The Philadelphia Eagles face a big Week 6 matchup against the Carolina Panthers.
Philly will have to play this game without at least six key players, but five others are questionable, and more are on the injured reserve list. That means backups and rookies will have to step up to the plate.
This game might be just as much about the coaching, though, since it will be a mental battle between the Eagles and Panthers. Which matchups must the Eagles win to upset the Panthers in Week 6?
Matchups to watch in Eagles-Panthers Week 6 game
Tetairoa McMillan vs. Quinyon Mitchell
McMillan has been one of the NFL's top young wide receivers. He has caught 26 passes for 385 yards and two touchdowns this season.
Mitchell is coming off an All-Pro season and finally got his first career interception in Week 5 against the Jacksonville Jaguars. This season, he has allowed a passer rating of 56.3 and has recorded four pass deflections.
This might be the game's most intriguing matchup: who can beat whom. Mitchell must shut McMillan down if the Eagles have any shot at beating one of the league's best passing defenses.
Jaelan Phillips vs. Markel Bell
Bell will have his hands full in his third career start at right tackle against former Eagles edge rusher Jaelan Phillips. The Panthers have seen Phillips banged up, but he has two sacks to start the season.
In the Eagles' Week 5 loss to the Jaguars, Bell allowed just one pressure and one hurry on 43 pass-blocking snaps. That's a massive improvement from the six pressures he allowed in his first career start against the Los Angeles Rams in Week 4.
This will be one of Bell's toughest challenges of his young career: Phillips, who ranked top 10 last year in pressure and hurries. If Bell can prove he can handle the NFL's top edge rushers, he might earn the right tackle job permanently.
Ejiro Evero vs. Sean Mannion
Mannion has been outcoached most of the season so far in his first year as offensive coordinator. Evero has been solid, but his defense has been inconsistent itself.
This matchup is all about Mannion, though, and how he handles himself without Jalen Hurts and Saquon Barkley. The Eagles are in the bottom 10 in total offense, passing yards, and scoring.
Read more: 6 X-factors for Eagles' Week 6 showdown against the Panthers
Philly needs Mannion at his best and Tanner McKee ready to play. This will be the ultimate test of whether the young play caller is up to the task or if the job is just too big for them.
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