Tag: Miles Sanders

Behind Enemy Lines: Week 14 Q&A with Eagles Wire

With a Week 14 matchup between the New York Giants and Philadelphia Eagles on tap, we go behind enemy lines for a chat with Eagles Wire.

The New York Giants (2-10) and Philadelphia Eagles (5-7) will square off on Monday Night Football in Week 14.

The Giants opened the week as 8.5-point road underdogs, and the spread has changed only slightly as of Sunday morning with Big Blue now at +9.5

With this matchup on tap, Giants Wire took the opportunity to hold a Q&A with Eagles Wire managing editor Glenn Erby.

Al Bello/Getty Images

Giants Wire: The Eagles are a bit of an enigma this season — up for a couple weeks, down for a couple weeks and repeat. What do you feel has led to the inconsistency and do you believe they will be able to turn things around over the final month of the season and give the fading Dallas Cowboys a run for their money?

Glenn Erby: The inconsistency started with DeSean Jackson’s injury and spiraled from there. The loss of Jackson’s ability to take the top off a defense reduced the Eagles offense to a dink and dump operation. Injuries in the secondary, along the offensive and defensive lines as well has presented the Eagles with the challenge of trying to live up to those Super Bowl aspirations while utilizing a makeshift lineup.

This is a confident team, a team that unfortunately relies on being the underdog and clicking the switch on. Now that they’ve been counted out, I think you’ll see that sense of urgency and consistency that’s been missing.

Continue …

Pages: Page 1, Page 2, Page 3, Page 4, Page 5

Ravens vs. Bills: Scouting report

The Buffalo Bills are a bit of an unknown after having the easiest schedule to date. Let’s dive into how they play on offense and defense.

Week 14 sees the high flying Baltimore Ravens travel to upstate New York to take on the Buffalo Bills. The Ravens are 10-2 and have won each of their last eight games. This has tied a franchise record for the longest win streak. The 9-3 Bills are a game behind the New England Patriots in the AFC East.

This will be the ninth meeting all-time between these two teams. The Ravens hold a 5-3 advantage over the Bills and have won the last two, including a 47-3 mauling in Week 1 of the 2018 season in a game that saw NFL debuts for both Lamar Jackson and Josh Allen due to the blowout.

Let’s take a closer look at Buffalo to give us a better look at what we can expect to see from them on offense and defense.

Offense

Photo by Rob Carr/Getty Images

The Bills offense is based around the ground game. They rank No. 5 in rushing yards in 2019 but only 23rd in passing. In overall yardage, they rank 17th. While they can run the ball effectively, they haven’t been able to turn that into as many points with 18 teams having scored more points than them this season. The Bills have run the 13th most plays on offense in 2019. They have a pass to run ratio of 1.14. This is the sixth-lowest mark in the NFL.

They are not an offense that has consistently put up huge numbers, nor is it one prone to costly errors. 31.7% of their drives this season have ended with a score. This is the 11th lowest mark in the league. But only 9.4% of their drives have ended in a turnover. This is the ninth-lowest among all teams. Only six teams have more giveaways on offense than the Bills.

The Bills line up in 11 personnel (three wide receivers, one running back and one tight end) on 68% of their offensive plays. This rate is the 8th highest in the NFL. They lean towards the pass when lined up in this formation, doing so on 61% of their plays. The Bills average 7.3 yards per pass attempt out of 11 while also averaging 5.3 yards per rushing attempt. They have a 12:7 TD to interception ratio when passing and have taken 26 sacks.

Their secondary formation is 12, with two tight ends and a single running back joining two wideouts 10% of the time. The Bills are fairly balanced between run and pass when in 12, with a 45%-55% split. Passes out of 12 average 7.1 yards per attempt while rushing attempts average 4.5 yards on the ground.

[vertical-gallery id=38029]

Pages: Page 1, Page 2

Eagles vs. Dolphins: TV broadcast map for Week 13

Eagles vs. Dolphins: TV broadcast map for Week 13

The Philadelphia Eagles will take on the Miami Dolphins on Sunday in a game that can go a long way towards making up some ground in the NFC East. With a win, the Eagles will move to 6-6 on the season, in a first-place tie with the Dallas Cowboys.

With the Birds in Miami to face the lowly Dolphins, FOX broadcast of the game will only be seen in the Philadelphia and South Florida areas. Most of the country will see the Ravens take on the 49ers in the FOX early game.

Eagles vs. Dolphins: 4 things to watch on offense

Eagles vs. Dolphins: 4 things to watch on offense

The Philadelphia Eagles (5-6) are heading to Miami after a loss to Seattle and will visit the Dolphins (2-9) on Sunday at 1 p.m. Sunday.

The Dolphins have won two of their last four games, but are still firmly in tank mode as they search out a top-five pick.

With the Eagles desperately needing a win to pull even with Dallas, here are four things to watch when Philadelphia has the ball.

***

Carson Wentz vs. Dolphins banged-up defense

Carson Wentz is never lacking for confidence, but with the Miami Dolphins next up on the schedule, Sunday is a good time to get the wheels rolling towards a playoff run. Miami’s defense ranks last in the NFL in passing DVOA by Football Outsiders, and Miami is allowing 8.8 yards per attempt, which is third-worst in the NFL.

Pages: Page 1, Page 2, Page 3, Page 4

Eagles RB Jordan Howard ruled out for game vs. Dolphins with shoulder injury

Jordan Howard to miss Eagles game vs. Dolphins with a shoulder injury

The Philadelphia Eagles will be without Jordan Howard for a third straight game, as the Birds have ruled out the running back with a stinger.

Howard suffered a shoulder injury in the Eagles win over the Chicago Bears and has struggled to regain strength in the area since being diagnosed with a stinger.

Howard, the Eagles leading rusher, has carried the ball 119 times for 525 (4.4 ypc) and six touchdowns.

Eagles RB Jordan Howard not cleared for contact, could miss game vs. Seahawks with shoulder injury

Jordan Howard has not been cleared for contact and might sit out for a second straight week.

The Philadelphia Eagles could be without Jordan Howard on Sunday as the running back works his back from a neck/shoulder nerve injury — known as a stinger — suffered in the win over the Bears in Week 9. Howard has yet to be cleared for contact, and his status for Sunday is in jeopardy.

Miles Sanders and Boston Scott handled the backfield duties with Howard out last week against the New England Patriots. Jay Ajayi, who signed with the Eagles last week and did not play against the Patriots, could have a role against Seattle.

Jay Ajayi’s contract has a unique clause that could keep him with Eagles in 2020

Jay Ajayi could return to Eagles in 2020 because of a clause in the contract

[jwplayer 6Q40ShvH]

The Philadelphia Eagles signed running back Jay Ajayi on Friday after Jordan Howard and Darren Sproles both suffered injuries.

[lawrence-related id=626151,626145]

Ajayi’s signing wasn’t expected to be for more than a week to week basis, but according to Ian Rapoport, the running back could be with the Eagles next season as well.

According to Rapoport, the structure is similar to that of a restricted free agent, and it would make it easier for the Eagles to bring back Ajayi for another season if another team shows interest in the offseason.

Ajayi could have a role with the Eagles next season if the team moves on from Darren Sproles and Corey Clement.

Sproles is on injured reserve with a torn hip flexor, and his career could be over. Jordan Howard has a shoulder injury that kept him out of Sunday’s loss to the New England Patriots and will be a free agent after this season.

The final six weeks of the season are essentially an audition for Ajayi with the Eagles and other teams who’ll likely have a need for the running back position.

Miles Sanders now 3rd player in Eagles history to accomplish this feat

Miles Sanders has 1,000+ all-purpose yards in 1st 10 career NFL games

Miles Sanders isn’t dominating the Eagles rushing attack but the former Penn State star has cemented his status in team history.

Even with the loss to the Patriots, Sanders joined some distinguished company in Eagles franchise history. Miles Sanders became the third player in Eagles franchise history to gain 1,000 all-purpose yards in his first 10 career games.

So far through ten games, Sanders has 1,002 yards, 374 rushing yards, 314 receiving yards, 314 kick return yards thus far.

The other two Eagles to accomplish the feat, DeSean Jackson (1,085 all-purpose yards in 2008) and Ted Dean (1,066 all-purpose yards in 1960) had successful careers. Dean went on to win an NFL championship in 1960.

Sanders currently ranks 10th in the NFL in all-purpose yards and is the only player in the NFL with at least 300 rushing yards, 300 receiving yards and 300 kick return yards.

Jordan Howard ruled out vs. Patriots; Jay Ajayi could play significant role

Eagles running back Jordan Howard not expected to play vs. Patriots;

The Philadelphia Eagles have a huge matchup with the New England Patriots on Sunday afternoon and they’ll like play without running back Jordan Howard. ESPN’s Adam Schefter is reporting that Howard is expected to miss the contest with a shoulder injury.

With Howard out, Jay Ajayi will make his season debut and likely play a significant role in the contest.

The Eagles had Ajayi in for a workout on Friday morning and the move is added depth for a position that was starting to become the strength of the team.

Philadelphia head coach Doug Pederson said that Howard sustained his injury late in the Eagles’ 22-14 win over the Chicago Bears on Nov. 3.

Ajayi missed most of the 2018 season, playing just four games for the Eagles before suffering a torn ACL. Ajayi had 592 yards on 105 carries and four touchdowns in 11 games with the Eagles since 2017.

Eagles vs. Patriots: 4 things to watch on offense

Eagles vs. Patriots: 4 things to watch on offense

The Philadelphia Eagles and New England Patriots will square off Sunday afternoon at Lincoln Financial Field in a Super Bowl LII rematch and a huge contest that could go a long way towards solidifying the Birds playoff chances.

[lawrence-related id=626030,626010]

It’ll be the first and possibly the last matchup between Carson Wentz and Tom Brady. With Bill Belichick being one of the most brilliant minds in the sport, here are four things to watch when the Eagles have the football.

***

1. Miles Sanders vs. Dont’a Hightower

The Eagles need a big game out of Sanders and if this season has been any indication, it’ll likely happen in the passing game. The Patriots are stout on defense but can be had with the right formations or matchups. Sanders on any of the Patriots linebackers makes for a matchup that favors the Eagles. In the running game, if Jordan Howard can’t play, look for the Eagles put Sanders in positive situations as a runner, especially after the Ravens averaged 5.96 yards-per-attempt on the ground in their win over New England.

Pages: Page 1, Page 2, Page 3, Page 4