What They’re Saying About the Eagles


Here’s a roundup of what the national media are saying about the Eagles’ Week 3 matchup against the Cardinals.

SI.com’s Peter King has the Eagles winning, 13-9:

The Eagles have won ugly twice. They’re the first team in NFL history to win their first two games by one point each. What can they do for an encore? Shut down their former McNabb heir, Kevin Kolb. I see the Eagles turning the turnover tables, with Mike Vick protecting the ball (finally) and making fewer mistakes than Kolb. That wins this battle of top-10 defenses.

Pete Prisco of CBSSports.com thinks the Cardinals pull out a 21-20 victory:

Who picked this as one of the games of the week? Well, it is. The Cardinals went to New England and won, which says a lot. That defense is impressive. The Eagles have won two games while turning it over nine times. They’re either good to overcome them or lucky. Kevin Kolb faces his former team with a chance to get the Cardinals to 3-0. I say he does.

Overall, seven of eight CBSSports.com experts are going with Arizona to cover the 3.5-point spread.

Mike Tanier of SportsOnEarth.com predicts a 20-16 Eagles victory:

The Eagles plan to lead the league in everything this year. First in yards, and in yards allowed. First in sacks, and sacks allowed. First in giveaways and takeaways. First in questions raised about their own quarterback, and about opposing quarterbacks. First in two-minute warnings (they have that one sewn up). The Eagles are so extreme that if they end up .500, it will be with a 16-16 record.

Daniel Jeremiah of NFL.com says the DeSean JacksonPatrick Peterson matchup is one to watch in Week 3:

Jackson usually has a decided speed advantage against the cornerbacks assigned to cover him. That won’t be the case against Peterson. For Jackson to shake free from Peterson, he must rely on his crafty route-running technique, as opposed to his raw speed. The Eagles love to use double moves against aggressive cornerbacks, so Peterson’s technique and patience will be tested in this contest.

Peter Schrager of FoxSports.com goes with the Eagles, 28-27:

The Cardinals haven’t started a season 3-0 since 1974. That season, they were still located in St. Louis, Dan Dierdorf was a third-year offensive lineman out of Michigan, and Jim Hart was the quarterback. The No. 1 song on the Billboard charts was Barbra Streisand’s “The Way We Were.” I must say, I loved Kevin Kolb’s response to being asked if he was surprised by his team’s win in New England last week. Kolb said, without irony, “It wasn’t like we played a perfect game. We have a lot to improve on.” No big thang. I love this Cardinals team, especially the defense, but I think Michael Vick and Co. find a way in the desert on Sunday. They’ve won their first two games by a point. Why not make it three?

Albert Breer of NFL Network likes the Eagles, 16-13:

I asked Kerry Rhodes if stifling Brady’s offense last week made the Cardinals’ defense elite. Adrian Wilson interrupted: “Nope.” Maybe playing the league’s top-ranked offense will change Wilson’s mind? The Cardinals’ D will shine, again, here. But it won’t be enough.

Mike Florio of Pro Football Talk predicts a 17-13 Cardinals win:

Kevin Kolb gets a chance to do to John Skelton what Mike Vick did to Kevin Kolb two years ago, in a game against Mike Vick. The defense, however, will be the difference.If Ray Horton’s unit confused Tom Brady, it will turn Mike Vick into a turnover machine. Wait, he already is one.

Evan Silva of Rotoworld.com predicts a 23-13 Eagles victory.

ESPN analysts are split – six and six – with their picks.

Follow Sheil Kapadia on Twitter and e-mail him at skapadia@phillymag.com.