BGN Radio Episode 21!

The Philadelphia Eagles will travel down to New Orleans this weekend to play the Saints. Do the Eagles actually have a chance or are they walking right into a blowout? I got together with John Stolnis to talk about the game — and the state of the Eagles as a whole following their disappointing loss to the Cowboys — on the latest episode of BGN Radio.

EAGLES VS. SAINTS

* Eagles status report: At 4-5, tied with the Cowboys, 2 games behind Washington

* We said last week’s game was a must-win... therefore... this Eagles season is now over. Do you still feel that way?

* Eagles playoff odds now stands at 16.1%... behind Dallas’ 17.1%... Washington now at 74.9% ... only 6 teams have worse odds

* Stolnis mentioned the Jeff Garcia 2006 Eagles in a post this week and got largely ratio’d for it... but that team started off 5-6 and ran the table to go 10-6... but they didn’t have teams like the Rams and Saints on their schedule -- or this many injuries

* Philadelphia has the hardest schedule left this season -- Washington 2nd easiest

* Jason Kelce pins the blame for the 4-5 start on a lack of accountability -- noting some veterans like Brent Celek, LeGarrett Blount and others knew what their jobs were and how to do it -- is Kelce right?

* How much of this team’s struggles are due to the loss of Frank Reich and John DeFilipo -- and how is Doug doing this year?

* Ben Solak mentioned something interesting, that it felt like Doug was calling plays in a way to treat Carson Wentz with kid gloves -- to protect him... anything to that?

INJURY REPORT

* Pederson said Sidney Jones and Tim Jernigan could play this week against the Saints

* Mike Wallace out of his walking boot but hasn’t started running yet -- by the time this guy is able to play, this season is likely to already be over (was a 10-12 week injury)

* DNP on Thursday: CB Jalen Mills, Sproles

* Limited: Lane Johnson and Haloti Ngata

* Sidney Jones was a full participant... looks like he’ll be a full go and we’ll get a good look at him on the outside... does he get Michael Thomas this week?

MATCH-UPS

* Saints scoring a league high 36.7 pts per game -- Eagles are 21st at 22 per game -- almost a TD less than last year

* Eagles have scored just 21 first quarter points this year -- fewest in the NFL -- What is the problem with the game script? Is it the playcalling, execution or both?

* A lack of turnovers is forcing the Eagles to go on long drives repeatedly -- they’re averaging more yards per play than last year, and last week aside, Wentz is having his best season

* Drew Brees is ridiculous -- 123.8 rating (best in NFL), Wentz is 108.5 at 7th

* Carson Wentz having a great season by the numbers -- but you hear some saying he hasn’t had an elite season -- has Wentz been elite this year?

* Wentz averaging more yards per game (306.9 to 289.0).

* How do the Eagles stop Brees... and Michael Thomas... and Alvin Kamara and Mark Ingram? -- IS THERE ANYTHING JIM SCHWARTZ CAN DO???

* Drew Brees has connected with Michael Thomas on an astounding 89.5 percent of his throws to him this season. That would be the highest completion percentage for any QB-WR duo in the last 15 years, per @ESPNStatsInfo

* The team signed Brandon Marshall to make a contribution, should we expect anything big from him this week?

* THE NOISE -- The team pumped in crowd noise to help them deal with the Superdome crowd

NFC EAST PICKS

* Dallas at Atlanta (-3.5)

* Houston (-3) at Washington - this is the last winning team the Redskins will face this year

* Tampa (-1) at NY Giants

* KANSAS CITY AT RAMS (-3) - SUPER BOWL PREVIEW???

EAGLES VS. SAINTS PICK

In short, is there any rationale one can make to pick the Eagles this week?

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Up next: We have another episode of The Kist & Solak Show coming your way in time for the weekend!

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