Cincinnati Bengals: Why Benson Should Run Wild Sunday Against the Texans

This article can also be found on WhoDeyBengals.com

Despite the team’s disappointing season, Cincinnati Bengals running back Cedric Benson ended the 2008 season on a positive note. Not only did he help the Bengals finish the regular season on a three-game winning streak, but he did so by averaging just over 118 yards rushing per game.

Many analysts kept an eye on Benson during the off-season and labeled him as a potential sleeper this season after the way he finished his 2008 campaign. Through the first five games of the 2009 season, he has proven that the way he finished last season was no fluke and he has what it takes to be a serious threat at the running back position.

Last Sunday, Benson ended the Baltimore Ravens 39-game streak of not allowing a rusher to break the 100-yard mark when he ran for 120 yards and a touchdown in a 17-14 win. All of a sudden, he is being considered one of the top running backs in the league and looking like the type of player many expected to see when he was drafted by the Bears in 2005.

After his 120-yard performance, Benson moved to the top of the list in rushing and leads the league entering Week Six with 487 yards, just six ahead of Minnesota Vikings running back Adrian Peterson. With a matchup at Paul Brown Stadium against the Houston Texans, the Bengals have every reason to believe he will remain atop of the list and have another strong performance on Sunday.

Benson will be rushing against a Texans team whose rushing defense ranks 26th by allowing 140.8 yards per game. They also find themselves at the bottom of the rankings with nine rushing touchdowns allowed through the first five weeks of the season.

With these statistics, Benson could be looking at another field day against a Texans defense who has struggled to stop the run so far in 2009. In Week Two, the Texans allowed Tennessee Titans running back Chris Johnson to rush for 197 yards and two touchdowns on just 16 carries.

The Texans have allowed a 100-yard rusher in three of their first five games of the 2009 season against the New York Jets, Titans, and Jacksonville Jaguars (Thomas Jones, Chris Johnson, and Maurice Jones-Drew). The two teams that failed to record a 100-yard rusher against the weak Texans rushing defense were the Oakland Raiders and Arizona Cardinals, who both rank in the bottom-five in rushing yards per game.

Through five games, Benson is averaging a career high 4.4 yards-per-carry on 111 touches. Not only is his yards-per-carry average up but his worst performance so far in 2009 was Week Four against the Cleveland Browns, where he ran for just 74 yards on 21 carries (which is quite impressive for his worst performance).

With the Bengals sitting at 4-1 in first place of the AFC North, look for the Bengals to run wild against the Texans with the help of another impressive performance from Benson.

Be sure to check out WhoDeyBengals.com!

 

 

 

 

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Despite 3-1 Record, Have the Eagles Really Been “Tested” In ’09?

This article can also be found on NFLTouchdown.com

As I was driving in my car late Sunday afternoon (stuck in traffic from my day trip back from Media, PA), I was listening to one of many Philadelphia Eagles postgame shows on one of the local radio stations. Most of the topic of discussion was regarding the Birds latest 33-14 victory over the Tampa Bay Buccaneers at Lincoln Financial Field.

On paper, the Eagles had every reason to believe they would have little trouble getting by the now 0-5 Buccaneers. In their three wins this season (Panthers, Chiefs, and Bucs), the opponents have a combined record of 1-13. Does this mean the Eagles have yet to be truly tested in 2009?

While listening to the postgame show, one listener called in and stated the Eagles and their fans have nothing to be excited about, despite the team’s 3-1 record. He claimed there’s no reason for excitement and the Eagles have yet to prove themselves so far in 2009 since their three wins came against teams that are at the bottom of the standings in each of their divisions. Should we find this statement true?

To be honest, the Eagles have proved themselves in 2009, even if their three wins have come from three teams with a combined one win this season.

There is a popular saying in the NFL that on any given Sunday, any underdog has the possibility to pull the unthinkable and finish the game with a victory. The Eagles may have been favored to defeat teams such as the Panthers, Chiefs, and Buccaneers, but last season is a perfect example of how the Eagles could have lost either one of these games this season.

Last season, the 5-4 Eagles traveled to Paul Brown Stadium as heavy favorites to the 1-8 Cincinnati Bengals. With a high-powered offense and a bone-crushing defense going against a Bengals team without their star quarterback in Carson Palmer, there was every reason to believe the Eagles would have no trouble leaving the jungle with a win.

Instead, the Eagles and Bengals finished with a 13-13 tie, the first one in the NFL in four years.

The Eagles-Bengals tie is a perfect example of why the Birds have proven themselves so far in 2009. They may have defeated three teams who have struggled so far this season, but the Eagles still needed to show up and perform well enough to win each time.

For those who think the Eagles have yet to prove anything in 2009, just be glad they were able to pull out the victory each week. After an upcoming game against the Oakland Raiders, the Eagles have three tough matchups in a row against each of their NFC East division rivals (Redskins, Giants, and Cowboys).

The Eagles may have been fortunate enough to play against three struggling teams during their first four games of the 2009 season, but they will be heavily tested over the next couple of weeks on whether or not they really are contenders in the NFC.

Dan Parzych Is the Eagles Fan Voice for NFLTouchdown.com

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Cincinnati Bengals Living Up to the “Sleeper” Name so Far in 2009

This article can also be found on WhoDeyBengals.com

Despite a disappointing season in which they finished with a 4-11-1 record, many analysts were predicting the 2009 Cincinnati Bengals as a sleeper team, and to breakout as playoff contenders.

Bengals quarterback Carson Palmer was returning after missing most of the 2008 season with an elbow injury. Cedric Benson finished last season on a strong note, averaging 118 yards rushing the final three games. Chad Ochocinco was looking to recover from his worst season since his rookie year after hauling in just 53 receptions for 540 yards, and four touchdowns.

Through the first five weeks of the 2009 season, the Bengals have lived up to their sleeper hype—along with making believers of the rest who were doubters. Not only are they 4-1, but they stand alone at first place in the AFC North—defeating their division rivals (Steelers, Browns, and Ravens) the last three weeks.

So what’s different about this year’s Bengals?

For starters, the return of Palmer may be one of the biggest differences when compared to last year’s Bengals.

When Palmer was sidelined last season, Ryan Fitzpatrick took over as the leader for the Bengals’ offense at quarterback.

One thing we learned about Fitzpatrick last season: He is nowhere close to being the type of quarterback Palmer is (or ever will be). With Fitzpatrick under center last season, the Bengals struggled to put up points each game, finishing last in the NFL by only scoring 12.8 points per game.

Through five games this season, the Bengals have increased their scoring average to 20.2 points per game, which ranks them tied for 20th with the New York Jets. This is impressive, considering they’ve played against three defenses who rank in the Top 14 teams as far as points allowed per game (Broncos, Steelers, and Ravens). Not to mention, each of these team’s defenses average under 20 points allowed per game.

The point average may not be as high as it could be, but the Bengals have to be impressed with the fact they rank in the Top 10 in both passing, and rushing yards per game. On top of that, their last three wins have come from scoring on their final drive on offense in the fourth quarter—which have helped them establish the nickname “Cardiac Cats.”

The city of Cincinnati has every reason in the world to be excited about the way their Bengals are performing so far this season. With three upcoming home games at Paul Brown Stadium against the Texans, Bears, and Ravens, the Bengals have a chance to continue their recent success and show why they were selected as a “sleeper” in 2009.

Be sure to check out WhoDeyBengals.com!

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Philadelphia-Tampa Bay: Last Season’s Tie Shows Eagles Should Be Cautious

If history repeats itself, the Philadelphia Eagles should win Sunday against the 0-4 Tampa Bay Buccaneers considering head coach Andy Reid is 10-0 in his career following the bye week.

However, last season’s tie against the Cincinnati Bengals is the perfect example why the Eagles should be extra cautious against the Bucs on Sunday, even if they are winless this season.

In a Week 11 matchup against the 1-8 Bengals, the 5-4 Eagles came to Paul Brown Stadium as heavy favorites. With a high-powered offense led by quarterback Donovan McNabb and a strong Eagles defense looking to take advantage of Bengals quarterback Ryan Fitzpatrick, who is nowhere near the type of player Carson Palmer is.

Instead, the two teams settled for a 13-13 tie after Bengals kicker Shayne Graham missed a 47-yard field goal in overtime. It would be the first tie since the Falcons and Steelers finishing 34-34 in 2002.

On paper, the Eagles were heavy favorites and should have blown out the Bengals. Instead, they struggled to put up any points and kept their streak alive of never winning in Cincinnati (0-3-1).

McNabb threw for a career high in pass attempts (58) but also managed four turnovers to the Bengals defense, including three interceptions.

The game against the Bengals is a similar situation the Eagles find themselves in when the Buccaneers travel to Lincoln Financial Field on Sunday. This time around, they hope to have better results against rookie quarterback Josh Johnson, who will be making his second career start for the Bucs.

The Buccaneers first four games of the season were difficult considering they already played the other three teams in the NFC East (Giants, Cowboys, and Redskins). The Eagles will be their final NFC East opponent before opening up their first divisional game against the Carolina Panthers in Week Six.

What should the Bucs expect from the Eagles on Sunday?

Well, the league’s second-ranked offense in points-per-game (31.3) returns two star players in McNabb and Westbrook—who both were in need of an extra bye week to recover from injuries.

McNabb has been out since Week One after suffering a fractured rib against the Panthers while Westbrook sat against the Chiefs in Week Three to rest the same ankle he had surgery on in the offseason.

If both players return at full strength as expected after having a solid week of practice, the Bucs could be in trouble while the Eagles increase their record to 11-0 after the bye week during the Andy Reid era.

Dan Parzych Is the Eagles Fan Voice for NFLTouchdown.com

Read more NFL news on BleacherReport.com

Philadelphia Eagles’ Bye Week Came at the Perfect Time This Season

With injuries to quarterback Donovan McNabb, running back Brian Westbrook, and wide receiver Kevin Curtis, no team needed to take advantage of the bye week more than the Philadelphia Eagles in Week Four.

So far, the Eagles are off to the type of start many expected from them in 2009. With strong performances against the New Orleans Saints and Kansas City Chiefs—and a horrendous game against the New Orleans Saints—the team has found ways to get by with the help of backup quarterback Kevin Kolb and running back LeSean McCoy.

Despite their 2-1 record, the Eagles have dealt with more injuries than they would have liked to so far this season. However, the bye week came at a perfect time to help these key players receive enough rest to return Week Five against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.

The extra week allowed McNabb to rest the fractured rib that’s kept him out since opening week against the Carolina Panthers. Westbrook was able to rest his injured ankle–the same one he had surgery on during the offseason. Curtis took advantage of the bye week to rest a knee that had been bothering him the first two games.

The good news for the Eagles is all three players are expected to start Sunday against the Buccaneers, who sit at the bottom of the NFC South and are searching for their first win under new head coach Raheem Morris.

In three games (two of which McNabb sat out), the Eagles are averaging 31.3 points per game, which ranks them second in the NFL behind the Saints. With McNabb most likely starting Sunday after practicing for the first time  this week since his injury, the team has every reason to believe these numbers will continue to be just as great—if not better.

The bye week could not have come at a better time for the Eagles this season considering all of the injuries they’ve dealt with. With players such as McNabb, Westbrook, and Curtis well-rested and returning from injury, this team has an opportunity to take advantage of a favorable schedule in October and make a statement in the NFC.

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Cincinnati Bengals: Is Andre Caldwell The Reason For Chris Henry’s Slow Start?

After being suspended 14 games the previous three seasons, Cincinnati Bengals wide receiver Chris Henry appeared to be a changed player during the team’s offseason workouts.

Instead of being labeled as a player who struggles to stay out of trouble with the law, Henry seemed to have learned his lessons from his previous arrests and suspensions. He understood how privileged he was to receive the opportunity to be part of the NFL and seemed to be more focused on changing his career around as a player.

In fact, his offseason work ethic was so impressive; many analysts were predicting a breakout season for Henry this season.

The Bengals are well aware of the type of potential Henry has in 2009 and the type of numbers he is capable of recording—and his past supports it. In his second season with the team, he hauled in 36 receptions for 605 yards and nine touchdowns as the team’s third option at wide receiver.

Henry’s hard work during the offseason seemed to pay off during preseason as he led all Bengals receivers with 14 catches for 224 yards and three touchdowns. With these type of numbers, he appeared to be on track to that breakout season everyone expected him to have.

Unfortunately, Henry has yet to live up to the hype surrounding him in the offseason. In three games against the Broncos, Packers, and Steelers, Henry has just three catches for 42 yards and one touchdown.

When trying to make sense of the reasoning behind Henry’s slow start, the only explanation that comes to mind is the number of weapons Palmer has at the wide receiver position. 

One of the reasons why the Bengals were considered a potential sleeper team in 2009 was because of their depth at wide receiver.

Between five-time Pro Bowler Chad Ochocinco, former Pro Bowler Laveranues Coles, and a potential breakout season from Henry, the Bengals had every reason to believe they would have one of the top offenses in the NFL and make a push for the playoffs this season. 

By playing alongside Ochocinco and Coles, Henry knew he would be considered the third option for Palmer to throw to. However, there was another player that Henry and the Bengals may not have expected to perform as well as he has thus far.

What they didn’t expect is the quick emergence of second-year wide receiver Andre Caldwell, which may be part of the reason why Henry’s numbers are down. However, this may not be the worst thing in the world for the Bengals. If anything, they should be excited for the potential of another threat for Palmer to throw to on offense.

Through the first three games, Caldwell has already surpassed most statistics from his rookie season.

He’s tied with Ochocinco for most receptions (14) and caught the game-winning four-yard touchdown from Palmer with 14 seconds left to defeat the Pittsburgh Steelers last week. He is also second behind Ochocinco with seven receptions for a first down.

One of the reasons behind Caldwell’s early success is the approach he took in the offseason to improve as a wide receiver. Last February, Caldwell flew out to California with Jerome Simpson to perform workouts with Palmer in hopes of filling the void left by T.J. Houshmandzadeh at the slot position.

So far, Caldwell’s offseason workouts with Palmer appear to be paying off for the Bengals, who look to improve their 2-1 record against the Cleveland Browns on Sunday.

Caldwell’s impressive performance through three games may be part of the reason why Henry’s numbers are down. However, it’s still early enough in the season for Henry to improve his game and find a way out of this three-game slump—even if Caldwell continues to put up impressive numbers.

Think about it; if Caldwell continues to perform well throughout the season, opposing defenders may focus more on stopping him, Ochocinco, and Coles—which could work to Henry’s advantage.

If opposing defenders spend more time covering other Bengals receivers, Henry may find himself open down the field more often—which could result in more receptions his way.

Henry’s numbers may be disappointing so far, but the Bengals and their fans need to be patient and give him more time. The most important fact of the situation is the team is still finding ways to win games and is off to an impressive start with big wins against the Steelers and Packers.

Give it time before making a decision on whether or not Henry’s offseason hype was for nothing. If his numbers are still down after a few more games, then it might be time for the Bengals and the city of Cincinnati to hit the panic button.

 

Read more NFL news on BleacherReport.com

Philadelphia Eagles Are Finally Finding Ways To Win Again Before the Bye Week

Philadelphia Eagles head coach Andy Reid has one of the most impressive resumes in the NFL (even though he’s still waiting to add Super Bowl Champion to it).

A 99-66-1 career record in his 11th season. A 10-7 record in the postseason. Five trips to the NFC Championship game in eight years (including four straight from 2001-2004). An appearance in Super Bowl XXXIX.

When his time comes to an end with the Eagles, there’s a good chance Reid may go down as one of the best head coaches in franchise history.

However, even the best coaches may have a certain weakness. In Reid’s case, one of his weaknesses throughout his career has been his history of losing games prior to the bye week.

Wait, what history of losing before the bye week during the Andy Reid era?

Here’s a Philadelphia Eagles trivia question for the readers out there: How many games has Andy Reid won before the bye week during his 11-year tenure with the team?

Five games.

Before anyone says anything, there is an explanation behind Reid’s five games he’s won. I’m aware, five games won in 11 seasons isn’t a bad statistic at all and this writer is erroneous on all accounts. However, it’s the number of games won by Reid between his first and last two seasons with the Eagles that is the focus of this article.

Here is a list of the 11 games Reid has coached prior to the bye week over his 11-year career:

1999: Eagles 24 Patriots 9

2000: Eagles 35 Browns 24

2001: Eagles 20 Cardinals 21

2002: Eagles 25 Jaguars 28

2003: Eagles 10 Patriots 31

2004: Eagles 19 Bears 9

2005: Eagles 10 Cowboys 33

2006: Eagles 6 Jaguars 13

2007: Eagles 3 Giants 16

2008: Eagles 40 49ers 26

2009: Eagles 34 Chiefs 14

Before the last two wins against the Chiefs and 49ers, the Eagles had lost seven of their last eight games prior to the bye week with Reid as their head coach. Even with all of the successful seasons by the Eagles this decade, how could one team struggle in such a category?

There really is no explanation behind the Eagles unsuccessful performances heading into the bye week. Maybe some of the players were rested a week early to gain two weeks of recovery instead of one. Maybe the team was worn out and the bye week was needed for rest.

No matter how many excuses are made about the Eagles performance prior to the bye week, the only real explanation that makes sense is this statistic is nothing more than a coincidence. However, this so-called “coincidence” may be over considering their success the last two seasons against the 49ers and Chiefs.

Despite playing without quarterback Donovan McNabb and running back Brian Westbrook, the Philadelphia Eagles had no trouble getting past Matt Cassel and the Kansas City Chiefs in a 34-14 win last Sunday.

However, the thought of the team’s history of struggles was in still fresh in the minds of players and fans. Remember, on any given Sunday, any team has the potential to pull the unthinkable and win.

Lucky for the Eagles, the “Any Given Sunday” theory did not apply towards them in their win against the Chiefs. Out of all 32 teams in the NFL, they may have needed the bye week more than anyone considering how much they need McNabb and Westbrook to recover from their injuries and get healthy.

Congratulations to the Philadelphia Eagles. They have won before the bye week two seasons in a row.

Does this mean the struggles before the bye week are over?

It’s still too early to tell considering it may be a few years before we find out, but at least the Eagles appear to be on the right track.

Here’s to a 2-1 record and the hope of the bye week paying off for their players to rest up and get ready for a Week Five matchup against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.

Dan Parzych Is the Eagles Fan Voice for NFLTouchdown.com

Read more NFL news on BleacherReport.com

Coles vs Houshmandzadeh: Who Is the Better Fit for the Bengals’ No. 2 WR?

Before signing with the Seattle Seahawks during the offseason, former Cincinnati Bengals wide receiver T.J. Houshmandzadeh was arguably one of the best No. 2 wide receivers in all of football.

During his final four seasons with the Bengals, Houshmandzadeh hauled in 372 receptions for 4,084 yards and 32 touchdowns. He would take advantage of opposing defenses who would lack their coverage towards him considering most defenders were focused on finding ways to stop Chad Ochocinco.

One thing is certain; Houshmanzadeh loved playing for the Bengals and the fans of Cincinnati. However, he knew his desire to be a No. 1 wide receiver would never be fulfilled in Cincinnati as long as Ochocinco was there—which is part of the reason why he decided to sign with the Seahawks.

As much as the Bengals and their fans would miss Houshmandzadeh, they quickly found his replacement after signing unrestricted free-agent wide receiver Laveranues Coles—two days after Houshmandzadeh signed with the Seahawks.

Houshmandzadeh would be missed, but there was a lot of hype surrounding the signing of Coles, considering he spent the last four seasons as one of the top wideouts for the New York Jets. Last season, he caught 70 passes for 850 yards and seven touchdowns. With these types of numbers, Coles seemed to be the perfect replacement for Houshmandzadeh as a No. 2 wide receiver for Carson Palmer to throw to.

After what he’s done as a No. 2 wideout the last couple of years, many wondered if the Bengals made the right move by not putting as much effort towards re-signing Houshmandzadeh.

It’s easy to understand his desire to play as a No. 1 wideout, but at the same time, it’s not rocket science money played another factor in his signing with the Seahawks (five-year deal worth $40 million with $15 million guaranteed).

However, with the type of start he’s had with the Seahawks, do the Bengals even miss Houshmandzadeh that much or is Coles the better man for the position in Cincinnati?

Through the first three weeks of the season, Houshmanzadeh has only 14 receptions for 145 yards and zero touchdowns. Coles, on the other hand, has only hauled in eight receptions for 54 yards, but caught a touchdown pass in a 31-24 win against the Green Bay Packers in Week Two.

It’s easy to look at the statistics and say both players have failed to live up to their expectations in 2009 considering neither has the type of statistics each team was hoping for at this point. However, the Bengals are the winner in this situation with Coles for a number of reasons.

Coles has been anything but a disappointment for the Bengals through the first three weeks of the season. Thanks to Ochocinco returning to his old ways as a wide receiver, the emergence of Andre Caldwell, and a strong running game from Cedric Benson, Palmer hasn’t had to rely on Coles as much.

His statistics may not be as high as expected, but his performance through three weeks has been just enough for the Bengals to sit second in the AFC North with a 2-1 record.

As far as Houshmandzadeh is concerned, he is being paid a lot more than Coles—whose four-year deal is worth $28 million. Not to mention he signed with the Seahawks as their No. 1 wide receiver. This means he is the first option Matt Hasselbeck or Seneca Wallace wil look for each time the ball is snapped.

Unfortunately, the Seahawks find themselves trailing the San Francisco 49ers in the NFC West with a 1-2 record. It’s hard to make assumptions through just three weeks of football, but as of now, it appears the Bengals received the better end of the deal by letting Houshmandzadeh sign with the Seahawks and signing Coles.

Think about it; why wouldn’t the Bengals be satisfied when they are paying for a wide receiver with a cheaper price? Not to mention they get to have their cake and eat it too by saving millions of dollars and finding ways to win football games.

Read more NFL news on BleacherReport.com

Oakland Raiders Should Have Kept Garcia Instead of Starting Russell

What’s Bugging Me is a weekly column on FantasyPros911.com

What’s bugging me this week? How about the Oakland Raiders deciding to stick with Quarterback JaMarcus Russell instead of Philadelphia Eagles Quarterback Jeff Garcia.

When Garcia signed with the Raiders in the offseason, it appeared he would compete with Russell for the starting job at quarterback, considering all the success he’s seen throughout his 11-year career (he lead three different teams—49ers, Eagles, and Buccaneers—to the playoffs).

Instead, he was released prior to Week One, leaving Russell as the starter for the Raiders at quarterback.

In my opinion, Russell is one of the most overrated quarterbacks in the NFL and should not have been the starter over Garcia for the Raiders this season. Perhaps that is not going out on too much of a limb, but he is easily the worst starting quarterback in football, and is not worth the $68 million the team signed him for after holding out all of training camp during his rookie season.

Through the first three games of the 2009 season, Russell has only thrown for 378 yards, one touchdown and four interceptions. These statistics are pathetic for a quarterback as highly paid as he is, considering we have seen other players in the league who could equal his totals—if not surpass—in yards and touchdowns in just a single game. Not to mention he has a completion percentage of 41.3 percent—which ranks him 33rd among quarterbacks so far.

If anything, the Raiders should have considered keeping Garcia around for at least one season in case Russell struggled this season—which so far he has. He may not have won the starting job, but Garcia would have made a nice mentor for Russell to learn from or a quarterback to rely on if needed. Instead, the Raiders decided to part ways with the experienced quarterback and stick with the player who they are convinced is the future of their franchise.

Given the history of decision making in their front office, the mere fact that they are willing to go with Russell is evidence enough that he will fail.

They are too inept to hit a home run on such an important decision.

Don’t get me wrong; Russell still has plenty of time to develop his game and become the type of player the Raiders have been looking for at quarterback. Don’t count on it. However, it’s already been three years and his weaknesses continue to bring his value down as an elite quarterback in the NFL.

Russell’s passes are about as accurate as the predictions of Nostradamus or a basement dwelling psychic. He constantly fails to find a way to get the ball into the hands of his wide receivers and is constantly overthrowing the ball.

It may only be three games, but it is unacceptable for a quarterback who is making the type of money Russell is to have only one touchdown at this point in the season.

If the Raiders want to turn their franchise around at all in the next couple of years, they need to realize that Russell is not the answer. Otherwise, they will be looking back a few years from now and wonder where that $68 million went.

This article was originally published at FantasyPros911.com

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In Defense of Philadelphia Eagles Quarterback Kevin Kolb

Despite playing in just three games so far in his three-year career, Philadelphia Eagles backup quarterback Kevin Kolb has taken more heat from fans then Kanye West did after he stole the microphone from Taylor Swift at this year’s VMA’s.

From a Philadelphia fan’s point of view, when looking at the four quarterbacks on the Eagles’ roster (McNabb, Kolb, Michael Vick, and Jeff Garcia), Kolb seems to be the last option anyone wants to see taking snaps for the Birds.

They wonder why A.J. Feeley was released when he seemed to be the better fit as a backup quarterback. They wonder why not start Garcia after what he did for the team at the end of the 2006 season. They wonder why not start Vick considering his blazing speed and ability to run the ball as a quarterback.

The fans from the City of Brotherly Love can say whatever they want about head coach Andy Reid’s decision to play Kolb at quarterback. They can be upset and say whatever they want about his performances n the three games he’s played in during his short career. However, the truth is Kolb deserves a break after all the heat he has taken.

As an Eagles fan, I will be the first to admit that I have taken my fair-share of shots at the way Kolb has performed with the Eagles. At times, I too would wonder how Reid could have so much faith in a player like Kolb. After last weekend’s game against the New Orleans Saints, it finally hit me that we need to give this kid a break and cut him some slack.

Kolb’s first real-game action came against the Baltimore Ravens last season when McNabb was benched after a horrendous first half. His first experience in a NFL game came against a defense that has built a reputation this decade for having some of the most ferocious defenders this game has ever seen.

After spending his first season-and-a-half as a backup, Kolb found himself facing a Ravens team that finished second in the NFL last season to the Pittsburgh Steelers when it comes to total defense. Not to mention Kolb was already at a disadvantage since the game was being played in Baltimore.

In his first real performance as an Eagle, Kolb struggled, finishing just 10-of-23 for 73 yards and two interceptions, including an interception by Ed Reed that was returned 107 yards for a touchdown. The Eagles ended up losing 36-7 in a game that was arguably one of the worst losses of the season considering how embarrassing the team’s performance was.

When Kolb replaced McNabb against the Carolina Panthers opening weekend this season, there was nothing for fans to be upset with him about other than low passing numbers and a lost fumble. He finished 7-of-11 for just 23 yards, but threw zero interceptions. Not to mention the scenario this time around was far different from the one with the Ravens since the Eagles had already established a 38-10 lead.

Last weekend, Kolb made his first career start against the Saints since McNabb was dealing with a cracked rib injury from the game against the Panthers. The matchup seemed to be decent for a quarterback making his first career starts considering the Saints were ranked 23rd last season when it came to defense and gave up 27 points to the Detroit Lions, who finished 0-16 last season, the week before.

Despite the Eagles horrendous 48-22 loss to the Saints, Kolb shouldn’t be blamed for his performance. Fans can say what they want about the way he played and the decisions he made, but the truth is he is inexperienced and until he gains enough experience in the NFL, he’s going to have to deal with the learning process.

Reid said it best after the game when he discussed how Kolb did some things that were good and did some things that were bad in his first career start against the Saints. He looked impressive during the first drive as he found DeSean Jackson for a 71-yard touchdown, but struggled in the second half as he tried to help lead a comeback for the Eagles.

In Kolb’s defense, he was not the problem or the reason why the Eagles lost the game against the Saints last Sunday; the defense and the special teams failed to give him the support he needed to take pressure off when he was on offense.

When Kolb helped kill over eight minutes off the clock to help David Akers kick a field goal to tie the game 10-10 with a little over two minutes left in the second half, the defense allowed the Saints to march 54 yards in just 37 seconds to score a touchdown.

On the first play of the second half, defensive back Ellis Hobbs fumbled the kickoff to allow Heath Evans to score three plays later. All of a sudden, the Eagles trailed 24-13 and there was more pressure on Kolb to throw the ball more to help try and lead a comeback.

From a quarterback’s point of view, a football game is much easier with a decent effort from the defense. In Sunday’s loss to the Saints, the Eagles defense was picked apart by Drew Brees, who finished 25-of-34 for 311 yards and three touchdowns.

Their lack of support left Kolb no other choice but to throw the ball more than he preferred to in the second half and even tried to force a few passes to his receivers in desperation.

Against the Saints, Kolb set the NFL record for most passing yards in a single game for a quarterback making their first career start with 391, which was also the 12th highest total yards in a single game in Eagles history.

The fans can say what they want about No. 4, but the truth is Kolb isn’t as bad as most people make him out to be. Sure, he had a disastrous game against the Ravens, but most players would in their second year, especially if they never really played their rookie season.

The Eagles may have come up on the wrong end of the blowout in the 48-22 loss against the Saints. However, the lack of defense and special teams had a major influence on the outcome of that game. It’s not fair to blame Kolb for his decisions at quarterback considering the position the defense and special teams put him in.

Look for Kolb to bounce back against the Kansas City Chiefs on Sunday as the Eagles get one more home game before they head into the bye week. If he gets enough support from his defense and special teams, kind of like McNabb did against the Panthers, Kolb may be looking at his first career win as a starting quarterback in the NFL.

Dan Parzych Is the Eagles Fan Voice for NFLTouchdown.com

Read more NFL news on BleacherReport.com

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