Paul Domowitch's Eagles-Titans scouting report:
WHEN EAGLES RUN THE BALL
Running the ball often has been a struggle for the Eagles this season. A year after leading the league in rushing, they are 19th in yards per game (114.2) and 12th in yards per carry (4.0). LeSean McCoy is averaging a career-low 3.7 yards per carry and has just four double-digit-yard runs in the last 4 games. But he has rushed for 80-plus yards in 5 of the last 6, including 88 yards on 23 carries against the Packers. He has the most runs for zero or minus yards (52). Darren Sproles is averaging an impressive 6.8 yards per carry, but because of his value as a returner and receiver, the Eagles are reluctant to overuse him as a runner. He has just 38 carries, but has four touchdowns and nine runs of 10 yards or more. The Titans haven’t been very good against the run. They’re giving up 143.5 yards per game on the ground and 4.4 yards per carry. They’ve been gashed for 569 yards in the last 3 games, including 206 in Monday night’s loss to the Steelers.
EDGE: Eagles
WHEN THE EAGLES THROW THE BALL
Mark Sanchez has a 55.3 career completion percentage in an era where anything under 60 is pretty much regarded as unacceptable. Turnovers have been his biggest enemy. He has 95 career turnovers in 65 games (73 interceptions, 22 lost fumbles). In his two starts since replacing Nick Foles, he’s been up and down. He completed just 9 of 23 passes on third down against Houston and Green Bay. A year after tearing his ACL, wide receiver Jeremy Maclin is having a career year. He has 57 catches for 921 yards and 9 TDs. Chip Kelly’s decision to use 6-3 rookie Jordan Matthews in the slot has paid off. In the last 3 games, he has 15 catches for 285 yards and 4 TDs. He’s been one of the league’s most productive red-zone receivers, catching 6 TD passes inside the 20. The Titans are better v. the pass than they are the run. They are fifth in sacks per pass play and their 3 top corners – Jason McCourty, Blidi Wreh-Wilson and Coty Sensabaugh – all are solid.
EDGE: Eagles
WHEN THE TITANS RUN THE BALL
The Titans are averaging just 22.1 rushing attempts per game, which is the third fewest in the league. Much of that has to do with the fact that they’re usually playing from behind rather than a lack of commitment to the run. They are only averaging 92.5 rushing yards per game, but are 12th in yards per carry (4.2). The Titans use “11’’ personnel (1 RB, 1 TE, 3 WR) most of the time, which is more suited for rookie second-rounder Bishop Sankey than slower power back Shonn Greene. Sankey leads the Titans in rushing with 395 yards, but is averaging just 3.9 yards per carry. He had 38 yards on 11 carries in Monday’s three-point loss to the Steelers. Greene’s role lately has essentially been as a short-yardage back in two-tight end sets. The Eagles have done a good job against the run most of the season. Led by their solid front three of Fletcher Cox, Cedric Thornton and Bennie Logan, they have held their last five opponents to 3.7 yards per carry.
EDGE: Eagles
WHEN THE TITANS THROW THE BALL
Rookie Zack Mettenberger, who replaced Charlie Whitehurst, who replaced Jake Locker, will make his fourth start. He is coming off his best performance, a 15-for-24, 263-yard, 2-TD, 1-interception effort in Monday night’s loss to the Steelers. The 6-5 Mettenberger is a pocket passer with a big arm. He was sacked 5 times in his second start against the Ravens, but was sacked just once Monday night. The Titans operate primarily out of three-WR sets with Kendall Wright, Justin Hunter and Nate Washington. Wright has a team-high 43 catches. The 6-4 Hunter is their biggest vertical threat. He’s averaging 18.1 yards per catch with 23 catches. Delanie Walker (38 catches, 4 TDs), who missed the Steelers game with a concussion, is a very good receiving TE, though he has a penchant for drops. The right side of the line has been shaky in pass protection. RG Chance Warmack and RT Michael Oher have given up a combined 8 sacks and 44 hurries. The Eagles are second in the league in sacks with 33, but already have given up 22 touchdown passes and a league-high 20 pass plays of 30 yards or more.
EDGE: Eagles
SPECIAL TEAMS
The Eagles punt coverage unit, so good all season, had an uncharacteristic breakdown last week, giving up a 75-yard punt return for a TD. The Eagles have an NFL-high 4 special teams TDs and have blocked three punts. Darren Sproles is the league’s top punt returner with a 16.6-yard average. PK Cody Parkey has been a godsend. The rookie has missed just one of 19 FG attempts and has made his last 16 in a row. He is 3-for-3 from 50-plus-yards and is a respectable 13th in the league in touchback percentage on kickoffs (60.0). P Donnie Jones has put a league-best 22 punts inside the 20. The Titans’ coverage units have been pretty productive. They are 7th in punt coverage and 12th in kickoff coverage. Their return units have not been productive. Punt returner Dexter McCluster is averaging just 6.9 yards per attempt, but he is a home run threat. He averaged 11.3 yards per return and took two back for TDs last year when he was with the Chiefs.
EDGE: Eagles
INTANGIBLES
While the Eagles are 7-3 and the Titans are 2-8, the Titans have exactly as many wins against teams with winning records – one -- as the Eagles. The Eagles have won nine regular-season games in a row at the Linc. They have averaged 34.8 points per game in those nine wins. Tennessee hasn’t scored more than 28 points in a game this season.
EDGE: Eagles
Domo’s prediction: Eagles 37, Titans 17
KEY MATCHUPS
--Eagles OLB Connor Barwin v. Titans RT Michael Oher. Barwin has 10 ½ sacks, the second most in the league. Oher has struggled. He’s given up six sacks, four QB hits and 24 hurries. Advantage: Eagles
--Eagles slot WR Jordan Matthews v. Titans nickel CB Coty Sensabaugh. Matthews, who has 17 third-down receptions, has a four-inch height advantage over Sensabaugh. Advantage: Eagles
--Eagles RB LeSean McCoy v. Titans ILB Wesley Woodyard. The Eagles need to get their run game going. Woodyard is the leading tackler on a defense that is ranked 31st against the run. Advantage: Eagles
HOT AND NOT
Hot
Eagles: WR Jordan Matthews. Rookie has 12 catches for 245 yards and 3 TDs in last two games.
Titans: LB Avery Williamson. Had two sacks and three hurries in three-point loss to the Steelers.
Not
Eagles: CB Bradley Fletcher. Was targeted 13 times by Packers and gave up eight completions for 169 yards and two TDs.
Titans: RB Shonn Greene. Has just eight carries for 15 yards in the last three games.
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