Despite winless home record, injury odds favoring Birds
PHILADELPHIA » For just the second time this season, the Eagles are favored to beat their opponent. But there are a couple of disturbing trends approaching the game against the New Orleans Saints Sunday at Lincoln Financial Field (1 p.m., FOX TV, WIP94.1 FM).
First, the Eagles (4-6) haven’t won a home game since Jalen Hurts made his starting debut last year against the Saints. The Birds have lost five straight games at the Linc. Additionally, the Saints (5-4) are on a twogame losing streak. They haven’t lost three in a row since losing the first three games of the 2016 season, 93 games ago.
One of those streaks has got to go.
What’s crystal clear is Eagles veterans are so disturbed by the 0-4 start at the Linc they’ll do anything to correct it.
“It’s very frustrating,” offensive tackle Lane Johnson said. “I know the fans are frustrated about it, so we have to switch it up this week. I’ll put my socks on different, I guess. We have to change it up.”
Much has been made of the Saints leading the league in rushing defense, allowing just 73 yards per game. That number is skewed by their pass defense. Only six teams give up fewer passing yards than the Saints’ 265.
The Eagles elevated running back Miles Sanders to the active roster and he’ll get back into action Sunday. They averaged 209 rushing yards and ran for five touchdowns in their three games without him. How head coach Nick Sirianni and his staff work Sanders in without disturbing the chemistry is an indicator of how well the coaches know their personnel.
“You just don’t know,” Sirianni said. “It depends on how the game’s going, it depends how that particular back is carrying it. And it depends on the way the defense is playing you.”
Defensively the Eagles could be without Derek Barnett (neck injury) and linebacker Davion Taylor (knee).
The Saints, on the other hand, are in injury hell. They’ll be without the services of their best player in running back Alvin Kamara (MCL), along with starting tackles Terron Armstead (knee) and Ryan Ramczyk (knee).
With Michael Thomas and quarterback Jameis Winston (ACL tear) sidelined for the season, gadget playmaker and quarterback Taysom Hill, who started at quarterback against the Eagles last year, qualifies as a weapon for the Saints.
Journeyman quarterback Trevor Simian has lost his last three starts, including two this season. The Saints could have a tough time keeping up considering the personnel losses.
At the same time, the Eagles cannot underestimate the preparatory skills of coach Sean Payton and safety Malcolm Jenkins, the latter of whom sparked the Eagles to a Super Bowl title following the 2017 season. Jenkins is playing as well as ever, and he has one of two pick-sixes for the Saints’ defense, allowing just 19.7 points per game, third in the league.
Saints veteran Cameron Jordan still is one of the top defenders in the league, Marshon Lattimore one of the best cover cornerbacks.
“Malcolm was a pivotal guy here for many years,” Johnson said. “Really have a lot of respect for him, how he approached the game, how he played. He was a tremendous player for us for all those years. I know he’s ready to come back and get us back for last year.”
How Sirianni handles the running back situation if Sanders isn’t able to bounce back successfully will illustrate how far he’s come as a head coach. Sanders will be watching as will running backs Jordan Howard, Boston Scott and Kenneth Gainwell. Then again, the way the offensive line has been dominating, the only way Sanders sits down is if he starts fumbling the football.
“We got a whole stable,” Johnson said. “Everybody can run, can do good things with the football. I’m excited to have (Sanders) back. He’s a tremendous player, tremendous person. We’ve got a lot of guys who can do it.”
A victory and the Eagles can at least calculate what has to be done for them to be relevant in the playoff race. Except for the Dallas Cowboys, the Birds don’t have a winning team left on the schedule after this week, as they hit the road to play the New York Giants and Jets in consecutive weeks, then host the Washington Football Team.
It starts with the Saints, who Hurts beat in his first start.
“They have a lot of the same guys,” Hurts said. “They had great players last year, and great players again this year. Great defensive ends. Linebackers are really going to hit it downhill and float to the ball. Everybody is rallying to the ball. They’re really good in coverage in the back end, so it’s a great defense we’re going against.”