If Eagles win and Bears lose this weekend do you think Eagles play their starters week 18 or no?

2 minutes ago, eagle45 said:

The biggest knock on Coop is his position. But for what he does, he’s as all pro as it gets. Mitchell is a true all pro. Baun…I do think he belongs for the pro bowl designation. Davis too,

Commentators are starting to talk him up during broadcasts. Davis will likely get a second team AP nod this season. Maybe even enter the NFL top 100 next summer.

DT is a stat starved position. Stuff like that needs to happen before the national fanbase starts voting for him.

10 minutes ago, Sack that QB said:

If Eagles win and Bears lose this weekend do you think Eagles play their starters week 18 or no?

Honestly, I think Nick will sit the starters week 18 no matter what. They will have played 8 straight weeks since the bye, and plenty of guys could use the rest. I don't think Nick will see enough of a difference between the 2 and 3 seeds to justify it. The counter is Jalen and Nick are undefeated at the Linc in the playoffs, and winless on the road (excluding neutral site), so guaranteeing a home divisional round game could be huge. But I just think Nick will look at what happened last year and go with that plan again.

So I want to do a point by point argument for resting everyone against the Bills. I just can’t see it any other way. The goal we all want is for the eagles to be healthy, effective, and hitting on all cylinders in the playoffs.

Let’s start with defense. The defense only needs to sustain what they are already doing in the playoffs. What is their biggest liability? It’s not CB2. It’s the number of snaps they have played this year after being hung out to dry by their offense. Just playing a tough bills offense in cold weather help that? Or does an extra game off help to wipe the slate clean with their high snap counts?

Now the offense. Everyone has debated Hurts and Pattulo as a major problem for this offense with no consensus. What’s the one common denominator that everyone agrees on? The universal common thread for the 2025 regression is the collapse of the OLs run blocking. This is inarguably due to an offensive line that is not healthy and has been denied the opportunity to rest and recover from their injuries while playing hurt all year long. What is more likely to get this offensive line right? 21 calendar days of rest and maybe the healthiest offensive line we’ve seen since week one…or getting in a 16th game of work against a very good bills team in 20° weather? And what is more likely to get this offense hitting the right notes? The 16th game in what will be very difficult weather to execute or extra rest? They had 15 games and couldn’t get it right. They don’t need one more; they need health and rest. This is a veteran offense with extensive playoff experience. Rest >>> getting work and vibes in amidst 20° weather. A healthy OL can do far more to change the complexion of this offense than anything they’d accomplish in Buffalo.

Do we forget playing the starters in a meaningless game in 2023 just so they could look bad and AJ could sustain an injury that wiped him out of the playoffs?

Looking at the schedule - Chicago losing out seems very possible. At SF next Sunday night against a 49ers team that could win out and earn the 1 seed. The question will be - does Detroit have anything to play for in week 18? And does it matter, since Campbell already showed he'll play everyone regardless to hurt a rival (week 18 in 2022 to knock of GB and Rodgers). Baltimore at GB this Saturday will determine if Detroit has any hope -- if GB wins, Detroit is out (even if they lose, Detroit would need to win out and have GB lose to Minnesota week 18). Also, the 49ers being the one seed seems like it is going to happen, as I think they beat Chicago and Seattle at home the next 2 weeks (nice to get back to back home games, wonder how that feels). Biggest issue for us is can we win out?

This is a very realistic scenario:

9 minutes ago, vikas83 said:

Looking at the schedule - Chicago losing out seems very possible. At SF next Sunday night against a 49ers team that could win out and earn the 1 seed. The question will be - does Detroit have anything to play for in week 18? And does it matter, since Campbell already showed he'll play everyone regardless to hurt a rival (week 18 in 2022 to knock of GB and Rodgers). Baltimore at GB this Saturday will determine if Detroit has any hope -- if GB wins, Detroit is out (even if they lose, Detroit would need to win out and have GB lose to Minnesota week 18). Also, the 49ers being the one seed seems like it is going to happen, as I think they beat Chicago and Seattle at home the next 2 weeks (nice to get back to back home games, wonder how that feels). Biggest issue for us is can we win out?

This is a very realistic scenario:

Admittedly, they are all capable of winning the Super Bowl. It's one game and the ball isn't round. But is there a team in the AFC that really scares you?

28 minutes ago, eagle45 said:

So I want to do a point by point argument for resting everyone against the Bills. I just can’t see it any other way. The goal we all want is for the eagles to be healthy, effective, and hitting on all cylinders in the playoffs.

Let’s start with defense. The defense only needs to sustain what they are already doing in the playoffs. What is their biggest liability? It’s not CB2. It’s the number of snaps they have played this year after being hung out to dry by their offense. Just playing a tough bills offense in cold weather help that? Or does an extra game off help to wipe the slate clean with their high snap counts?

Now the offense. Everyone has debated Hurts and Pattulo as a major problem for this offense with no consensus. What’s the one common denominator that everyone agrees on? The universal common thread for the 2025 regression is the collapse of the OLs run blocking. This is inarguably due to an offensive line that is not healthy and has been denied the opportunity to rest and recover from their injuries while playing hurt all year long. What is more likely to get this offensive line right? 21 calendar days of rest and maybe the healthiest offensive line we’ve seen since week one…or getting in a 16th game of work against a very good bills team in 20° weather? And what is more likely to get this offense hitting the right notes? The 16th game in what will be very difficult weather to execute or extra rest? They had 15 games and couldn’t get it right. They don’t need one more; they need health and rest. This is a veteran offense with extensive playoff experience. Rest >>> getting work and vibes in amidst 20° weather. A healthy OL can do far more to change the complexion of this offense than anything they’d accomplish in Buffalo.

Do we forget playing the starters in a meaningless game in 2023 just so they could look bad and AJ could sustain an injury that wiped him out of the playoffs?

If Chicago played in the early slot and they knew the result of that game had they won, I could maybe see this. But they won't rest guys this week knowing that the 2 seed is still in play since Chicago plays Sunday night.

12 minutes ago, vikas83 said:

Patullo struggled to make the Sirianni/Moore version of the offense (run the ball, take shots downfield, no turnovers) work with a lesser OL against defenses that were loading up against the run. After the loss to the Giants, the FO told Sirianni to find a better approach.

It has been Patullo expanding the playbook and game plan. It takes time to practice and install new concepts and we are seeing the offense continually evolve. There is more diversity to the game plans (under-center against the Raiders then empty against the Commanders). He is the solution.

This is my take and will die on the mountain.

4 minutes ago, Connecticut Eagle said:

Admittedly, they are all capable of winning the Super Bowl. It's one game and the ball isn't round. But is there a team in the AFC that really scares you?

Honestly, Buffalo. Because of the QB. I can't get too stressed about any of the others. Denver -- Bo Nix isn't good, and Payton is a choke artist. New England -- Maye is too young and they have had a cake schedule. Jacksonville - not buying that Trevor Lawrence is good. Chargers -- Herbert craps his pants in every big game. Steelers -- one and done is their thing. Houston -- CJ Stroud scares no one.

If Allen doesn't win the AFC in a year with no Mahomes, no Jackson and no Burrow...he'll never win it. But he can always go Superman and win a game by himself.

48 minutes ago, Sack that QB said:

If Eagles win and Bears lose this weekend do you think Eagles play their starters week 18 or no?

I do think we play for the 2nd seed. Too huge not to.

3 minutes ago, vikas83 said:

Honestly, Buffalo. Because of the QB. I can't get too stressed about any of the others. Denver -- Bo Nix isn't good, and Payton is a choke artist. New England -- Maye is too young and they have had a cake schedule. Jacksonville - not buying that Trevor Lawrence is good. Chargers -- Herbert craps his pants in every big game. Steelers -- one and done is their thing. Houston -- CJ Stroud scares no one.

If Allen doesn't win the AFC in a year with no Mahomes, no Jackson and no Burrow...he'll never win it. But he can always go Superman and win a game by himself.

I agree with this but i think jags have a good defense and getting better. Plus coen has done wonders with mayfield prior to this year and now Lawrence. Do i think Lawrence keeps up this last month pace? No but i do think he’s much better than previous years due to coen

24 minutes ago, vikas83 said:

Looking at the schedule - Chicago losing out seems very possible. At SF next Sunday night against a 49ers team that could win out and earn the 1 seed. The question will be - does Detroit have anything to play for in week 18? And does it matter, since Campbell already showed he'll play everyone regardless to hurt a rival (week 18 in 2022 to knock of GB and Rodgers). Baltimore at GB this Saturday will determine if Detroit has any hope -- if GB wins, Detroit is out (even if they lose, Detroit would need to win out and have GB lose to Minnesota week 18). Also, the 49ers being the one seed seems like it is going to happen, as I think they beat Chicago and Seattle at home the next 2 weeks (nice to get back to back home games, wonder how that feels). Biggest issue for us is can we win out?

This is a very realistic scenario:

And if SF wins out and gets 1, we DEFINITELY want the 2, so you have to play starters the last week, imo.

I don't think Jordan Davis is making All-Pro

Just looking at stats and comparing him to the league, Tackles and Defended Passes are his strong suits. QB hits is his weakest. Sacks is still average at best.

	PD	INT	FF	Sacks	Tackles (combined)	TFL	QB Hits	Safety
Jordan Davis	6	0	0	4.5	65	9	6	0
Chris Jones	2	0	0	4	24	9	19	0
Dexter Lawrence	4	1	0	0.5	27	3	8	0
Cam Heyward	6	0	0	3.5	66	8	8	0
Jeffery Simmons	3	0	2	9	58	16	19	1
Quinnen Williams	1	1	3	2.5	48	9	11	0
Jalen Carter	6	0	0	2	32	4	11	0
Leonard Williams	1	0	0	7	59	9	22	0
Derrick Brown	7	0	1	5	54	5	10	0
Kobie Turner	3	1	0	7	42	8	13	0
Zach Allen	6	0	0	6.5	35	3	43	0
Brandon Dorlus	0	0	0	7.5	26	10	10	0
Byron Murphy II	0	0	0	7.5	57	7	12	0
Maliek Collins	0	0	0	6.5	25	7	13	0

Simmons, Zach Allen (43 QB hits is insane) are probably first team.

Davis could be in conversation for 2nd team I suppose. I just don't know if he's done enough to clearly be better than a Leonard Williams, Kobie Turner, Byron Murphy II etc.

Davis definitely made a huge leap. I just don't know if it's an all pro leap.

1 hour ago, LacesOut said:

Agreed. Jurgens is hurt, has been all season, and when he does play, he gets his arse handed to him. I'd play Toth at C for the next 2 games.

I don't think they will do this but it is interesting.

2 minutes ago, jamiller said:

I don't think they will do this but it is interesting.

I would be in favor of Toth at LG and Kendall at C the next 2 weeks to give Landon and Cam some time off, but I see no chance they do it.

Nakobe shouldn't play again until the playoffs, but this is good news

26 minutes ago, Connecticut Eagle said:

Admittedly, they are all capable of winning the Super Bowl. It's one game and the ball isn't round. But is there a team in the AFC that really scares you?

I don't know if scared is the word I would use, but the Bills have an offense and a run game that I could see being problems especially if the Eagles offense is up and down throughout the game. Fortunately their D sucks.

2 minutes ago, vikas83 said:

I would be in favor of Toth at LG and Kendall at C the next 2 weeks to give Landon and Cam some time off, but I see no chance they do it.

If it's McKee out there, maybe. I wouldn't risk Hurts behind that line.

10 minutes ago, LeanMeanGM said:

I don't think Jordan Davis is making All-Pro

Just looking at stats and comparing him to the league, Tackles and Defended Passes are his strong suits. QB hits is his weakest. Sacks is still average at best.

	PD	INT	FF	Sacks	Tackles (combined)	TFL	QB Hits	Safety
Jordan Davis	6	0	0	4.5	65	9	6	0
Chris Jones	2	0	0	4	24	9	19	0
Dexter Lawrence	4	1	0	0.5	27	3	8	0
Cam Heyward	6	0	0	3.5	66	8	8	0
Jeffery Simmons	3	0	2	9	58	16	19	1
Quinnen Williams	1	1	3	2.5	48	9	11	0
Jalen Carter	6	0	0	2	32	4	11	0
Leonard Williams	1	0	0	7	59	9	22	0
Derrick Brown	7	0	1	5	54	5	10	0
Kobie Turner	3	1	0	7	42	8	13	0
Zach Allen	6	0	0	6.5	35	3	43	0
Brandon Dorlus	0	0	0	7.5	26	10	10	0
Byron Murphy II	0	0	0	7.5	57	7	12	0
Maliek Collins	0	0	0	6.5	25	7	13	0

Simmons, Zach Allen (43 QB hits is insane) are probably first team.

Davis could be in conversation for 2nd team I suppose. I just don't know if he's done enough to clearly be better than a Leonard Williams, Kobie Turner, Byron Murphy II etc.

Davis definitely made a huge leap. I just don't know if it's an all pro leap.

I mentioned this before. Davis making All Pro is a hilarious thought

4 minutes ago, LeanMeanGM said:

If it's McKee out there, maybe. I wouldn't risk Hurts behind that line.

I think Toth at center (if we keep playing Landon) is no real drop off from Cam right now.

14 minutes ago, LeanMeanGM said:

I don't think Jordan Davis is making All-Pro

Just looking at stats and comparing him to the league, Tackles and Defended Passes are his strong suits. QB hits is his weakest. Sacks is still average at best.

	PD	INT	FF	Sacks	Tackles (combined)	TFL	QB Hits	Safety
Jordan Davis	6	0	0	4.5	65	9	6	0
Chris Jones	2	0	0	4	24	9	19	0
Dexter Lawrence	4	1	0	0.5	27	3	8	0
Cam Heyward	6	0	0	3.5	66	8	8	0
Jeffery Simmons	3	0	2	9	58	16	19	1
Quinnen Williams	1	1	3	2.5	48	9	11	0
Jalen Carter	6	0	0	2	32	4	11	0
Leonard Williams	1	0	0	7	59	9	22	0
Derrick Brown	7	0	1	5	54	5	10	0
Kobie Turner	3	1	0	7	42	8	13	0
Zach Allen	6	0	0	6.5	35	3	43	0
Brandon Dorlus	0	0	0	7.5	26	10	10	0
Byron Murphy II	0	0	0	7.5	57	7	12	0
Maliek Collins	0	0	0	6.5	25	7	13	0

Simmons, Zach Allen (43 QB hits is insane) are probably first team.

Davis could be in conversation for 2nd team I suppose. I just don't know if he's done enough to clearly be better than a Leonard Williams, Kobie Turner, Byron Murphy II etc.

Davis definitely made a huge leap. I just don't know if it's an all pro leap.

This the counterpoint, he's 2nd in the league in stops and he is primarily a run defender. He's tied for 3rd in TFLs per your list.

3 minutes ago, vikas83 said:

This the counterpoint, he's 2nd in the league in stops and he is primarily a run defender. He's tied for 3rd in TFLs per your list.

Being primarily a run defender is what is going to hurt his chances though. Especially since they just list it as "IDL" and include a bunch of pass rushers like Zach Allen.

15 hours ago, Saltpeter said:

I thought you had to run 4.4 and have a cannon run like a fullback to play QB in the modern NFL???

Maybe you can play at 4-4 with a meh arm if you can actually read a Fing defense