Section 215
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Eagles Armchair: It’s do or die for Sam Bradford

By Tucker Bagley

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The most comprehensive weekly look at the Philadelphia Eagles on the internet. 

WALK THROUGH

Terrible offensive line play, a lacking of weapons around him, an extensive injury history. Through the first five-and-a-half years of Sam Bradford‘s career, excuses have continuously been made to protect and defend the former Heisman winner.

Now, with nine games remaining, free-agency looming and the Eagles still holding a decent shot at the postseason, Bradford will start the most crucial stretch of his football career. He has nine games to prove to Chip Kelly and 31 other general managers that he has the ability to win football games in the National Football League.

On the day Kelly decided to pull the trigger and trade Nick Foles to St. Louis for Bradford, fans were upset. But over the summer, people started to talk themselves into it. College scouting reports were dug up and people saw Bradford as the top pick in the 2010 draft and the guy who was considered the most pro-ready QB prospect since Peyton Manning, not the guy who struggled to stay healthy and be effective through his five years with the Rams.

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In his brief tenure with the Eagles, Bradford struggles have continued. His yards per completion is the worst it’s been since his rookie season and he is throwing interceptions at an alarming rate. But still, there are some that want to blame his performance on drops, rust and an inconsistent offensive line.

When will the excuses end? Aren’t 56 starts enough to properly evaluate a QB? Since coming into the league, Bradford has the same number of wins as Josh Freeman, a guy who hasn’t played in the NFL since 2013.

Like it or not, Bradford will be given the rest of the season to show his true colors. For five and a half years he has looked like a guy who can’t win consistently in the NFL, but all of that can change with nine good games.

INJURY REPORT

No game means no injury news for the Eagles. So they have that going for them, which is nice.

MEASURABLES

0 – Not one team in the NFC East is over .500. That is not good. After the Giants allowed 52 points to the New Orleans Saints and the Cowboys lost 13-12 to the Seattle Seahawks, no team in the division looks worthy of an invitation to the playoffs.

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6 – According to Bob Vetrone Jr., it is possible for a team in this division to finish the year in first-place with just six wins. After watching each team struggle week in and week out, would it be remotely surprising to anybody?

SECTION 140

Eli Manning is maddeningly inconsistent, but one thing is for sure: Bill Davis‘s squad has his number.

Turnovers are the great equalizer in football, and despite the Eagles proficiency at forcing them, the offense has been unable to capitalize on extra possessions and great field position.

WEEKLY AWARDS

NO HUDDLE

  • Adam Schefter reported yesterday that Vinny Curry is on the trading block, which isn’t too surprising. Curry is an imperfect fit on the Eagles defensive line, but he’s carved out a nice role as a pass rusher. Truth is, he has much more value to a team operating in a 4-3 scheme and it will be nearly impossible for the Eagles to keep him once he hits free agency in the summer. A trade is unlikely, but it wouldn’t shock anyone.
  • It seemed like Eric Rowe broke out against the Saints, recording a pass breakup and an interception, but he’s played just one snap in the past two weeks. Obviously he isn’t good enough to get snaps over Nolan Carroll or Byron Maxwell yet, but the fact he can’t get on the field in nickel or dime packages is surprising. Maybe Davis will use the bye week to alter the scheme to fit Rowe in, but it seems like the Eagles are okay with letting him learn from the sidelines this year.
  • One thing that stinks about having a team with so much turnover is the fans lack any emotional connection to the players. Kelly’s roster makeover was exciting, but so far, the on-field product has been anything but. Once again, the bye week may be used to clean up the problems on offense to make this team competitive for the stretch run, but as of right now, they lack any sort of identity and it seems like fans lack any sort of true connection with the team.

WHO’S NEXT

It’s Dallas week! The Eagles will head off to Dallas to face the reeling Cowboys on Sunday Night Football. The Cowboys were atrocious against the Seahawks yesterday as Matt Cassell threw for under 80 yards and Dez Bryant had just two catches for 12 yards in his first game back since breaking his foot in week one.

The Eagles have already dropped a pair of games in the division and a win on Sunday would all but end the Cowboys chances at the postseason at 2-6. This game is a must-win and after seven weeks of terrible football, the Eagles better come out inspired and ready to play or else they might as well kiss their season good-bye.

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