Domo's Eagles-Panthers scouting report
Paul Domowitch's Eagles-Panthers scouting report:
Recent history: The Eagles routed the Panthers, 45-21, on Nov. 10, 2014 at the Linc, and lead the all-time series, 6-3.
WHEN EAGLES RUN THE BALL
The Eagles' ground game finally has shown signs of life. They're a long way from having the kind of dominating ground attack they had two years ago, but they're at least making progress. They've averaged 137.7 rushing yards in the last four games, and 4.8 yards per carry in the last three. DeMarco Murray notched his first 100-yard game as an Eagle vs. the Giants, rushing for 109 yards on 22 carries. He had a season-high seven rushing first downs and four double-digit-yard runs. The Eagles have 21 rushing first downs in the last two games. They had 19 in the first four. The Panthers are 12th in run defense and 15th in rushing average. But they were without their All-Pro middle linebacker, Luke Kuechly, for three of the first four games (concussion). He returned last week and the Panthers held Marshawn Lynch to 3.2 yards per carry.
EDGE: Panthers
WHEN EAGLES PASS THE BALL
The Panthers aren't a defense that a team with a struggling passing game wants to be facing. Sean McDermott's unit has the league's second-best opponent passer rating (68.8), is fifth in opponent completion percentage (59.3), third in opponent yards per attempt (6.1), 11th in sacks (13) and has given up a league-low five TD passes. Sam Bradford has been playing poorly enough to fuel should-he-be-benched talk. He arrived in Philly with the fifth best interception percentage in league history and already has thrown nine picks in six games, including four in the red zone. Bradford, who is coming off back-to-back ACL injuries, has received very good protection from his offensive line, but hasn't been able to take advantage of it. As several plays in the Giants game showed, Bradford is out of sync with his receivers, who have dropped 21 passes.
EDGE: Panthers
WHEN PANTHERS RUN THE BALL
The Panthers are third in the league in rushing, averaging 132.8 yards per game, but only 18th in rushing average (4.0). They are averaging a league-high 32.8 rushing attempts per game, including 10 a game by QB Cam Newton. The 6-6, 260-pound Newton is averaging 45 rushing yards per game and is 13th in the league in rushing first downs with 18. He is almost impossible to stop in short-yardage situations. As a team, the Panthers have converted 83.3 percent of situations of two yards or less to go (15 of 18). RB Jonathan Stewart is an oft-injured, between-the-tackles runner who is averaging just 3.8 yards per carry. The Eagles have one of the best run defenses in the league. They are third in rush average (3.5) and eighth in rushing yards per game (94.2). They have allowed a league-best 3.8 rushing first downs per game.
EDGE: Eagles
WHEN PANTHERS PASS THE BALL
The Panthers lost their best wideout, Kelvin Benjamin, to an ACL injury in August. They weren't very deep at the position even before he got hurt. Ted Ginn, Philly Brown, Jerricho Cotchery and rookie Devin Funchess have combined for just 33 receptions. Ginn is their most dangerous vertical threat, but he has caught more than 38 passes once in nine seasons. QB Cam Newton's go-to receiver is TE Greg Olsen, who has a team-high 24 catches and is averaging 15.6 yards per catch. Newton has a cannon, but isn't particularly accurate. He has a .592 career completion percentage, .554 this season. Opponents have blitzed Newton on 30.3 percent of the Panthers' pass plays. Six of his 10 sacks have come vs. the blitz. The Eagles held Eli Manning to a season-low 62.3 passer rating last week. Manning averaged just 4.97 yards per attempt.
EDGE: Eagles
SPECIAL TEAMS
The Eagles' coverage units are among the best in the league. They are fifth in punt coverage (5.4) and eighth in kickoff coverage (21.1). PR Darren Sproles, who already has one return for a TD this season, is averaging 15.7 yards per return and will be going up against a team that is 27th in punt coverage (12.8). The last two games, opposing punters have averaged just 41.1 yards per attempt against the Eagles while trying to punt away from Sproles. He was only able to return four of 14 punts in those games. Eagles P Donnie Jones is seventh in gross punting average (47.9) and 11th in net average (41.7). He has had 17 of 31 attempts returned. Panthers P Brad Nortman is 26th in net average (36.4). He has had 15 of 24 attempts returned. Caleb Sturgis has made six FGs in a row. Panthers PK Graham Gano already has had two FGAs blocked.
EDGE: Eagles
INTANGIBLES
The Panthers are 5-0, but the combined record of the five teams they've beaten is 9-20. They don't have a win over a team that currently has a winning record. The Eagles' three wins are over the 4-1 Jets, 3-3 Giants and 2-4 Saints. The Panthers are 6-4 at home over the last two seasons.
EDGE: Eagles
Domo's prediction: Panthers 17, Eagles 16
MATCHUPS TO WATCH
1. Eagles DL Fletcher Cox vs. Panthers LG Andrew Norwell: Cox has been one of the most dominant d-linemen in the league. Norwell has 14 career starts. ADVANTAGE: Eagles
2. Eagles RBs DeMarco Murray and Ryan Mathews vs. Panthers MLB Luke Kuechly: Murray and Mathews combined for 149 rushing yards last week, but Kuechly helped hold Marshawn Lynch to 3.2 yards per carry. ADVANTAGE: Panthers
3. Eagles Ss Walter Thurmond and Malcolm Jenkins vs. Panthers TE Greg Olsen: Olsen had seven catches for 131 yards vs. the Legion of Boom last week. Eagles have held opposing TEs to 7.6 yards per catch. ADVANTAGE: Even
Hot and Not
HOT
Eagles: DL Vinny Curry. He had 1 1/2 sacks, three hurries and a tackle for loss in 19 snaps vs. Giants.
Panthers: TE Greg Olsen. He had seven catches for 131 yards vs. Seattle, and game-winning TD with 32 seconds left.
NOT
Eagles: QB Sam Bradford. Has thrown five interceptions, including three in red zone, in the last two games.
Panthers: WRs Ted Ginn and Philly Brown. They have combined for just six catches for 61 yards in the last two games.