Brandon Gowton of Bleeding Inexperienced Nation was good sufficient to reply 5 questions on his Philadelphia Eagles forward of tomorrow’s matchup. I did the identical for him, and you’ll learn his questions with my solutions e. I lengthy for the day after I can reply the opposing crew’s questions with some confidence within the Tennessee Titans. That day shouldn’t be immediately.
Listed below are my questions along with his solutions:
1 – The Titans franchise went into the tank the evening they traded A.J. Brown to the Eagles. Summarize his time with the Eagles out of your perspective. Why was it essential to commerce him this offseason?
Together with the playoffs, the Eagles have been 56-20 throughout A.J. Brown’s Philly tenure. They went to 2 Tremendous Bowls and gained one. He was a giant a part of essentially the most profitable period in trendy franchise historical past. For that, I’ll at all times consider him fondly. He was fairly enjoyable to look at!
In fact, the 2025 season left Eagles followers with a bitter style of their mouths. Brown clearly didn’t put his finest foot ahead final yr. He regarded actually disillusioned and disinterested whereas being pissed off with the Eagles’ offensive struggles. We are able to’t act like he was completely loopy to really feel that; loads of Eagles followers have been equally aggravated with the crew’s offensive incompetence. However Brown didn’t categorical these emotions in essentially the most constructive method. It reached the purpose the place it was laborious to examine him being absolutely motivated as a member of the Eagles. His as soon as shut relationship with Jalen Hurts deteriorated.
Buying and selling Brown away wasn’t perfect. The Eagles acquired worse at receiver by shifting on from him. However holding him didn’t seem to be a tenable scenario. And that’s a disgrace as a result of Brown regarded fairly good to me after I noticed him follow towards the Eagles in Foxboro this summer season. I don’t purchase the concept that he’s in speedy decline. Sadly for him, he’s now coping with an damage that may trigger him to overlook time and maybe negatively impression him over the course of the complete 2026 season. We’ll see on that entrance. The Eagles, in the meantime, will look ahead to the 2027 fifth-round choose and 2028 first-round choose they obtained from the New England Patriots in change for Brown.
2 – Who fills in for Landon Dickerson? How massive of a loss is his damage for the Eagles’ offensive line?
Ought to I be just like the Eagles and attempt to obfuscate right here? Aggressive benefit within the SB Nation weblog Q&A change?!
Nah. That may be foolish. As foolish because the crew making an attempt to cover their seemingly apparent intentions? Who can say for positive.
Positive appears to me like Drew Kendall would be the man. He was the first-team left guard every time Dickerson missed reps or sat out of shape in coaching camp. Relationship again to the NFL Mix, there was phrase that the Eagles have been internally excessive on Kendall, a 2025 fifth-round choose. He then regarded good of their preseason video games this summer season.
Alternatively, there’s been some buzz concerning the Eagles shifting beginning heart Cam Jurgens to left guard and placing Kendall in at heart. That might make sense for the attitude that Kendall solely performed the pivot in school and thus lacks intensive guard expertise. However then there’s the matter of Jurgens missing expertise at left guard; he beforehand performed proper guard in 2023.
The Eagles confirmed a glance with veteran swing deal with Fred Johnson, who performed some guard earlier in his profession, throughout follow this week. I’d be shocked if he’s the Dickerson substitute since he didn’t play properly this summer season and he hasn’t performed guard in a very long time. Wee Willie Lampkin can be probably an element on this equation.
Finally, although, I’m leaning Kendall till I see in any other case.
Dropping Dickerson isn’t a giant deal by way of the participant that he was in Week 1. It regarded like he couldn’t transfer on the market. He admitted that he was a “full legal responsibility” towards the Washington Commanders. By advantage of him struggling a lot, his substitute must be an computerized improve, even when they’re not really all that nice.
3 – As you already know, the Eagles and Titans don’t play fairly often. Who’re a number of the under-the-radar gamers that we must always maintain an eye fixed out for?
Offense: Dontayvion Wicks. He’s solely performed one profession recreation towards the Titans, which got here early in 2024 as a member of the Inexperienced Bay Packers. Wicks noticed two targets for zero catches in that one. I’d anticipate him to be extra noticeable this time round. Wicks logged the longest reception of his profession final week in a win over Washington. With the Titans more likely to attempt to key in on stopping DeVonta Smith, Wicks ought to get some alternatives to win his matchups. His route-running savvy permits him to get open for Jalen Hurts, who has already developed strong chemistry along with his new goal.
Protection: Jalyx Hunt. The 2024 third-round choose had a stellar summer season for the Eagles. He wasn’t very energetic within the conventional field rating in Week 1 however Professional Soccer Focus charted him with 4 pressures. Whereas the Eagles needed to respect Jayden Daniels’ mobility in Week 1, I believe their move rush will be capable of assault Cam Ward extra aggressively this weekend. I may see Hunt having a giant recreation whereas going up towards Dan Moore at left deal with.
Actual deep lower: my man Darius Cooper, who deserves extra offensive taking part in time than he noticed in Week 1. Cooper logged 4 particular groups tackles towards the Commanders.
4 – If the Eagles may steal one participant from the Titans’ roster, who wouldn’t it be and why?
The Eagles are already robust at defensive deal with however Jalen Carter is now coping with a wrist damage that’s inflicting him to put on a solid. And the Eagles are counting on him to play loads of snaps. I’d steal Jeffery Simmons and strengthen the DT rotation. The mix of Simmons, Carter, Jordan Davis, and Moro Ojomo could be very nice. Opposing offensive traces would hate going through that group.
Honorable mentions: Peter Skoronski may step in to fill the outlet at left guard. I thought of Calvin Ridley or Carnell Tate since I’m undecided what to make of Makai Lemon as WR3 simply but.
5- What’s the most important matchup within the Eagles’ favor and the most important matchup towards their favor?
Largest matchup within the Eagles’ favor: Philly’s defensive entrance going up towards the Titans’ offensive line and Cam Ward. The Eagles generated stress on 19 of Jayden Daniels’ 38 dropbacks in Week 1. Was their move rush excellent? Hardly. They logged only one sack and two quarterback hits. However I’m prepared to imagine that the push was accounting for Daniels’ mobility; the Eagles did maintain his dashing manufacturing in verify. Vic Fangio’s protection ought to be capable of have extra success attacking Ward.
Largest matchup within the Titans’ favor: Jeffery Simmons towards the Eagles’ inside offensive line. The Birds might be beginning a backup at left guard and it’s not like Cam Jurgens, who struggled final yr, was lighting the world on fireplace. Tyler Steen is a strong starter at proper guard however not a Professional Bowler. Simmons having a giant recreation ought to work in the direction of stopping the Eagles’ offense discovering a rhythm. Which is one thing they actually didn’t have in Week 1 after they gained simply 10 first downs, second-fewest within the league.
6 – Who wins this recreation and why? With the Titans at the moment listed as 7-point dwelling underdogs, what’s your rating prediction?
The Eagles will win this recreation and canopy. I be ok with Fangio’s protection having the ability to trigger issues for Ward and a Titans offense that struggled towards the New York Jets final weekend. I don’t really feel superb concerning the Eagles’ offense as a collective proper now … however I do really feel inspired by what I noticed from Jalen Hurts towards the Commanders. He would possibly be capable of make some massive performs that find yourself being the distinction on this recreation, identical to he did towards Washington.
The Eagles come out on prime on this one to notch their first-ever win in Tennessee, 27 to 12.