Jason Peters will be a huge factor in an Eagles win or loss.


Week 1 can be the most important game of the entire year for a football team. For example, Eagles fans will remember Week 1 of the 2007 season as the game that doomed the Eagles for the year, but sent the Green Bay Packers to the NFC Championship game.

Many would question how the first game could possibly have such an impact, but really it's simple. The confidence of a big win can help you through the entire year, and adversely the hurt of losing a game that you should have won can kill a season. Were the Packers the second-best team in the NFC that year? Probably not. They overachieved because of that confidence.

It may not be the same situation for the Eagles and Panthers because both are good teams, and it probably wouldn't be much of a surprise to see either team pull it out (although most would agree the Eagles are the better team). In that instance, it's just the fact of getting that first win to get on a roll, so either way, Week 1 is immensely important.

With that all said, let's look at what the Eagles must do to win this game.


Jason Peters Must Win the Battle vs. Julius Peppers

Julius Peppers is quite simply a freak of nature. At first glance, he just looks like another lanky defensive end. However, at 6'6" and 290 pounds he's got an incredible combination of speed and strength that the NFL hasn't seen since the Minister of Defense, Reggie White.

Jason Peters, like Peppers, is supposed to combine the athleticism and size usually unseen in a man at his position. At 6'4" and 330 pounds, most would expect Peters to be slow and clumsy, but instead he's got fantastic footwork and the athleticism of a man 100 pounds lighter.

To point out the obvious -- this will be an incredible matchup.

If Peters can keep Peppers away from Donovan McNabb, he should be able to tear apart the Panthers' secondary. They're a patchwork of average players that will not be able to cover the Eagles' receivers if McNabb is given time to find them. If he's not, it will be a long and difficult game for the Eagles offense.

Peters' footwork will be the difference in this matchup. If Peters can stay in front of Peppers, he should have no problem overpowering him and keeping him away from McNabb. However, if Peters remains to be slow off the ball, Peppers will eat him alive all day.


Make the Panthers Play from Behind

The best way to do this is to keep a good pass-run ratio for the first quarter (or so) of the game. By keeping it to about 55-45%, the Eagles can score some points while also tiring out the defense. This way, when the Panthers offense gets on the field, the won't be able to rely as heavily on the running game.

Basically the plan here is to make Jake Delhomme and the receivers beat you. With Asante Samuel on Steve Smith, and Sheldon Brown on Mushin Muhammad, that should be an incredibly difficult feat for Delhomme. He's been a pretty decent quarterback, but he has shown that if he's forced to play from behind he'll crumble and throw some picks.

With Samuel looking to double his production from last season, we should be able to see some big plays from him and the rest of the defense.

Once the Eagles have a lead of at least two touchdowns, then it's time to pound the ball. Give all three running backs some reps so there's always a fresh runner for the Carolina "D" to chase after. Give Brian Westbrook a pitch to the outside, give LeSean McCoy a carry off-tackle, then pound it up the middle with Leonard Weaver and Eldra Buckley.

The Carolina defense will be ready to roll over by the end of the third quarter.


Eliminate Mental Mistake on Both Side of the Ball

Mental mistakes were the biggest thing for the Eagles during the preseason as silly penalties would back them up and take points off the board. All penalties are mental mistakes, but the biggest ones are procedural penalties such as false start, offsides, delay of game, illegal formation, etc.

Mental mistakes would also include plays like the lateral against the Jaguars in the third preseason game. If the ball is throw backwards, it's live. Don't just watch it bounce around and give up an easy six points because you're not paying attention.

If the Eagles make those kinds of mistakes repeatedly, it could mean the difference between a win and a loss to start off the season.


Execute; Do the Little Things Properly

As I said, most would consider the Eagles to be the better team in this game. Personally, that's the ship I'm on at the moment. If you compare the offenses, it goes to the Eagles I believe because the Panthers don't have much of a passing game. If you compare the defenses, it's not even an argument that the Eagles take the cake there as well.

With that said, the Eagles just need to do the little things properly and they should be able to walk away with a victory. Little things such as making your blocks even if you're backside, and always making sure the ball is moving forward. Even if it's only one or two yards, it's a positive play. If you spend time going backwards, it begins to add up.

Considering it's a Week 1 game, there's bound to be some mistakes in execution. However, if they can keep the mistakes at a minimum, they should be 1-0 for their home opener against the Saints in Week 2.