Riding That Horse To Victory: Eagles Vs. Broncos Week 16 Game.
With a playoff spot secured and the holiday season in full swing, the Eagles upcoming game against the visiting Denver Broncos should be even better than hoped for. Add to that, and Brian Dawkins will be making his long-awaited return to Philadelphia in the game, of course as a part of the Broncos team, not the one he spent 13 thrilling years with. For the 10-4 Birds, a win is definitely not a necessity, but if they intend on competing for the crown of the NFC East division, a victory would certainly not hurt. And for the Orange Crush, who sit at 8-6, a win is needed to stay in the hunt for the postseason in the AFC. In this preview of tomorrows Week 16 showdown, individual player matchups and key aspects are among many things analyzed and evaluated. In addition to this, a detailed and updated injury report is provided, as well as a few tips on what to look for in the game. So, whether youre just beginning a holiday tradition or are relaxing from it, get excited and read up, for the Eagles and Broncos are almost set to square off in what should be a high-intensity contest, and perhaps one of the best games the NFL hosts this week!
Week 16 Opponent: Denver Broncos
2008 Record: 8-8
Last Meeting Between Teams: Week 8, 2005. PHI-21 DEN-49
Game Location: Lincoln Financial Field (Philadelphia, Pennsylvania)
Evaluation: The Broncos seemingly made a transaction of stupidity when they traded away their franchise QB Jay Cutler in the offseason, but the passer they got in the dealKyle Ortonhas been a surprisingly big part of the team this year. The Denver running game was based primarily on Correll Buckhalter early in the year, but highly-regarded rookie Knowshon Moreno has since assumed the starting Running Back role. The receiving corps, although awfully inconsistent, has been led by the talented wideout Brandon Marshall, and the defense is the holder of several talents like ex-Eagle Brian Dawkins, CBs Champ Bailey and Andre Goodman, as well as LBs D.J. Williams and Elvis Dumervil. The Broncos quite possibly could have been locked in as their divisions champion and had a playoff spot secured if it werent for a horrid streak of their last 8 games, in which they lost 6. Denver began the season with extreme confidence, winning their first 6 matchups. But apparently they are not yet capable of maintaining a significant lead in playoff contention, for it will now be two consecutive seasons in which the Broncos began well but finished the season in a tense situation. With virtually everything on the line in this game, the Eagles can simply not overlook Denver, for they are sure to be determined, but then again, if things are executed properly on Phillys side of the ball, a win shouldnt be too tough of a task.
Key Matchups:
- CB Asante Samuel (PHI) vs. WR Brandon Marshall (DEN): Samuel has been outstanding as of late in terms of calculating his opponents receiving routes and jumping them, which has often resulted in an interception. Nevertheless, Marshall has clearly been QB Kyle Ortons go-to guy this year in the receiving corps (the 4th-year target currently has 93 receptions on the season, 21 of which came in a record-breaking performance several weeks ago). At 64 and 230 lbs., Marshall is a physical wideout, so Samuel will need to play as hard as he can to withstand the strength of the Bronco. As weve seen countless times, Samuel has covered well, but on short passes, has been unable to make a tackle in most cases. Against a big guy like Brandon Marshall, hell either need to fine-tune his tackling skills quickly, have others help him in bringing him down, or simply not allow the receiver to catch many passes.
- OT Winston Justice (PHI) vs. OLB Elvis Dumervil (DEN): Dumervil is one of Denvers 3-4 Outside Linebackers, meaning he plays primarily as a Defensive End that merely stands up as a Linebacker and occasionally drifts into coverage. He is often rotated from side to side on the field, but it is expected his primary individual opponent will be RT Winston Justice, who has been surprisingly one of the most consistent offensive lineman on the Eagles roster. Dumervil has utilized his speed and agility to rack up a total of 15 sacks thus far, and is determined to help his team turn the ball over tomorrow and boost Denver to an upset victory. Justice will need to be patient and play smart against a quick player like Dumervil, and this matchup might prove to be the difference maker in terms of the Eagles ability to keep balance on the right side of the line and/or run the ball to the right side of the field.
- FS Sean Jones/SS Quintin Mikell (PHI) vs. QB Kyle Orton (DEN): Because Denvers Quarterback, Kyle Orton, tends not to make too many mistakes that give the other team possession of the ball (interceptions, fumbles, etc.), a key will be forcing the passer to do so. While the Eagles Cornerbacks will have to do a good job containing Brandon Marshall and the other WRs, Sean Jones and Quintin Mikell (the Birds Safeties) will have the responsibility of looking over the routes and plans of Ortons direction on the field. If they can create a mismatch in the secondary and/or create additional pressure on Orton, a turnover is bound to happen. If a mistake can be forced, there is a much greater chance that the Eagles can separate themselves in the game and take a comfortable lead.
- WR DeSean Jackson (PHI) vs. P Mitch Berger (DEN): Although this player battle may seem a bit strange simply by the matchups contestants, but Jackson plays a big role on special teams, as does Berger for the Broncos. In what could be a game decided in part by field positioning and capitalized opportunities, this key pair of players could make a bigger difference than expected. While Jackson is a dangerous punt returner, Berger could keep his team from harm by making consistent boots that will somehow limit Jacksons return yardage, or take it all away completely. In an interesting side note, Berger began his career with the Eagles back in 1994, but in all seriousness, his competition with Jackson on special teams might prove significant.
What to Watch For
- The biggest thing to look for in tomorrows game probably shouldnt have to be pointed outthe return of Brian Dawkins. The Denver defensive back has already set a career-high total in terms of total tackles this season as a member of the Broncos, but the true reason for what will likely be a celebrated return on Sunday is the time that Dawkinsalso known as Weapon Xspent with the Birds. From 1996 to 2008, the hard-hitting Free Safety earned a whopping 7 Pro-Bowl appearances and tied the franchise mark for most career interceptions (34) while patrolling the secondary in midnight green. As mentioned in a previous article, Dawkins will be introduced via the Lincoln Financial Field stadium speakers prior to the game, and there is no question that you should be on the lookout for the longtime Eagle who will be competing for his new team tomorrow.
- In addition to Dawkins return, another well-known former Eagle will be making his return to Philadelphia, but because of the Dawkins drama, his has not been as celebrated. RB Correll Buckhalter, who was drafted by the Birds in 2001 and spent 8 solid seasons as a reserve runner despite injury struggles, will be suiting up for the Broncos as well, and although he isnt expected to see as much playing time as Dawkins, who is an official starter, he will probably be on the field quite a few times, so keep an eye on Buck when he gets his chances.
- When it became apparent the Eagles were likely going to select a Running Back in the 2009 Draft, Knowshon Moreno was listed by many as who they thought Philadelphia was indeed going to grab. The product of the University of Georgia was atop hundreds of Draft experts charts in terms of the best available runners, and with the Eagles 1st-round selection of Jeremy Maclin, they opted to wait until the 2nd round to take a RB, which turned out to be LeSean McCoy. By a few that were somewhat upset the Eagles didnt select him, Moreno was dubbed the future of the Eagles RB position that never happened, and fans can finally get a good look at the elusive rookie when he takes carries for the Broncos on Sunday.
Injury Report (Eagles):
QB Michael Vick (thigh/quad muscle contusion) Questionable
RB Brian Westbrook (concussion) Probable
WR Jeremy Maclin (torn plantar fascia) Probable
WR Kevin Curtis (surgical recovery; sprained knee) Probable
WR Reggie Brown (shoulder pain) Probable
OG Nick Cole (knee pain) Probable
DE Trent Cole (bruised hamstring) Probable
DE Victor Abiamiri (sprained knee) Probable
DT Mike Patterson (bruised wrist) Probable
OLB Akeem Jordan (hyper-extended knee) Probable
FS Quintin Demps (sprained ankle) Questionable
Projected Team Lineups:
Even though a playoff spot has been clinched, there is no reason to stop watching Eagles regular season football now! A hunt for the NFC East is on, and the first roadblock is Denverlets go ride that horse to victory!
(picture source)
