he Eagles travel to Carolina to take on Cam Newton, Christian McCaffrey, Kelvin Benjamin, Luke Kuechly and the Panthers in a Thursday night showdown between a pair of 4-1 teams, sitting near the top of the NFC Playoff picture.
Carson Wentz is coming off a 4-touchdown performance against the Arizona Cardinals, and head coach Doug Pederson has the Eagles firing on all cylinders in all phases.
Here's an in-depth position-by-position preview for Thursday night's game, including a look at which team holds the advantage in every group.
EAGLES
QUARTERBACK:
Carson Wentz had the best statistical performance of his career in Week 5, lighting up the Arizona Cardinals secondary for 304 yards with four touchdowns, one interception, en route to finishing with a passer rating of 128.3.
Through the first four games, the Eagles have shown an ability to blow out inferior competition as well as managing to win two games decided by a combined total of five points against the Giants and Los Angeles Chargers, largely because of the improvements Wentz has made both in and out of the pocket.
RUNNING BACKS:
No Darren Sproles? No problem.
In the past two games since Sproles broke his arm and tore his ACL on the same play against the Giants in Week 3, the Eagles running back by committee consisting of LeGarrette Blount, Corey Clement, Wendell Smallwood, and Kenjon Barnes have combined for 314 rushing yards and two touchdowns.
Smallwood has not practiced at all over the last two weeks due to a knee injury, which will likely mean an expanded role for Barner for the second consecutive game.
Meanwhile, the Panthers' rushing defense enters Thursday ranked No. 9 in the league, allowing 4.0 yards per carry and 300 yards rushing per game.
WIDE RECEIVERS:
Torrey Smith emerged as a deep-threat against the Cardinals last week, hauling in a 59-yard touchdown from Carson Wentz. Nelson Agholor added a 72-yard touchdown catch and run with 6:16 remaining in the third quarter, and continues to be a reliable option in the slot. Meanwhile, after facing the likes of Patrick Peterson, Josh Norman, Marcus Peters, and Janoris Jenkins through the first four games, Alshon Jeffery has a chance to break out in a favorable match up against Panthers CB James Bradberry.
TIGHT END:
Zach Ertz continues to be Carson Wentz's favorite target, and is in the midst of a career-season. Through the season's first five games, Ertz currently leads all NFL tight ends with 32 catches for 387 yards, and is No. 4 league-wide with two touchdowns. Additionally, Ertz is one of four tight ends across the NFL with more than 20 catches, while averaging more than 12 yards per catch.
The Panthers' linebacking corps is the strength of the defense, but Ertz has exploited stout defenses against tight ends in the past.
OFFENSIVE LINE:
The Eagles will likely be without arguably their best offensive lineman, right tackle Lane Johnson, Thursday night due to a concussion. Johnson is incredibly valuable to Wentz's success. In games when Wentz and Johnson are both in the lineup, Wentz has completed 65.7 percent of his passes for 2,766 yards with 20 touchdowns and 5 interceptions. Meanwhile, the Eagles were 2-8 during Johnson's 10-game suspension last season.
Halapoulivaati Vaitai started six games as a rookie in 2016 and was strong in relief of Johnson in the second half last week against the Cardinals. Look for the Panthers to overload Vaitai's side of the field and put him the test. If he can hold up, and keep Wentz protected from his side of the field, it could make all the difference for this offense.
DEFENSIVE LINE:
Defensive tackle Fletcher Cox was a full participant in the Eagles' only "full" practice of this truncated week, returning for the first time since suffering a calf injury back in Week 3 against the Giants.
If Cox returns, it would certainly be a boost to a defensive line facing the daunting task of limiting the damage duel-threat quarterback Cam Newton can inflict both from the pocket and scrambling under pressure
In Cox' absence, Tim Jernigan has been a stabilizing force, finishing with 4 tackles and 2.0 tackles for loss. Reuniting the defensive line tandem for this game would certainly make life significantly more difficult for the interior of the Panthers' defensive line.
LINEBACKERS:
Jordan Hicks continues to play at a Pro Bowl level, already picking up 24 tackles while Nigel Bradham adds 28 with a pass breakup.
Look for Mychal Kendricks to potentially see an expanded role in this game, due to the multitude of ways the Panthers try to get rookie running back Christian McCaffrey the ball, as well as Cam Newton's status as one of the game's premier duel-threat quarterbacks.
SECONDARY:
Fresh off holding future Hall of Fame Arizona Cardinals wide receiver Larry Fitzgerald to just 51 receiving yards in Week 5, cornerbacks Jalen Mills, Patrick Robinson, Rasul Douglas and the rest of the Eagles' secondary must now figure out how to combat the size advantage of Panthers receivers Devin Funchess and Kelvin Benjamin.
Mills was targeted 21 times against the Giants. Douglas has performed admirably in critical snaps as a rookie. Robinson was graded out by Pro Football Focus as the NFL's top playmaking cornerback in Week 5.
SPECIAL TEAMS:
Since drilling a 61-yard field goal to beat the Giants back in Week 3, Eagles rookie kicker is a perfect 6-for-6 on field goals and 6-for-6 on extra points. If Thursday night's game is close, having a kicker with Elliott's leg-strength and streak of confidence could make all the difference for the Eagles.
Meanwhile, running back Kenjon Barner ran with shiftiness and power replacing Darren Sproles' as the Eagles' punt returner in Week 5. Barner set the Eagles' offense up with tremendous field position, averaging 36.7 yards per return with a long of 76 against the Cardinals.
Carson Wentz is coming off a 4-touchdown performance against the Arizona Cardinals, and head coach Doug Pederson has the Eagles firing on all cylinders in all phases.
Here's an in-depth position-by-position preview for Thursday night's game, including a look at which team holds the advantage in every group.
EAGLES
QUARTERBACK:
Carson Wentz had the best statistical performance of his career in Week 5, lighting up the Arizona Cardinals secondary for 304 yards with four touchdowns, one interception, en route to finishing with a passer rating of 128.3.
Through the first four games, the Eagles have shown an ability to blow out inferior competition as well as managing to win two games decided by a combined total of five points against the Giants and Los Angeles Chargers, largely because of the improvements Wentz has made both in and out of the pocket.
RUNNING BACKS:
No Darren Sproles? No problem.
In the past two games since Sproles broke his arm and tore his ACL on the same play against the Giants in Week 3, the Eagles running back by committee consisting of LeGarrette Blount, Corey Clement, Wendell Smallwood, and Kenjon Barnes have combined for 314 rushing yards and two touchdowns.
Smallwood has not practiced at all over the last two weeks due to a knee injury, which will likely mean an expanded role for Barner for the second consecutive game.
Meanwhile, the Panthers' rushing defense enters Thursday ranked No. 9 in the league, allowing 4.0 yards per carry and 300 yards rushing per game.
WIDE RECEIVERS:
Torrey Smith emerged as a deep-threat against the Cardinals last week, hauling in a 59-yard touchdown from Carson Wentz. Nelson Agholor added a 72-yard touchdown catch and run with 6:16 remaining in the third quarter, and continues to be a reliable option in the slot. Meanwhile, after facing the likes of Patrick Peterson, Josh Norman, Marcus Peters, and Janoris Jenkins through the first four games, Alshon Jeffery has a chance to break out in a favorable match up against Panthers CB James Bradberry.
TIGHT END:
Zach Ertz continues to be Carson Wentz's favorite target, and is in the midst of a career-season. Through the season's first five games, Ertz currently leads all NFL tight ends with 32 catches for 387 yards, and is No. 4 league-wide with two touchdowns. Additionally, Ertz is one of four tight ends across the NFL with more than 20 catches, while averaging more than 12 yards per catch.
The Panthers' linebacking corps is the strength of the defense, but Ertz has exploited stout defenses against tight ends in the past.
OFFENSIVE LINE:
The Eagles will likely be without arguably their best offensive lineman, right tackle Lane Johnson, Thursday night due to a concussion. Johnson is incredibly valuable to Wentz's success. In games when Wentz and Johnson are both in the lineup, Wentz has completed 65.7 percent of his passes for 2,766 yards with 20 touchdowns and 5 interceptions. Meanwhile, the Eagles were 2-8 during Johnson's 10-game suspension last season.
Halapoulivaati Vaitai started six games as a rookie in 2016 and was strong in relief of Johnson in the second half last week against the Cardinals. Look for the Panthers to overload Vaitai's side of the field and put him the test. If he can hold up, and keep Wentz protected from his side of the field, it could make all the difference for this offense.
DEFENSIVE LINE:
Defensive tackle Fletcher Cox was a full participant in the Eagles' only "full" practice of this truncated week, returning for the first time since suffering a calf injury back in Week 3 against the Giants.
If Cox returns, it would certainly be a boost to a defensive line facing the daunting task of limiting the damage duel-threat quarterback Cam Newton can inflict both from the pocket and scrambling under pressure
In Cox' absence, Tim Jernigan has been a stabilizing force, finishing with 4 tackles and 2.0 tackles for loss. Reuniting the defensive line tandem for this game would certainly make life significantly more difficult for the interior of the Panthers' defensive line.
LINEBACKERS:
Jordan Hicks continues to play at a Pro Bowl level, already picking up 24 tackles while Nigel Bradham adds 28 with a pass breakup.
Look for Mychal Kendricks to potentially see an expanded role in this game, due to the multitude of ways the Panthers try to get rookie running back Christian McCaffrey the ball, as well as Cam Newton's status as one of the game's premier duel-threat quarterbacks.
SECONDARY:
Fresh off holding future Hall of Fame Arizona Cardinals wide receiver Larry Fitzgerald to just 51 receiving yards in Week 5, cornerbacks Jalen Mills, Patrick Robinson, Rasul Douglas and the rest of the Eagles' secondary must now figure out how to combat the size advantage of Panthers receivers Devin Funchess and Kelvin Benjamin.
Mills was targeted 21 times against the Giants. Douglas has performed admirably in critical snaps as a rookie. Robinson was graded out by Pro Football Focus as the NFL's top playmaking cornerback in Week 5.
SPECIAL TEAMS:
Since drilling a 61-yard field goal to beat the Giants back in Week 3, Eagles rookie kicker is a perfect 6-for-6 on field goals and 6-for-6 on extra points. If Thursday night's game is close, having a kicker with Elliott's leg-strength and streak of confidence could make all the difference for the Eagles.
Meanwhile, running back Kenjon Barner ran with shiftiness and power replacing Darren Sproles' as the Eagles' punt returner in Week 5. Barner set the Eagles' offense up with tremendous field position, averaging 36.7 yards per return with a long of 76 against the Cardinals.
