Post by motm on Sept 13, 2016 13:15:47 GMT -6
ESPN’s Monday Night Football returns to Soldier Field after a one-season hiatus when the Chicago Bears (0-1) host No. 2 overall pick Carson Wentz and the Philadelphia Eagles (1-0).
It’s a pivotal game for the Bears, who want to move on from their disappointing Week 1 loss in Houston. The Bears last played a Monday home game on Dec. 15, 2014 -- a date that lives in infamy in Chicago as the night Jay Cutler and the franchise imploded during a 31-15 loss to the New Orleans Saints in front of a nationally televised audience.
The defeat to the Texans notwithstanding, Cutler and the Bears are in better shape than two years ago. However, the Eagles, led by Wentz, are a tricky matchup for Chicago.
Here are six Philadelphia players to watch, courtesy of ESPN Eagles reporter Tim McManus.}
OFFENSE
QB Carson Wentz: The North Dakota State product was impressive in his debut Sunday against the Cleveland Browns, throwing a pair of touchdowns with no turnovers in a 29-10 Eagles win. He was a perfect 8-of-8 when Cleveland brought at least one extra on the pass rush, showed good command and made plenty of legit NFL throws. Now the question is whether he can keep it up. The Browns aren’t a particularly good team; the degree of difficulty is likely to go up on the road against this John Fox/Vic Fangio-led defense.
WR Nelson Agholor: The former first-round pick out of USC had a disappointing rookie season in 2015 thanks in part to a high ankle sprain that bothered him for much of the season, but got his sophomore campaign off to a positive start by beating cornerback Joe Haden en route to a key 35-yard touchdown against the Browns. The Eagles need other playmakers to step up with tight end Zach Ertz (rib
displacement) likely sidelined for Monday’s game.
TE Trey Burton: With Ertz injured, Burton could end up playing a pretty significant role against the Bears. The third-year vet out of Florida saw some action at wide receiver in college and can present a bit of a matchup challenge for safeties and linebackers. He missed the opener against Cleveland with a calf strain but is expected to suit up this week.
DEFENSE
CB Jalen Mills: Starting cornerback Leodis McKelvin strained his hamstring against the Browns and is considered week to week. If he can’t go, Mills could very well see an increased role. The rookie seventh-round pick out of LSU had an impressive training camp, particularly early, but this will be a big test against Alshon Jeffery and company.
MLB Jordan Hicks: Hicks has proven to be an effective playmaker in his short time on the field in the NFL. He racked up 54 tackles, two interceptions and three fumble recoveries in half-a-season his rookie year before being sidelined with a pectoral injury, and he came up with an athletic deflection on Sunday that led to a Rodney McLeod interception. He can be a handful.
DT Fletcher Cox: The Eagles’ best player resides along the defensive front. Cox, who led the team with 9.5 sacks and 16.5 tackles for loss last year, is given the freedom to attack in Jim Schwartz’s scheme after playing the last few seasons in a two-gap 3-4 system. Lining up inside and out, Cox registered a sack, a pair of QB hits and a TFL against the Browns. He’ll probably draw plenty of double-teams on Monday night.
Link: www.espn.com/blog/chicago-bears/post/_/id/4703659/can-bears-stop-the-carson-wentz-hype
It’s a pivotal game for the Bears, who want to move on from their disappointing Week 1 loss in Houston. The Bears last played a Monday home game on Dec. 15, 2014 -- a date that lives in infamy in Chicago as the night Jay Cutler and the franchise imploded during a 31-15 loss to the New Orleans Saints in front of a nationally televised audience.
The defeat to the Texans notwithstanding, Cutler and the Bears are in better shape than two years ago. However, the Eagles, led by Wentz, are a tricky matchup for Chicago.
Here are six Philadelphia players to watch, courtesy of ESPN Eagles reporter Tim McManus.}
OFFENSE
QB Carson Wentz: The North Dakota State product was impressive in his debut Sunday against the Cleveland Browns, throwing a pair of touchdowns with no turnovers in a 29-10 Eagles win. He was a perfect 8-of-8 when Cleveland brought at least one extra on the pass rush, showed good command and made plenty of legit NFL throws. Now the question is whether he can keep it up. The Browns aren’t a particularly good team; the degree of difficulty is likely to go up on the road against this John Fox/Vic Fangio-led defense.
WR Nelson Agholor: The former first-round pick out of USC had a disappointing rookie season in 2015 thanks in part to a high ankle sprain that bothered him for much of the season, but got his sophomore campaign off to a positive start by beating cornerback Joe Haden en route to a key 35-yard touchdown against the Browns. The Eagles need other playmakers to step up with tight end Zach Ertz (rib
displacement) likely sidelined for Monday’s game.
TE Trey Burton: With Ertz injured, Burton could end up playing a pretty significant role against the Bears. The third-year vet out of Florida saw some action at wide receiver in college and can present a bit of a matchup challenge for safeties and linebackers. He missed the opener against Cleveland with a calf strain but is expected to suit up this week.
DEFENSE
CB Jalen Mills: Starting cornerback Leodis McKelvin strained his hamstring against the Browns and is considered week to week. If he can’t go, Mills could very well see an increased role. The rookie seventh-round pick out of LSU had an impressive training camp, particularly early, but this will be a big test against Alshon Jeffery and company.
MLB Jordan Hicks: Hicks has proven to be an effective playmaker in his short time on the field in the NFL. He racked up 54 tackles, two interceptions and three fumble recoveries in half-a-season his rookie year before being sidelined with a pectoral injury, and he came up with an athletic deflection on Sunday that led to a Rodney McLeod interception. He can be a handful.
DT Fletcher Cox: The Eagles’ best player resides along the defensive front. Cox, who led the team with 9.5 sacks and 16.5 tackles for loss last year, is given the freedom to attack in Jim Schwartz’s scheme after playing the last few seasons in a two-gap 3-4 system. Lining up inside and out, Cox registered a sack, a pair of QB hits and a TFL against the Browns. He’ll probably draw plenty of double-teams on Monday night.
Link: www.espn.com/blog/chicago-bears/post/_/id/4703659/can-bears-stop-the-carson-wentz-hype
