Through Sunday -
All Plays One Unit
Week 2: 4-2 66.67% +1.93U
Preseason: 16-9-0 64.00% +6.47U
Regular Season: 8-3 72.73% +4.89U
Total = 24-12 66.67% +11.36U
9/20 Monday Night Football
Minnesota +3 -104
Minnesota ML +147
I like this matchup enough to play an extra unit on the ML. I rarely do this but with a strong start to the season, I figured I better trust my instincts while I am hot. It is hard to imagine either defense doing much but I come up with better arguments for the Vikings.
This is a very bad matchup for the Philly secondary: CB Shepard & CB Brown are 5'10" going up against Moss, Burleson(6') & Robinson(6'3"). Sheppard has a broken thumb and Safety Lewis has a quad injury that each will play through but are obviously not 100%. The Eagles run D has allowed 150+ rushing in 6 of last 9 games including 141 avg in last 4 home games of 2003. Even the G-men and their poor O-line ran 23/170 last week(take away Tiki's long run and it was still 4.45 YPC). I am not buying that the pressure defense will disrupt Minny either -McKinnie is an awesome tackle and he will nuetralize Kearse. Heck, the Minny O-Line will seem like a brick wall compared to the Giants and I'm sure they have game-planned for that all week after watching the Giants film.
For what it is worth, Minny did hold Dallas to 21/71 rushing. Dallas was throwing the ball and throwing it well to keep up with Minny on the other hand. Pinkston will start but may not be 100% after sustaining a shoulder injury. Winfield is an excellent corner and is healthy so I give him a better chance of success vs. Owens than the Philly secondary with Moss & Company. Finally, the Eagles lost Shaun Andrews for the year and will be playing their first game without him.
I watched the Dallas defense yesterday and I know it was Cleveland but man, they looked pretty darn good. Knowing that Minnesota torched them doesn't bode well for an Eagles defense that is over-rated in my humble opinion (sorry to my Keystone buddy Sportsbet for that one). Well, I am done rambling - good luck everyone, should be very entertaining.
