It was a perfect set up for the Philadelphia Eagles. Prime-time game. Playing against their old coach Andy Reid, now coaching the Kansas City Chiefs. Last night would have been the perfect time for Philly to show they no longer needed the fat man, who they let go after the 2012 season.
Unfortunately, the Eagles look like a team that is still trying to find their identity after losing 26-16. After analyzing the game stats, here is what stood out to me.
After racking up yardage galore and looking like a bonafide QB1 through two games of the season, Michael Vick showed inaccuracy and was plagued by the Chiefs front seven all night. He went down with an unknown injury near the end of the game, but he has plenty of time to rest up when the Eagles fly to Denver to play the Broncos. Vick is going to have to be on his A game to keep up with that Peyton offense.
As for the rest of the Eagles offense; LeSean McCoy was his usual beastly self after rushing 20 times for 158 yards and a score. He himself was injured after he revealed he was dealt a right ankle sprain. Luckily, owners dodged the bullet and it isn't the high-ankle variety. Jason Avant, not DeSean Jackson, was the hero in the passing game by catching 7 receptions for 87 yards and a score. DO NOT expect me to list Avant on the waiver wire next week. His game was manufactured by the Chiefs putting all their attention on Jackson, who caught just 3 passes all night.
As for the Chiefs, Alex Smith may have won the game, but he was ultra conservative on his throws by making Jamaal Charles (7 catches) and Donnie Avery (7 catches) the two focal points of the passing game. Smith has yet to show any confidence in his long ball, which is why Dwayne Bowe was a non factor with 1 catch. Bowe has 9 catches on the year and is basically useless playing for a quarterback who is a check-down king. The Chiefs are going to have to get their $56 million man involved somehow in the passing game soon or all that money they gave him will be a waste. For now, owners shouldn't rely on Bowe as anything more than a flex option (WR3 at best).
When all was said and done, it was a time for Philly to show that parting ways with Reid was the right thing to do. However, Reid won this battle. Any loss will hurt Philly fans. But because it was against a guy who they had slammed for years while he was with the Eagles, this one will take awhile to get over. I know it will for me.
I’m starting to wonder if Avery may be the more valuable guy in the passing game to Bowe by the time this season ends given Smith’s limitations and the attention given to DB.
You have to admit, given how bad this same Chiefs team looked the last few years, Reid & Co have done an amazing job turning them around in just one offseason. They’re not gonna challenge the Broncos for the division yet but they definitely look real to me after 3 games, especially the defense. Never thought they’d shut down Kelly’s offense like that.
Their Defense is really lighting it up
Avery caught 4 passes total the 2 weeks prior. He had a big game, but I smell a lot of inconsistency.