5 Reasons Why The Eagles Will Beat The Colts
PHILADELPHIA (CBS) --- The Indianapolis Colts are a scary football team. They have offensive weapons like Andrew Luck, Reggie Wayne, and T.Y. Hilton. They won a playoff game last year, in historic fashion, as the Colts became only the second playoff team ever to comeback from a 28-point deficit. Last Sunday in week one, despite falling behind 24-0 in the first half, they fought back before eventually losing 31-24 to the defending AFC Champion Denver Broncos.
The Philadelphia Eagles head to Indianapolis to take on Luck and those Colts on Monday Night Football this week. The Birds are three-point underdogs, but all bias aside, I think the Eagles win big. Here's five reasons why the Birds beat the Colts on Monday Night.
5. Ebb and Flow
The good 'ole ebb and flow of the NFL schedule. Some weeks it gets you, and for the Colts, this is their week.
The Colts are coming off a grueling, emotional seven-point comeback loss at Denver, against Peyton Manning and the defending AFC Champs in a Sunday Night Football nationally televised game to start the season. The Eagles, on the other hand, are coming off a 17-point 1:00 p.m E.T. home win over the Jacksonville Jaguars (not that it was easy or anything).
I could be reaching for straws here, but stick with me.
4. No Robert Mathis
In 2013 the Colts were tied for 11th in the NFL with 42.0 sacks. Robert Mathis had 19.5 of them, to go along with eight forced fumbles, leading the NFL in both of those categories. Mathis was suspended for the first four games of the season, and now, is out for the entire season after tearing his Achilles tendon.
The Eagles' biggest question mark heading into this game? Offensive line, as they are dealing with injuries to Allen Barbre and Evan Mathis, to go along with a four-game suspension to Lane Johnson. The Birds' o-line catches a break with no Mathis this week.
3. The Colts are one-dimensional
Trent Richardson stinks. Ahmad Bradshaw is inconsistent and unreliable. So, the Colts run game is bad.
Last year, the Colts acquired Richardson after week two. In 14 games with Indy, Richardson had 157 carries for 458 yards. That's 2.9 yards per carry, for those counting at home. As a team, the Colts were tied for 20th in the NFL in rushing with 108.9 yards per game. On Sunday night against the Broncos, the Colts had only nine non-Luck rushing attempts for a grand total of 35 whole yards. Putrid.
The Eagles ranked 10th in the NFL last season, allowing only 104.3 yards per game on the ground. In week one, the Eagles gave up just 64 yards rushing, good for 5th best in the NFL. Yes it was the Jaguars, but it's pretty clear the Colts will throw a lot on Monday night. If I can figure that out, I'm sure Chip and Billy Davis can too.
2. The Colts can't stop the run, and the Eagles are really, really good at that
Let's completely reverse point No. 3. The Colts can't stop the run. They play a 3-4 and have below average linebackers, at best.
In 2013, the Colts allowed 125.1 rushing yards per game, good for seventh worst in football. The Eagles averaged 160.4 rushing yards per game last year, over 15 yards per game better than the second ranked rushing team, Buffalo. Add Darren Sproles to the reigning NFL rushing champion in LeSean McCoy, and you get 145 rushing yards on 32 attempts against a solid Jacksonville defensive front in week one of 2014.
The Eagles will own the ground attack on offense and defense against Indy.
1. It's Monday Night Football...
...and Chip Kelly is undefeated (1-0) on Monday Night Football. We all remember what he did to Washington in his first game as NFL head coach. Now, he has 17 regular season games (11-6) and a playoff game under his belt. I'll take Chip and the points.
And if the Colts win, it'll simply be because I "Mushed" the Eagles.
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