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.
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An absent Smith certainly makes things easier for the Eagles.


Carolina Panther's wide receiver Steve Smith hurt his shoulder in camp the other day, and now doesn't know if he'll be able to play in Week 1 against the Eagles, much less in the preseason.

"If I can play, then I'm playing, whether it be preseason or regular season," Smith said. "If I can't play, I won't play. If I'm not going to be effective and be able to compete, then it's not best for the team."

Smith clearly isn't real confident in his shoulder to be healed up in the next month or so, which could be because it's the same shoulder that he hurt last season.

"I felt it immediately," he told the Gaston Gazette. "The good thing is, I thought it was broke, because it started hurting immediately. But it's not, so we'll be playing it by ear. It was more frustration because I worked my tail off this offseason to strengthen it and make sure it didn't happen. But then also, those freak things happen," Smith said.

It's never a bad thing for the opposing team (in this case, our Eagles) when Steve Smith doesn't play. He's one of the most dynamic players in the entire NFL, and based on your preference, could be the best in the NFL. At the very least he's in the top five discussion.

However John Fox, the Panthers head coach, says he thinks that Smith will be ready for Week 1.

"I'm sure he'll be ready (to play) at some point in the preseason," Fox said. "Whether we play him or not in the preseason, I don't know that."

So while Fox is confident, Smith isn't. Fox is doing the typical head coach thing and speaking out of both sides of his mouth. There's no way that the confident (cocky) Smith is going to say that he might not be able to play if he doesn't really believe it.

We won't know for a few weeks, but if Steve Smith can't play, it certainly gives a huge advantage to the Eagles to start the season off with a Week 1 win.
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Andre Johnson is somewhere on this list, but where? Oh, there!


A lot of folks will claim that wide receiver is the most overrated position on the field. Not just the players, but the position itself.

They say this because of the success that was had before the wide receiver was even a position on the depth chart. Which, of course, is true.

However in today's NFL, the wide receiver is just as vital to a team's success as any other position on the field. Want proof? Ask a guy like Donovan McNabb about his receivers during his career, then ask guys like Peyton Manning and Kurt Warner.

Vast difference in the caliber of talent, and a difference in the rings. A combined three rings between Manning and Warner, and none for McNabb.

Receivers today must be fast. It's part of the job description now-a-days with cornerbacks getting more and more athletic each year. Guys like Jerry Rice and Cris Carter got away with only decent speed because of their phenomenal route-running.

Today, that may not work so well.

Just ask these guys.



5. Steve Smith (Carolina Panthers)

85 games started, 509 games started, 7,348 yards, 14.4 YPR, 43 TDs, 42 carries, 273 yards, 2 TDs, 4-time Pro Bowler and 2-time All-Pro

At only 5'9 and 185 pounds, Smith has effectively destroyed the idea that a receiver must be 6'2 in order to be successful.

His speed and leaping ability make him one of the trickiest receivers to cover. Most corners will have a size advantage, but once he leaves his feet his can make himself seven feet tall without really trying.

Even in what was a run-first offense for the Panthers this past season, Smith was able to gain over 1,400 yards on only 78 receptions, an incredible 18.2 yards per reception.

However with only eight, seven, and six touchdowns over the past three years respectively, he doesn't get into the endzone quite enough to be any higher on this list.



4. Randy Moss (New England Patriots)

164 games started, 843 receptions, 13,201 yards, 15.7 YPR, 135 TDs, 25 carries, 159 yards, 6-time Pro Bowler and 4-time All-Pro

Moss came into the league and immediately lit it up.

1,313 yards and 17 touchdowns earned him rookie of the year honors, beating out the great Peyton Manning.

Those numbers of course came off the arm of the great Randall Cunningham. When Cunningham stepped out of the light, he was replaced with Daunte Culpepper who, let's not forget, was very good during his time in Minnesota.

He produced very well in Minnesota, but was unheard of in Oakland, so much so that many people figured his career was over. That was, until the Patriots came calling.

Then, with Tom Brady throwing him the ball, broke Jerry Rice's single-season touchdown record* on the way to helping the Patriots to the Super Bowl.

The point is, Moss only produces when he has a great quarterback throwing to him. Now most will say that the case is the same for any wide receiver. Not true, as I would reference you to Herman Moore.

Moore went to four consecutive Pro Bowls and three consecutive All-Pro teams with the likes of Scott Mitchell and Dave Kreig throwing to him. Also, to stick with the Lions theme, let's not forget Calvin Johnson (foreshadowing alert).

That being said, when Moss is on, he's one of the best in the game.

*Rice set his record in 1987, a strike-shortened 12-game season. He had 22 touchdown receptions in those 12 games. Moss had 23 in 16 games.



3. Calvin Johnson (Detroit Lions)

26 games started, 126 receptions, 2,087 yards, 16.6 YPR, 16 TDs, 7 carries, 51 yards, 1 TD

It's unbelievable to think that this kid missed the Pro Bowl last year.

In only his second season as a starter, Johnson was able to haul in 78 receptions for 1,331 yards and 12 touchdowns.

Did I mention that he played on the winless Detroit Lions team?

Through the entire mess that was the record-setting 2008 Detroit Lions, Calvin Johnson was not only a bright-spot of the team, but of the entire league.

Yes, they had to throw a lot because they were always (and I mean always) down almost immediately, but they still needed someone to catch the ducks that the carousel of quarterbacks were throwing wildly into the air.

He was always there to bring it down, and probably saved Dan Orlovsky's career by making him look a whole lot better to the Texans than what he actually is.

It's pretty safe to say that this kid is going to do some spectacular things before his time is over.



2. Larry Fitzgerald (Arizona Cardinals)

76 games started, 426 receptions, 5,975 yards, 14 YPR, 46 TDs, 3-time Pro Bowler and 1-time All-Pro

Up until last year, Fitzgerald may have been the most underrated player in the game, but that is no longer the case.

He put on a show for everyone with his record-setting postseason, showing the country that he can carry a team at the receiver position.

His leaping ability, and his overall ability to get the ball at its highest point is unmatched by any receiver currently in the league, and perhaps ever in the league. Not to mention the fact that he's superb at running after the catch and making guys miss in open space.

The combination of size (6'3 225), speed, leaping ability, agility, and football intelligence make him incredibly dangerous, and a headache for defensive coordinators and defenders alike.

Expect to see this guy in the Pro Bowl year after year after year after year after...



1. Andre Johnson (Houston Texans)

86 games started, 486 receptions, 6,379 yards, 13.1 YPR, 33 TDs, 3-time Pro Bowler and 1-time All-Pro

While Larry Fitzgerald has Anquan Boldin to take some pressure off of him, Andre Johnson has always only had average guys across from him.

Guys like Kevin Walter and Jacoby Jones are fine receivers, but they're not Boldin, and they don't scare a defense like Boldin will.

Also, while Matt Schaub is a good quarterback, he's no Kurt Warner. Not to mention the fact that Johnson has never had Schaub for an entire season and performed at a high level even with first-round bust David Carr throwing the passes.

Apart from 2007 where he missed seven games, Johnson has been able to stay healthy and play at a consistently high level, even without a consistent quarterback.

Johnson is great at catching the ball in traffic, as well as going up and getting the ball at its highest point. In terms of pure strength, he may be the most powerful receiver, which is why he's so good at tearing the ball away from defenders.

Look for this guy to explode this year. Probably somewhere around 110 catches, 1,500 yards, and around 15 touchdowns.
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