Unlike most pundits, I do not say this is a “must win” game for the Eagles… But playing at home in early October, I will say this is a “you better win it” game… or all hell will break loose in the Philly media and the Philly fan base.
Patrick Willis, 6-2, 240, age 26, #1 Draft choice out of Mississippi (11th overall) in 2007, is the 49ers’ ace in the hole on defense…
FOX TV, 1 p.m. EST….TV announcers: Ron Pitts and Jim Mora (FOX)…Forecast: Showers possible early in the day. Partly cloudy in the afternoon. High 63. Winds from the south-southeast 5-10 mph. Chance of rain 30 percent (weather.com).
Keep an eye on: 49ers inside linebacker Patrick Willis (No. 52). He is widely considered the best inside linebacker in the NFL and one of the top defensive players regardless of position. The fifth-year star has 22 tackles this season and 617 in his career.
Defense is the 49ers’ strength. They rank seventh in total defense (306.3 yard per game) and third in rushing defense (62.7). Willis is as good as any middle linebacker in the league. Outside linebacker NaVorro Bowman leads the team in tackles. They statistically do not have much of a pass rush, with just seven sacks in three games…but don’t be surprised if they change it up and bring the house against Vick.
Key matchup: Eagles linebacker Moise Fokou (53) vs. 49er TE Vernon Davis (85). Both played for the University of Maryland, though they were not teammates. Davis leads the 49ers with 15 receptions for 179 yards. Fokou will be asked to cover him a lot, along with strong safety Jarrad Page.
The Niners are 2-1 despite a porous offensive line, little running game whatsoever, and a hapless, traumatized quarterback, Alex Smith, who’s had more head games implanted in his skull than any other QB in his seven years in the NFL. And the Eagles are 1-2 after blowing fourth-quarter leads in the last two games.
Mike Vick and his offensive teammates don’t expect to have it easy. The one thing besides an explosive element on special teams the Niners have going for them is a defense that’s been surprisingly extraordinary through the first three games. They have limited opponents to 2.9 yards per carry, with the longest run of the year being 13 yards, while holding quarterbacks to a 57.1 completion percentage and matching five touchdown passes allowed with five interceptions. What’s more, they’re giving up just 17.3 points per game and own an NFL-best turnover differential of +6.
The Eagles will have to step up big-time to win this thing and set the tone for their next game against Buffalo.
And as for those alleged late hits on Vick and what we will see in today’s performance by the zebras on those calls, here’s our esteemed GK Emeritus, Brizer himself, with some sharp observation:
“I have analyzed the plays to a millisecond that Vick is complaining about,..and I alluded to this earlier,..and it’s essentially being stuck between a rock and a hard place. Due to his release, mechanics, stance and follow thru, many of the “subjectively illegal” hits are not being called. And ..yes,..by at least partial virtue of that,..he’s holding on to the ball too long. Coach Marty and he are not always on the same page. His protection has improved since the preseason. He usually has the time…Bottomline,…he needs to make adjustments to his game,…know when to run, fold, and pass. And learn some deceptive QB practices,..a gripe I always had wiff # 5….his lack of pump fakes and ball hiding, ball handling skills… Prospice…”
Well said, GK…
We will update this blurb with the Inactives list early Sunday morning… Then we’ll turn it over to the smartest fans in the NFC East for Livefyre live-game commentary…
LEO’s LINE by Leo Pizzini
OK… another shot here in Week 4….10-5, 8-8, 8-8… so far… I hit a lot of scores and games that just didn’t hold up to late fourth quarter flurries… the OVER has been the thing… record-setting offenses…
DET 24 – DAL 20
NO 33 – JAC 17
PHI 27 – SF 13
WAS 28 – STL 16
CLE 19 – TEN 20
BUFF 27 – CIN 28
MIN 24 – KC 10
CHI 23 – CAR 27
HOU 28 – PIT 24
ATL 27 – SEA 15
NYG 23 – ARI 17
SD 30 – MIA 19
GB 36 – DEN 16
NE 35 – OAK 27
BAL 27 – NYJ 24
TB 26 – IND 12
Inactives for today’s game:
The Philadelphia Eagles have declared CB Brandon Hughes, CB Curtis Marsh, OG Danny Watkins, DL Darryl Tapp, OL Julian Vandervelde, DL Juqua Parker, OT Winston Justice inactive for Week 4.
The San Francisco 49ers have declared WR Braylon Edwards, OL Daniel Kilgore, DL Demarcus Dobbs, DL Ian Williams, OT Mike Person, FB Moran Norris, QB Scott Tolzien inactive for Week 4.
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