Post by Deleted on Sept 23, 2015 11:12:21 GMT -5
PHILADELPHIA -- It almost goes without saying that the start to this season hasn't gone the way the Eagles had hoped.
After losses to the Atlanta Falcons and Dallas Cowboys, the Eagles enter Week 3 against the Jets not only trying to right the ship but also looking to avoid dropping their sixth game out of the last seven dating back to last season.
With so much criticism swarming around One NovaCare Way and the Eagles residing in an 0-2 cavern the message emanating from the players is a clear one.
"It's must win this week," Eagles right tackle Lane Johnson told NJ Advance Media following Tuesday's practice at the NovaCare Complex. "You can't really hang your head down low and feel sorry for yourself. If you do that it'll be a lot longer season than you want it to be. As far as this team is concerned, we've gotta get a win over a good Jets team. We've got a lot of work to do."
After the offense has struggled to string together a complete effort for four quarters against the Falcons and Cowboys, things won't get easier Sunday against the Jets' No. 10 ranked defense.
BYRON MAXWELL: Eagles CB says Critics don't matter
If the Eagles are to start the climb back towards .500 this week at MetLife Stadium, they'll need to rely on the leaders on both sides of the ball to set the tone both this week and throughout the game itself.
"I don't like to use that term," much maligned free agent pickup Byron Maxwell said Tuesday when asked if Sunday is a must win. "When you start putting stuff like that ... Every week is a must win. Every week is a championship game for me. But if you want to say that ... If you want to say it, say it.
"We're focused on just that ... Winning. We have to get a win. We have to get it rolling. Obviously you feel much better after a win. You still have a losing record but getting that one win under your belt means a lot."
While some might believe that it is too early in the season to put such onus on one game, especially in the climate of the NFL that has become a week-to-week league, the fact that only 12 percent of teams that start 0-2 have made the postseason tells you all you need to know about what is at stake this week.
As the Eagles start their climb, it sounds as if it is a united front among the players, even though wins have become hard to come by for this team of late.
"We've gotta get this right," Brandon Graham told NJ Advance Media. "Nobody is blaming anybody. We all have to work harder. It's just great that it happened early ... But we're done talking. That's our message right now.
"We aren't talking about anything else. We're just going out to put it on film. That's our message right now. Everybody I feel just wants to get a win so we can get this thing rolling."
The Eagles have been in a similar predicament before and overcome early adversity, even under head coach Chip Kelly. In 2013 the Eagles started 1-3 before storming back to a 10-6 record and NFC East division title.
Eagles defensive lineman Bennie Logan doesn't want to see it get to that point.
"We definitely don't want to go into the season 0-3," Logan told NJ Advance Media. "Even though it's a long season. We definitely want to get back on the winning side of the ball. The Jets are a really good football team, better than they used to be. We just want to go in, correct our mistakes and start moving forward."
By and large, Logan and the Eagles are right. It is still early. However, the road to the post season becomes much more navigable with a win.
Matt Lombardo may be reached at MDLombardo@yahoo.com.
After losses to the Atlanta Falcons and Dallas Cowboys, the Eagles enter Week 3 against the Jets not only trying to right the ship but also looking to avoid dropping their sixth game out of the last seven dating back to last season.
With so much criticism swarming around One NovaCare Way and the Eagles residing in an 0-2 cavern the message emanating from the players is a clear one.
"It's must win this week," Eagles right tackle Lane Johnson told NJ Advance Media following Tuesday's practice at the NovaCare Complex. "You can't really hang your head down low and feel sorry for yourself. If you do that it'll be a lot longer season than you want it to be. As far as this team is concerned, we've gotta get a win over a good Jets team. We've got a lot of work to do."
After the offense has struggled to string together a complete effort for four quarters against the Falcons and Cowboys, things won't get easier Sunday against the Jets' No. 10 ranked defense.
BYRON MAXWELL: Eagles CB says Critics don't matter
If the Eagles are to start the climb back towards .500 this week at MetLife Stadium, they'll need to rely on the leaders on both sides of the ball to set the tone both this week and throughout the game itself.
"I don't like to use that term," much maligned free agent pickup Byron Maxwell said Tuesday when asked if Sunday is a must win. "When you start putting stuff like that ... Every week is a must win. Every week is a championship game for me. But if you want to say that ... If you want to say it, say it.
"We're focused on just that ... Winning. We have to get a win. We have to get it rolling. Obviously you feel much better after a win. You still have a losing record but getting that one win under your belt means a lot."
While some might believe that it is too early in the season to put such onus on one game, especially in the climate of the NFL that has become a week-to-week league, the fact that only 12 percent of teams that start 0-2 have made the postseason tells you all you need to know about what is at stake this week.
As the Eagles start their climb, it sounds as if it is a united front among the players, even though wins have become hard to come by for this team of late.
"We've gotta get this right," Brandon Graham told NJ Advance Media. "Nobody is blaming anybody. We all have to work harder. It's just great that it happened early ... But we're done talking. That's our message right now.
"We aren't talking about anything else. We're just going out to put it on film. That's our message right now. Everybody I feel just wants to get a win so we can get this thing rolling."
The Eagles have been in a similar predicament before and overcome early adversity, even under head coach Chip Kelly. In 2013 the Eagles started 1-3 before storming back to a 10-6 record and NFC East division title.
Eagles defensive lineman Bennie Logan doesn't want to see it get to that point.
"We definitely don't want to go into the season 0-3," Logan told NJ Advance Media. "Even though it's a long season. We definitely want to get back on the winning side of the ball. The Jets are a really good football team, better than they used to be. We just want to go in, correct our mistakes and start moving forward."
By and large, Logan and the Eagles are right. It is still early. However, the road to the post season becomes much more navigable with a win.
Matt Lombardo may be reached at MDLombardo@yahoo.com.
