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1. File this under "all-time quirky stats." The Jets have never -- repeat, never -- defeated the Eagles in a regular-season game. The mark is 0-9, the last loss coming in 2011 -- the 45-19 blowout in which Santonio Holmes made a fool of himself by flapping his arms like an eagle after a meaningless touchdown. So, yeah, the Jets could make history this week. The Eagles are the only team they've never beaten.
2. The underachieving Eagles could be facing more scrutiny this week than any team in the league. They were positively dreadful in a 20-10 loss to the Dallas Cowboys, falling to 0-2 for the first time since 2007. Fans and media in Philly still are trying to figure out of Chip Kelly is a used-car salesman or a genius whose handiwork has yet to take shape. Right now, it's looking like the former. He ripped apart the roster in the offseason, unloading running back LeSean McCoy, quarterback Nick Foles, key offensive linemen and others. Angry Eagles fans (are there any other kind?) will note that Kelly has dropped five of his last six regular-season games, dating to last December's collapse.
3. The Jets are on some kind of roll, as they will face yet another opponent dealing with some degree of turmoil. Previously, they faced the Cleveland Browns (suspended offensive-line coach) and the Indianapolis Colts (reported rift between the coach and general manager). Didn't the Jets used to be these teams?
4. Journalists don't root for teams, but we do root for storylines. That said, wouldn't it be cool if Mark Sanchez gets a chance to face his former team? Kelly is sticking with Sam Bradford for now, but you have to think he'd go to the bullpen if the offense continues to sputter. Sanchez was supposed to lead the Jets for more than decade, but stuff happened, including a senseless shoulder injury in a meaningless preseason game (August, 2013). His starting record was 4-4 for the Eagles last season (88.4 passer rating), as he played well enough to survive the Kelly purge. He signed a two-year, $9 million contract, but was passed over for the starting job when Kelly traded for Bradford. Even if Sanchez doesn't play, it'll be weird seeing him on the opposite sideline. His successor, Geno Smith, also will be on the sideline, making it doubly weird.
5. Bradford looked hopeless against the Cowboys. He threw two interceptions, missed open receivers and finished with a 5.3 QBR, which pretty much says it all. Get this: He didn't complete a pass thrown more than one yard past the line of scrimmage until the second half, according to ESPN Stats & Information. The Eagles had only 21 total yards in the first half, their lowest since 1994. And to think, Kelly is supposed to be an offensive whiz. He gave Bradford a vote of confidence, but what did you expect him to say? It would've been a self-indictment if he had benched Bradford after only two games.
6. DeMarco Murray has been one of the biggest disappointments in the league. After trading McCoy, the Eagles stole Murray from the Cowboys, signing him to a five-year, $40 million contract in free agency. So far, he's off to a historically bad start -- 11 rushing yards on 21 carries. The 11-yard total represents the fewest in the first two games for a defending rushing champion in nearly 80 years, according to Elias. In 1936, Doug Russell rushed for 11 yards for the Chicago Cardinals, the only two games he played that year. Murray doesn't appear to be a good fit in Kelly's scheme. Consider: 18 of his 21 carries have been from the shotgun. The Cowboys didn't use him that way. In Dallas, only 36 rushes last season came in the shotgun. Earth to Chip: It might be a good time to tweak the scheme.
7. But let's not blame it all on Murray. His blocking has been non-existent, and that goes on Kelly, who dumped his starting guards in the offseason. He replaced Evan Mathis and Todd Herremans with a pair of journeymen, Jason Gardner and Allen Barbre. The run blocking has been so poor that Murray has been hit at or behind the line of scrimmage on 10 of his 21 carries, according to ESPN Stats. It has to be culture shock for Murray, who went from perhaps the best offensive line in the NFL to one of the worst.
8. It happens every year in free agency: A team falls in love with a complementary player from a Super Bowl team and dramatically overpays. It's the Larry Brown Syndrome. The Eagles did it with former Seattle Seahawks cornerback Byron Maxwell, whom they landed with a six-year, $63 million contract. So far, Maxwell has allowed 14 completions for 253 yards and two touchdowns, according to Pro Football Focus. On Sunday, he played non-competitive coverage on Cowboys receiver Terrance Williams, who burned him for a 42-yard touchdown on a basic slant route. Worse, Maxwell made a half-hearted effort to chase him down.
9. As if the Eagles don't have enough worries, they have injury issues. Linebacker Kiko Alonso, whom they acquired in the McCoy trade, sprained his surgically repaired ACL and won't play on Sunday. Fellow inside linebacker Mychal Kendricks (hamstring) is iffy for the game.
10. The Jets should be worried about one aspect of the Eagles -- their up-tempo offense. They run a play from scrimmage every 30.6 seconds in real time, the fastest offense in the league, according to ESPN Stats. That could be physically taxing for an opponent on a short week, like the Jets.
http://espn.go.com/blog/nflnation/print?id=180542
2. The underachieving Eagles could be facing more scrutiny this week than any team in the league. They were positively dreadful in a 20-10 loss to the Dallas Cowboys, falling to 0-2 for the first time since 2007. Fans and media in Philly still are trying to figure out of Chip Kelly is a used-car salesman or a genius whose handiwork has yet to take shape. Right now, it's looking like the former. He ripped apart the roster in the offseason, unloading running back LeSean McCoy, quarterback Nick Foles, key offensive linemen and others. Angry Eagles fans (are there any other kind?) will note that Kelly has dropped five of his last six regular-season games, dating to last December's collapse.
3. The Jets are on some kind of roll, as they will face yet another opponent dealing with some degree of turmoil. Previously, they faced the Cleveland Browns (suspended offensive-line coach) and the Indianapolis Colts (reported rift between the coach and general manager). Didn't the Jets used to be these teams?
4. Journalists don't root for teams, but we do root for storylines. That said, wouldn't it be cool if Mark Sanchez gets a chance to face his former team? Kelly is sticking with Sam Bradford for now, but you have to think he'd go to the bullpen if the offense continues to sputter. Sanchez was supposed to lead the Jets for more than decade, but stuff happened, including a senseless shoulder injury in a meaningless preseason game (August, 2013). His starting record was 4-4 for the Eagles last season (88.4 passer rating), as he played well enough to survive the Kelly purge. He signed a two-year, $9 million contract, but was passed over for the starting job when Kelly traded for Bradford. Even if Sanchez doesn't play, it'll be weird seeing him on the opposite sideline. His successor, Geno Smith, also will be on the sideline, making it doubly weird.
5. Bradford looked hopeless against the Cowboys. He threw two interceptions, missed open receivers and finished with a 5.3 QBR, which pretty much says it all. Get this: He didn't complete a pass thrown more than one yard past the line of scrimmage until the second half, according to ESPN Stats & Information. The Eagles had only 21 total yards in the first half, their lowest since 1994. And to think, Kelly is supposed to be an offensive whiz. He gave Bradford a vote of confidence, but what did you expect him to say? It would've been a self-indictment if he had benched Bradford after only two games.
6. DeMarco Murray has been one of the biggest disappointments in the league. After trading McCoy, the Eagles stole Murray from the Cowboys, signing him to a five-year, $40 million contract in free agency. So far, he's off to a historically bad start -- 11 rushing yards on 21 carries. The 11-yard total represents the fewest in the first two games for a defending rushing champion in nearly 80 years, according to Elias. In 1936, Doug Russell rushed for 11 yards for the Chicago Cardinals, the only two games he played that year. Murray doesn't appear to be a good fit in Kelly's scheme. Consider: 18 of his 21 carries have been from the shotgun. The Cowboys didn't use him that way. In Dallas, only 36 rushes last season came in the shotgun. Earth to Chip: It might be a good time to tweak the scheme.
7. But let's not blame it all on Murray. His blocking has been non-existent, and that goes on Kelly, who dumped his starting guards in the offseason. He replaced Evan Mathis and Todd Herremans with a pair of journeymen, Jason Gardner and Allen Barbre. The run blocking has been so poor that Murray has been hit at or behind the line of scrimmage on 10 of his 21 carries, according to ESPN Stats. It has to be culture shock for Murray, who went from perhaps the best offensive line in the NFL to one of the worst.
8. It happens every year in free agency: A team falls in love with a complementary player from a Super Bowl team and dramatically overpays. It's the Larry Brown Syndrome. The Eagles did it with former Seattle Seahawks cornerback Byron Maxwell, whom they landed with a six-year, $63 million contract. So far, Maxwell has allowed 14 completions for 253 yards and two touchdowns, according to Pro Football Focus. On Sunday, he played non-competitive coverage on Cowboys receiver Terrance Williams, who burned him for a 42-yard touchdown on a basic slant route. Worse, Maxwell made a half-hearted effort to chase him down.
9. As if the Eagles don't have enough worries, they have injury issues. Linebacker Kiko Alonso, whom they acquired in the McCoy trade, sprained his surgically repaired ACL and won't play on Sunday. Fellow inside linebacker Mychal Kendricks (hamstring) is iffy for the game.
10. The Jets should be worried about one aspect of the Eagles -- their up-tempo offense. They run a play from scrimmage every 30.6 seconds in real time, the fastest offense in the league, according to ESPN Stats. That could be physically taxing for an opponent on a short week, like the Jets.
http://espn.go.com/blog/nflnation/print?id=180542
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