Orlando’s Sports Leader – 740 The Team – Orlando, FL

By Andrew Sutton, NFL Staff Writer

(Sports Network) – Philadelphia pulled out a 21-7 win over division foe
Arizona last week, but the Eagles looked like anything but a first-place
team. Play-calling was once again a problem, as the Eagles continued to
abandon the run. QB Donovan McNabb is still seeking his first breakout game
of the season, since he has only been able to show flashes of his
brilliance. Coach Andy Reid has taken the focus off the McNabb vs. Daunte
Culpepper rivalry and put his stellar pass defense in the spotlight for this
week’s test.

“[The Vikings] have two of the best receivers in the game and one of the
good, young quarterbacks in the game,” said Reid. “It’ll be a great
challenge to our defense. I know our defense is looking forward to it. I
think they feel the same way I do about it, you look forward to the best
challenge you can get every Sunday and that’s what they’ll present to us.”

Philadelphia ranks third in the NFL in pass defense, allowing just 165.7
yards per game. The Birds have already seen the powerful attack of St. Louis
this season, so they know what they’re in for. Culpepper has thrown as many
INTs (eight) as TDs, which plays right into Philadelphia’s talented
secondary. Philly has not done a very good job of picking off passes,
recording only five INTs this season. However, Culpepper hasn’t been the
most accurate QB this season either.

“It’s going to be another good one this week,” said CB Troy Vincent. “We are
going to get tested across the board. Daunte is going to be rumbling and
bumbling and Randy is going to be running downfield and Cris is going to be
crossing people’s eyes, so it is going to be a good challenge for us.

“When you think that you have Randy double-teamed or covered, Cris is on the
other sideline going downfield on somebody,” said Vincent. “You have your
hands full. It is identical to the Kurt Warner/Torry Holt/Isaac Bruce
matchup. It is very similar.”

Defensive coordinator Jim Johnson has had his unit in the right position to
prevent points. Opponents have scored just 98 points against the Eagles this
season, the second-best number in the conference.

RETURN TO THE RUN?

Reid has not found a way to harness the skills of McNabb and translate them
into a prolific offense. While inconsistency among the receiving corps and
RB Duce Staley’s tender shoulder have slowed the unit, it’s Reid’s lack of a
clear game plan that has done the most damage to the offense. The third-year
coach has failed to establish any semblance of a running game, despite the
obvious talents of rookie RB Correll Buckhalter.

Last week, the Eagles ran the ball just 22 times, including a team-high 12
by Staley. In Philly’s Week 7 loss to Oakland, the team ran the ball 16
times. Winning in the NFL requires a steady and successful running game,
it’s that simple.

UP NEXT: The Eagles (4-2) face the Cowboys at Dallas in Week 10.

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