pitt-3
Eagles travel off a short week after playing at New Orleans on Monday night, to face the other side?s home debut. Cut the Steelers some slack for the 26-13 loss at Detroit last week, which came against a Lions team that was playing its first home game for a new head coach. Back-up Pittsburgh QB Charlie Batch was playing in his first game since last August, with the second unit. Versatile running back Amos Zeroue did not play, limiting what the Steelers could do on third down. Two Pittsburgh starting offensive linemen did not suit up, and #1 QB Tommy Maddox was forced to begin his first three possessions inside his own 10-yard-line following three excellent Lions punts (Ah, that Steve Mariucci. Smart man, converting the Lions from boneheads to a mistake-free, field-position team). The Steelers also were victimized by an overturned call during a critical portion of the game last week, which negated a 42-yard gain from their own one-yard-line, and preceded a safety earned by Detroit on the next play. Pittsburgh has an overload of talent at skill positions, and Antoine Randle-El is always a heartbeat away from flea-flicker or razzle-dazzle points. The Philadelphia offense rarely fires its best shots consistently unless Donavan McNabb is at the controls. With top RB Duce Staley still in a holdout as of last weekend, and tailback Correll Buckhalter being protected in case they can?t sign Staley, it?s unlikely that the Philly offense will have the horses necessary to move chains consistently. If the Eagles? defense plays in pre-season vanilla mode, it can?t pick up their offensive buddies with game-turning plays like it frequently does in the regular season
ravens +4 and ml
Eagles travel off a short week after playing at New Orleans on Monday night, to face the other side?s home debut. Cut the Steelers some slack for the 26-13 loss at Detroit last week, which came against a Lions team that was playing its first home game for a new head coach. Back-up Pittsburgh QB Charlie Batch was playing in his first game since last August, with the second unit. Versatile running back Amos Zeroue did not play, limiting what the Steelers could do on third down. Two Pittsburgh starting offensive linemen did not suit up, and #1 QB Tommy Maddox was forced to begin his first three possessions inside his own 10-yard-line following three excellent Lions punts (Ah, that Steve Mariucci. Smart man, converting the Lions from boneheads to a mistake-free, field-position team). The Steelers also were victimized by an overturned call during a critical portion of the game last week, which negated a 42-yard gain from their own one-yard-line, and preceded a safety earned by Detroit on the next play. Pittsburgh has an overload of talent at skill positions, and Antoine Randle-El is always a heartbeat away from flea-flicker or razzle-dazzle points. The Philadelphia offense rarely fires its best shots consistently unless Donavan McNabb is at the controls. With top RB Duce Staley still in a holdout as of last weekend, and tailback Correll Buckhalter being protected in case they can?t sign Staley, it?s unlikely that the Philly offense will have the horses necessary to move chains consistently. If the Eagles? defense plays in pre-season vanilla mode, it can?t pick up their offensive buddies with game-turning plays like it frequently does in the regular season
ravens +4 and ml
