PHILADELPHIA, PA – AUGUST 19: Lane Johnson #65 of the Philadelphia Eagles looks on against the New England Patriots in the second half of the preseason game at Lincoln Financial Field on August 19, 2021 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. The Patriots defeated the Eagles 35-0. (Photo by Mitchell Leff/Getty Images)
The 1-3 Philadelphia Eagles have a chance to defeat the 3-1 Carolina Panthers at Bank of America Stadium this Sunday if they fulfill these 5 predictions.
The Eagles are already staring down a 1-3 record early in the season, putting Philadelphia’s team in desperate need of a win in Week 5.
That won’t be easy to come away with, as the Eagles travel down to Charlotte, North Carolina to take on the 3-1 Carolina Panthers.
The Panthers have garnered a reputation for being one of the stronger teams in 2021, but looking beyond the record reveals that strength of schedule has a little something to do with it.
Some of the Panthers’ success relies in matchup — they defeated the New York Jets, the Houston Texans and a streaky New Orleans Saints — while their first loss came after a high-scoring 36-28 affair with the Dallas Cowboys.
The Eagles also lost to the Cowboys, as well as the Kansas City Chiefs and the San Francisco 49ers. The Eagles’ opponents have been much more competitive than the Panthers’, which makes this Week 5 matchup a more honest representation of what both of these teams can accomplish.
Sam Darnold has been rebuilding his Jets reputation, while Jalen Hurts has been building his own reputation as a talented franchise quarterback.
But in order for Hurts to pull out the win, the Eagles will need to come together in these 5 ways to truly soar above the Panthers in Week 5.
5. The Eagles line survives another week without Lane Johnson
One of the more concerning absences last week was that of starting right tackle Lane Johnson. Without Johnson, Jason Kelce was the only opening day starter who remained.
Still, Hurts completed 32-of-48 passes for 387 yards, a testament to his capabilities as well as the line’s ability to hold it together. With Johnson expected to sit out another week, the current offensive line lineup of Andre Dillard, Landon Dickerson, Jason Kelce, Nate Herbig, Jack Driscoll.