The anticipated showdown between Philadelphia's Terrell Owens and Baltimore's Ray Lewis has hogged the headlines this week. But Eagles coach Andy Reid has more important matters to fret about heading into Friday's nationally televised preseason test.
The portly Philadelphia coach had to cut short both practices Wednesday after defensive end N.D. Kalu went down for the season with an ACL tear. Thirteen Eagles sat out the workouts with various ailments, 11 from the defensive unit.
Pro Bowl safety Brian Dawkins has barely practiced because of a knee injury and defensive end Jerome McDougle only recently resumed contact drills after sitting out with an injured shoulder. Defensive tackles Corey Simon (back) and Paul Grasmanis (ankle) have missed most of camp and linebacker Nate Wayne has been bothered by a sore hamstring.
The bad blood between Owens and Lewis dates back to when the former San Francisco 49ers wide receiver spurned the Ravens to sign with the Eagles. Lewis, the Ravens leader on the field and in the locker room, has vowed to exact revenge on the talkative, but talented Eagles star.
Baltimore opened the preseason on a high note when it blanked Atlanta, 24-0. The Ravens stifling stop unit limited the Falcons to 135 total yards and only eight first downs. They also recorded four sacks.
Kyle Boller completed 5-of-9 passes for 56 yards in a brief appearance before rookie Josh Harris (4-14, 42 yards) and veteran Kordell Stewart (2-7, 17 yards) mopped up.
Philadelphia got off to a shakier start by taking it on the chin against Super Bowl champ New England, 24-6. The Eagles first team defense limited the Patriots to one score in the first half before the subs yielded a pair of second half touchdowns.
Philadelphia was able to move the ball on the ground versus the Pats, averaging five yards per carry. The quarterback tandem of Donovan McNabb, Jeff Blake and Andy Hall combined to complete just 18-of-32 for 123 yards.
Baltimore has been a preseason moneymaker as road dogs, cashing 10 of 13, including six of seven when getting three points or less. The Ravens have also 'covered' 12 of 15 after playing in Charm City.
The Eagles have flopped in four of their last five at home against the spread and in 10 of their last 13 on grass. Reid's crew has also slipped in 13 of their last 17 when the line was plus three to minus three.
Baltimore upset the Eagles during its last preseason visit in 2002 as 7 1/2-point underdogs, 13-12. The last six exhibition showdowns have been on the low side, including the last three in Pennsylvania. The Ravens have knuckled 'under' in six of their last seven against NFC opposition and Philadelphia has followed suit in six of seven at home when the total was 35 or less.
Most offshore books opened Philadelphia as 3 1/2-point favorites, with the total set at 32 1/2.
From Don Best website
The portly Philadelphia coach had to cut short both practices Wednesday after defensive end N.D. Kalu went down for the season with an ACL tear. Thirteen Eagles sat out the workouts with various ailments, 11 from the defensive unit.
Pro Bowl safety Brian Dawkins has barely practiced because of a knee injury and defensive end Jerome McDougle only recently resumed contact drills after sitting out with an injured shoulder. Defensive tackles Corey Simon (back) and Paul Grasmanis (ankle) have missed most of camp and linebacker Nate Wayne has been bothered by a sore hamstring.
The bad blood between Owens and Lewis dates back to when the former San Francisco 49ers wide receiver spurned the Ravens to sign with the Eagles. Lewis, the Ravens leader on the field and in the locker room, has vowed to exact revenge on the talkative, but talented Eagles star.
Baltimore opened the preseason on a high note when it blanked Atlanta, 24-0. The Ravens stifling stop unit limited the Falcons to 135 total yards and only eight first downs. They also recorded four sacks.
Kyle Boller completed 5-of-9 passes for 56 yards in a brief appearance before rookie Josh Harris (4-14, 42 yards) and veteran Kordell Stewart (2-7, 17 yards) mopped up.
Philadelphia got off to a shakier start by taking it on the chin against Super Bowl champ New England, 24-6. The Eagles first team defense limited the Patriots to one score in the first half before the subs yielded a pair of second half touchdowns.
Philadelphia was able to move the ball on the ground versus the Pats, averaging five yards per carry. The quarterback tandem of Donovan McNabb, Jeff Blake and Andy Hall combined to complete just 18-of-32 for 123 yards.
Baltimore has been a preseason moneymaker as road dogs, cashing 10 of 13, including six of seven when getting three points or less. The Ravens have also 'covered' 12 of 15 after playing in Charm City.
The Eagles have flopped in four of their last five at home against the spread and in 10 of their last 13 on grass. Reid's crew has also slipped in 13 of their last 17 when the line was plus three to minus three.
Baltimore upset the Eagles during its last preseason visit in 2002 as 7 1/2-point underdogs, 13-12. The last six exhibition showdowns have been on the low side, including the last three in Pennsylvania. The Ravens have knuckled 'under' in six of their last seven against NFC opposition and Philadelphia has followed suit in six of seven at home when the total was 35 or less.
Most offshore books opened Philadelphia as 3 1/2-point favorites, with the total set at 32 1/2.
From Don Best website
