What They’re Saying About the Eagles

Here’s a roundup of what the national media are saying about tonight’s Eagles-Panthers game.

SI.com’s Peter King likes the Eagles tonight, 21-17:

In a battle of endangered coaches, it’s not going to do Ron Rivera much good to lose to a team that hasn’t won a game in October or November. Not to make you feel worse, Eagles fans (is that possible?), but how about this for offensive frustration: Games scoring 25 points or more in 2012 — New England 9, Philadelphia 0.

Peter Schrager of FoxSports.com goes with the Panthers, 31-16:

I have just one word to describe this game: Gross. Has there ever been a worse fourth-quarter team than the 2012 Carolina Panthers? Besides the 2011 Carolina Panthers? This one should just be named the Jon Gruden Bowl. Fortunately (or unfortunately, depending on who you ask), he’ll be calling it. If Cam Newton can do half of what Robert Griffin III did against this Philly defense, this shouldn’t be a problem for Carolina.

Pete Prisco of CBSSports.com likes the Eagles, 23-17:

I bet you can’t wait for this one. When the schedule came out, it looked like this might feature two playoff teams with two dynamic quarterbacks. It has neither. This will likely be Nick Foles’ first home start for the Eagles. And Cam Newton hasn’t been the same player. The Eagles get one before Andy Reid gets canned.

Elliot Harrison of NFL.com has the Panthers, 27-20:

My brother used to try to get me to pick the worst player cards from all the teams in Strat-O-Matic Football and play an “All-Suck Bowl.” Why this Monday-nighter prompted that memory, I couldn’t tell you. What we do know is that these are two organizations that seem rudderless at the moment. The big factor determining who will win is health — namely that of Michael Vick and LeSean McCoy. If they suit up, I like the Philadelphia Eagles at home, given Cam Newton’s shaky play this season. If it’s a Foles Bowl, the Carolina Panthers improve to 3-8.

Mike Florio of Pro Football Talk goes with the Eagles, 24-14:

Yep, this one sure looked a lot more interesting when the schedule came out in April.  The only question is whether the cries of “Fire Andy” will be drowned out by the chants of “We Want Gruden.”  In the background, the Eagles will prove to be the slightly better of two bad teams.

Mike Tanier of SportsOnEarth.com goes with the Panthers, 27-17.

Evan Silva of Rotoworld.com goes with the Panthers, 27-13:

Is the Eagles’ defense still playing hard? It sure didn’t look like it in last Sunday’s embarrassing, 31-6 loss to Washington. Philadelphia surrendered four passing touchdowns, each in a different way, and got gashed on the ground for 169 yards on 34 carries (4.97 YPC).

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