keys to the kingdom after Manning announced his retirement following a 2015 Super Bowl win. Although they couldn’t agree on numbers, Osweiler got a big $72 million contract with the Houston Texans.
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Despite making it to the playoffs in 2016, Osweiler was not impressive at all. He finished the season with more interceptions than touchdowns and a passer rating of 72.2, which was 29th in the league. His single season in Houston is what makes the Eagles fan base confident in his inability to move the ball on the Eagles defense.
Up for the challenge:
Just like every other week, the Eagles will be challenged no matter what. Although it may not seem like it, the Eagles have one of the worst passing defenses in the NFL. They have allowed 2,054 yards in the air, which is the fifth-most in the league. Considering the Broncos have a bad matchup in the run game against the Eagles, they will have to rely heavily on the passing game.
Osweiler’s start couldn’t come at a tougher time. Denver’s offensive line has allowed 25 sacks on Siemian throughout this season, which is the sixth-most in the NFL. With the Eagles defensive front being one of the toughest in football, Osweiler could be in a ton of trouble.
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Considering Sunday’s game will be a matchup between two tough defenses, turnovers will be the game-changer. If Osweiler repeats his 2016 play, the Broncos could be hit hard with the turnover bug. But the Eagles can’t guarantee that Osweiler will be throwing ‘gimmies’ out there. Maybe a fresh start back on his original team was all the quarterback needed. One thing is for sure, this game will not be a walk in the park for either team. The Eagles will have to expect to see a hungry Brock Osweiler trying to get his revenge.