Eagles Get Ready To Face The Struggling Panthers
PHILADELPHIA (CBS) -- The Carolina Panthers surprised many of the experts when they won the NFC South last season. This fall, the Panthers are surprising the experts in a different way.
Carolina has stumbled to a 3-5-1 start over its first nine games. The Panthers will be desperate to keep their playoff hopes alive as they take the field against the Eagles on Monday Night. Despite Carolina's record, Chip Kelly knows his team will face a formidable foe with two of the best linebackers in football.
"It's the best pair we'll face," said Kelly. "I think (Luke) Kuechly leads the league in tackles. He's a tackling machine. Thomas Davis, the other linebacker, can really run. He's a physical presence out there. They go together hand in hand. They're on the field all the time."
Eagles Tight End Zach Ertz is well aware of Kuechly's skills. He will likely have more than a few collisions with the linebacker on Monday Night.
"Luke is a great player," Ertz said. "He and I were in the same recruiting class. We took our official visit to Stanford at the same time. I've known him for a long time. He's an unbelievable football player and the rest of their defense is pretty much the same. They're very physical and very talented."
While the Eagles offense will have its hands full with the likes of Kuechly, the defense will have to contain Cam Newton. The Panthers quarterback has struggled in recent weeks, completing just 22 passes in his last two games combined. However, Safety Nate Allen is well aware that Newton can change a game every time he steps on the field.
"He's a heck of an athlete," said Allen. "He's a big body. We've got to stay disciplined in the secondary. Once he gets out of the pocket, he can still throw the ball down the field."
Turnovers can make a difference in a game, and the Eagles have had their share of giveaways this season. Kelly is hoping his team will clean up its mistakes on Monday and not give the Panthers a short field to work with at any time.
"It's part of the whole process," Kelly said. "I don't think you're ever going to play a perfect game, but you're always striving to play a perfect game. We come out of every game knowing there are still things we need to do to continue to get better."
Nick Foles was the only Eagle listed on the team's injury report. Kelly said Foles will be re-evaluated in a couple of weeks.
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