The Road To The Super Bowl

[shootermcbob]

Chip Kelly has said all season that he could care less about controlling the clock.  Early in the season it seemed like he would try and take up more time in the second half or after getting a lead and it would let the other team back in it.  Once he figured out that he was better off just keeping the gas pedal down things were going much ore smoothly. 

 

I do agree that the defense needs to show up but with as poor as a defense as Dallas has the Eagles offense should be able to outscore Dallas even if the defense lets up 30 points.  If Dallas was smart they would run Murray 30-35 times and try and keep the ball away from Foles, Jackson and McCoy as much as possible.

 

Definitely looking forward to the game....

There is the problem.

[flyfisher]

There is the problem.

only if you are a dallas fan :)  which i am not lol 

[Jrob78]

Chip Kelly has said all season that he could care less about controlling the clock.  Early in the season it seemed like he would try and take up more time in the second half or after getting a lead and it would let the other team back in it.  Once he figured out that he was better off just keeping the gas pedal down things were going much ore smoothly. 

 

I do agree that the defense needs to show up but with as poor as a defense as Dallas has the Eagles offense should be able to outscore Dallas even if the defense lets up 30 points.  If Dallas was smart they would run Murray 30-35 times and try and keep the ball away from Foles, Jackson and McCoy as much as possible.

 

Definitely looking forward to the game....

I see what you're saying but I disagree completely.  Philly has an explosive offense and Dallas has a terrible defense.  If Dallas tries to play conservatively to milk the clock, how many possessions are they realistically going to take away from Philly?  Best case scenario, maybe 3?  That isn't going to be enough.  If Dallas runs the ball, (semi-successfully) 35 times they might score 17.  That isn't going to be enough unless their defense really steps up, (unlikely).  Their only hope to win is to score as many points as possible, that isn't going to happen running the ball.  Now, if they get a 3 score lead on the Eagles, (also unlikely) then by all means run the ball every down.

[tomustang]

I hope I see this again http://tvbythenumbers.zap2it.com/2011/10/31/eagles-34-7-blowout-win-over-cowboys-earns-14-7-overnight-household-rating-on-sunday-night-football/109019/

Or a better run up

[iabass8]

while demarco is talented enough to make game changing play, phillys rush def isn't bad by any means and murray won't have a game like he did against the likes of GB and Wash the past couple weeks. philly's pass def is really bad and orton is going to have to really try to not to throw at least a td(this is just assuming murray doesn't get hurt and he can move the ball). mccoy(which is all but certain) and cooper (maybe ertz maybe celek if he hawks some TD) will probably have nice numbers vs Dallas. As awful as Dallas defense is, they are actually doing good against opposing teams wr1's. Jackson (this is my fantasy football geek talking) isn't match up proof but he's very, very talented. I don't think it will be a blow but 31-24 philly seems like a realistic score.

 

Once they get past Dal though.....well GL.

[flyfisher]

while demarco is talented enough to make game changing play, phillys rush def isn't bad by any means and murray won't have a game like he did against the likes of GB and Wash the past couple weeks. philly's pass def is really bad and orton is going to have to really try to not to throw at least a td(this is just assuming murray doesn't get hurt and he can move the ball). mccoy(which is all but certain) and cooper (maybe ertz maybe celek if he hawks some TD) will probably have nice numbers vs Dallas. As awful as Dallas defense is, they are actually doing good against opposing teams wr1's. Jackson (this is my fantasy football geek talking) isn't match up proof but he's very, very talented. I don't think it will be a blow but 31-24 philly seems like a realistic score.

 

Once they get past Dal though.....well GL.

I'll agree with the majority of what you said except the pass dense of philly being bad.  I think this game is either going to be like you said, within a TD or it is going to be a philly blowout ala the bears.  The first quarter will lest the tone for the game.

 

I am also looking forward to the bears packers game....another one that should be an awesome one to watch for the division.  I think the only thing Goodell has done that was good for the league was moving week 17 to be all division games.

[Oregon Native]

I'm just hoping that Seattle puts on a show today and for the rest of the season. I'm thinking they were giving everyone a false sense of security and so now can walk the walk.

[flyfisher]

I'm just hoping that Seattle puts on a show today and for the rest of the season. I'm thinking they were giving everyone a false sense of security and so now can walk the walk.

I think that loss at home was a good thing for them and also for the rest of the NFC  I am going to be watching a lot of football today.....i might have to go get stuff to make some chili or something cause this is going to be a long day

[iabass8]

I'll agree with the majority of what you said except the pass dense of philly being bad.  I think this game is either going to be like you said, within a TD or it is going to be a philly blowout ala the bears.  The first quarter will lest the tone for the game.

 

I am also looking forward to the bears packers game....another one that should be an awesome one to watch for the division.  I think the only thing Goodell has done that was good for the league was moving week 17 to be all division games.

I guess to be fair, statistically speaking the pass D is not good but over the course of the past few weeks they are very improved and not the def they were in the first half of the season. the first quarter should be awesome.

[flyfisher]

I guess to be fair, statistically speaking the pass D is not good but over the course of the past few weeks they are very improved and not the def they were in the first half of the season. the first quarter should be awesome.

Statistically from a yards perspective I totally agree but that is also a part of their speedy offense and giving the opposing team more plays.  I always thought those stats are over rated and really the only defensive stat worth looking at is points allowed.

 

I am also surprised that they took to the 3-4 defense as quickly as they did.  Gonna be fun....tie to start the chili

[craww]

Passing yards allowed is indicative of the offense that the team has when the D comes off the field. Traditionally the saints, pats, etc that throw well have D's that are thrown at nonstop. Not necesarily "bad", just conservative play calling and attacking up tempo offenses.

Everyones clamoring for Dallas to feed murray, I don't think its that simple. Personally I feel that in today's NFL the running game is becoming less and less important. Backs are a dime a dozen and theres less and less 1-2 rd picks as teams know that theyre not worth the investment. Dont get me wrong In situational football like short yardage and clock killing it is still a great tool. However the short passing game is essentially alot of teams running attack. 15 years ago if your back got 150 yards you were likely to win, not so much today. If you follow the old template of "establishing the run early", you will likely have 2-3 punts and be down 0-14 before halftime.

[flyfisher]

Passing yards allowed is indicative of the offense that the team has when the D comes off the field. Traditionally the saints, pats, etc that throw well have D's that are thrown at nonstop. Not necesarily "bad", just conservative play calling and attacking up tempo offenses.

Everyones clamoring for Dallas to feed murray, I don't think its that simple. Personally I feel that in today's NFL the running game is becoming less and less important. Backs are a dime a dozen and theres less and less 1-2 rd picks as teams know that theyre not worth the investment. Dont get me wrong In situational football like short yardage and clock killing it is still a great tool. However the short passing game is essentially alot of teams running attack. 15 years ago if your back got 150 yards you were likely to win, not so much today. If you follow the old template of "establishing the run early", you will likely have 2-3 punts and be down 0-14 before halftime.

Yeah and with how much protection has been given to receivers and quarterbacks we are going to watch offensive records broken pretty much every year.

[iabass8]

Passing yards allowed is indicative of the offense that the team has when the D comes off the field. Traditionally the saints, pats, etc that throw well have D's that are thrown at nonstop. Not necesarily "bad", just conservative play calling and attacking up tempo offenses.

Everyones clamoring for Dallas to feed murray, I don't think its that simple. Personally I feel that in today's NFL the running game is becoming less and less important. Backs are a dime a dozen and theres less and less 1-2 rd picks as teams know that theyre not worth the investment. Dont get me wrong In situational football like short yardage and clock killing it is still a great tool. However the short passing game is essentially alot of teams running attack. 15 years ago if your back got 150 yards you were likely to win, not so much today. If you follow the old template of "establishing the run early", you will likely have 2-3 punts and be down 0-14 before halftime.

 If any of that made any sense, talent like Leveon bell and eddie lacy would be the standard....

 

It isn't less important by any means. There's just a huge gap between your top tier backs and everybody else. There really isn't a middle ground right now where a Deangelo Williams type can get you through being a 3 down back. You either have the talent on your team or your stuck at a RB by committee.

[flyfisher]

I do think it is easier to find top notch receivers than it is top notch RBs.  There are a lot of great receivers out there but after the top 5 RB the quality really drops off.

[craww]

If any of that made any sense, talent like Leveon bell and eddie lacy would be the standard....

It isn't less important by any means. There's just a hug

e gap between your top tier backs and everybody else. There really isn't a middle ground right now where a Deangelo Williams type can get you through being a 3 down back. You either have the talent on your team or your stuck at a RB by committee.

Deangelo Williams has been in a committee for years with johnathan stewart, both of which have had 1000 yard seasons proving my point. How many "great" backs have won a superbowl since Marshall faulk? You don't want scrubs out there obviously but put a good O line out there and at least one back on a 53 man roster can rack up some yards. Its a passing league now. Run all you want, but with manning, brees, Brady, foles, etc going all video game on you like happens the majority of the time you can't keep up. Not to undervalue defense obviously.

[iabass8]

fox sunday was really hyping up your SNF game tonight. They even went as far as saying DAL may play better w/o romo. lots of hype around this game. 

 

i agree with the week 17 divisional games. By the early looks of it, PIT may even get in now.

[flyfisher]

fox sunday was really hyping up your SNF game tonight. They even went as far as saying DAL may play better w/o romo. lots of hype around this game. 

 

i agree with the week 17 divisional games. By the early looks of it, PIT may even get in now.

well i think with Romo going out and the network flexing this game into the slot they were probably told to hype this game up as much as possible.  I am sure there are a lot of people going to make a ton of money on this game too if they bet early....the initial line was falls giving 2.5 which after the bears game went to the eagles giving 2.5 and now the Eagles are giving 6.5 last i checked.

 

I knew i should have dropped some coin on this game early on lol

[iabass8]

Deangelo Williams has been in a committee for years with johnathan stewart, both of which have had 1000 yard seasons proving my point. How many "great" backs have won a superbowl since Marshall faulk? You don't want scrubs out there obviously but put a good O line out there and at least one back on a 53 man roster can rack up some yards. Its a passing league now. If you can stop the other teams aerial attack and score you will be elite.

that's my point....RBs aren't a dime a dozen. the quality falls off a lot after you get past the top tier. you have to get those top O line men in the first rounds if your team is falling short /w the run because of the lack of talent that hasn't come out in the past few years. Even after that you're still hoping a committee can carry you. The league is for sure a passing league now. You can't lean on the run like you could. There's only a couple teams that can really lean on their RB to carry them.

[craww]

Running back value is at an all-time low, they are absolutely a dime a dozen speaking in "value" terms. Compared to filling a hole at most any posistion except possibly WR (which there are 2-3 times as many gigs available) its easier to get a serviceable starter at RB than ANYWHERE. Most good backs dont produce into their late 20's...Teams no longer sign backs to another contract after the rookie deal and know that they can find an impact back 100 players deep in the draft.

And the running back by committee isn't always because there's a drop off from one player to the next. There are a lot of guys who could shine statswise if they weren't sharing carries.

[tomustang]

I figured something like was going to happen, eagles game is way too close. I can't watch but I wouldn't doubt the birds came in and were too lax

[flyfisher]

The defense is playing well but the offense is out of sorts...dallas defense is getting tired though

[Teal]

Dallas is like the Charlie Brown of the league... Good grief

[flyfisher]

Cowboys will never amount to anything until Jerry Jones lets go of the reigns a little bit.  The Cowboys played hard tonight and had a good game plan of keeping everything between the hash marks but they just wore down and the Eagles looked fresher in the 4th quarter

[rippin-lips]

I'm an Eagles fan but had it not been for the interception I think they would of made it into field goal range and won by 1pt. Glad they didn't though.

[tomustang]

The defense is playing well but the offense is out of sorts...dallas defense is getting tired though

I only got to see late in the 3rd since I'm was stuck driving. When they did run it looked like they kept running the ball up the middle and it was no surprise for dallas