from Video Two weeks ago against Tampa Bay, Nick Foles was the best quarterback in the NFL. He was the NFC Offensive Player of the Week, throwing for 22-of-31, for 296 yards and 3 TDs, and even ran in a touchdown. His QBR (ESPN’s quarterback rating) was 89.8, and he was leading the NFL in completion percentage (at 58.3%) for …
from video Chip Kelly’s Eagles are surprising people — after disappointing them — after startling them, like a date with too many tattoos and no job who proves nicer and more respectful than you or your parents imagined. The Birds evened their record at 3-3 and stayed apace with Dallas with a solid, if not spectacular, win against Tampa Bay, …
from Video Since last week, the Eagles won an important game against the Giants, did not give up a turnover, showed play-making ability on defense with three interceptions and took first place in their very weak division with a 2-3 record (they’re ahead of the Cowboys, who are also 2-3, on tie breakers). DeSean Jackson was named Offensive Player of the …
from Video Philadelphia hung in with Denver for a half, trailing only 21-13 at the break, before the Broncos did their best Oregon Ducks imitation — complete with TDs off of a kick return and a blocked punt — and ran up the final score to 52-20. The Eagles are now 1-3 and, predictably, panic and terror have set in …
from Video It’s not exactly a bye week, but the Eagles’ compressed start to the season — 3 games in 11 days — has given them extra time to recover from the discouraging loss at home to Kansas City. So this is a good time to take stock of where Chip Kelly’s renovation project stands. Here’s the short story: The team’s talent …
Kevin Cline In five short days, the euphoria of Chip Kelly’s stunning NFL debut win over the Redskins has been wiped out by an icy blast of reality as cold as the Gatorade bath Andy Reid got last night. Two quick losses in close games have put Kelly under the worst pressure of his coaching career, encouraging doubters and raising …
Kevin Cline One of the biggest fears any fanbase has going into a season is losing to an inferior opponent. These losses aren’t just unexpected, they’re completely contrary to what fans expect, making them absolutely devastating to the fans of the favored team. There’s a reason they’re called “upsets.” Luckily for Ducks fans, the past four seasons have basically been …
from video After careful analysis of expert opinions and game film, the lesson from Chip Kelly’s first NFL game is obvious: Suck It, Doubters. Pundits: “These college plays will never work in the NFL. Chip’s another Steve Spurrier. He doesn’t have the personnel. Mike Vick can’t run this offense. Cary Williams is a cancer. Riley Cooper will divide the locker …
Rafael Morán Chip Kelly’s play calling in his NFL debut was effective but not dramatic, with one striking exception. Late in the second quarter, Kelly called one of the crazier formations you’re ever going to see, perhaps for the first time ever in the pros. There were only three linemen up front, with a group of three players set wide …
From Video Chip Kelly’s First NFL Game: The Good, The Bad, and the Duck-ly The eagerly anticipated Chip Kelly Era was inaugurated with as many explosives on the field as there were fireworks off the field, on Monday Night when the Philadelphia Eagles started their 2013 season with a convincing 33-27 victory over NFC East rivals, the Washington Redskins. It’s time …
Kevin Cline Now that we are officially one game into the season, I can breathe a sigh of relief and satisfaction at finally having watched an Oregon Duck football game again. As expected, there were very few surprises about Saturday’s game. And, given the predicted outcome, here are five things that did not, in fact, surprise me: Mark Helfrich kept it under wraps Oregon …
Graeme Main/MOD It’s Go Time. The Eagles’ final roster is set, their carefully concealed offensive plays and defensive looks are being practiced in secret, and a much-hyped season opener will finally arrive Monday, September 9th, at 4 pm against Robert Griffin III and the Washington Redskins. (I’ll be at the McMenamin’s Backstage Bar, behind the Baghdad Theater in Southeast Portland, …