The Eagles (4-0) will host the Denver Broncos (2-2) on Sunday at 1 p.m. at Lincoln Financial Field.
Let’s get to the predictions:
Reuben Frank (4-0)
I go through the same mental process every week when I’m figuring out who to pick. I think about all the weapons the Eagles’ next opponent has and I can’t figure out how they’re going to stop them. Then I look at how talented their defense is and I can’t imagine how this sputtering Eagles offense is going to score any points against them. Then I consider picking the other team with the logic that the Eagles have to lose sometime and maybe this is the week because that’s a pretty good team they’re about to face. And then I come to my senses. For some reason I picked the Eagles to lose to the Giants at the Meadowlands last year in Week 7. The Eagles were 3-2 and coming off a lackluster win over the Browns and they were on the road and the Giants had beaten the Seahawks on the road and I convinced myself the Giants were going to pull off the upset. The Eagles won 28-3. I haven’t picked against them since. They went 10-1 the rest of the regular season, won four in a row in the postseason and their first four this year. So I guess I’m 18-1 in my last 19 predictions and I may never pick against them again.
Eagles 31, Broncos 21
Dave Zangaro (4-0)
Predicting Eagles games is getting pretty boring, huh? Waiting to see which one of us dares to pick against the Eagles? Well, it won’t be me. Not this week. There are some obvious concerns with this team despite the 4-0 start and most of them are on offense. I’m curious to see what the offense looks like this week against a talented defense that plays a ton of man coverage. On one hand, Denver has stars like Patrick Surtain and Nik Bonitto but the Eagles have bene much, much better against man than zone this year. It’s amazing that the Eagles’ offense is again the question mark. Because the Eagles’ defense lost key starters from last year but has been super solid. Vic Fangio’s unit gave up 376 yards last week but don’t let that fool you. They had to defend a ton of possession and made big-time stops when needed. I think they do it again and I think the Eagles move to 5-0 on the season.
Eagles 26, Broncos 20
Barrett Brooks (4-0)
The Denver game is one that I circled when the schedule came out. I have a lot of respect for HC Sean Payton and DC Vance Joseph. Payton was my QBs coach my first couple of years in Philly. Joseph is a longtime friend and fraternity brother from the University of Colorado. Both have done a good job of constructing competitive sides of the ball. Coach Payton is very good at maximizing QB play on his teams. He has done a very good job putting Bo Nix in situations that give him an opportunity to be successful. If the Broncos have a healthy running back in J.K. Dobbins, it allows play action to passes deep to Courtland Sutton. The best battle for DC Vic Fangio will be Sutton (6-3, 216) on NFC Defensive Player of the Week Quinyon Mitchell (6-0, 195).
Joseph has also collected a fast defense that runs around, making plays with speed and intensity. Defensive ends Nik Bonitto and Jonathan Cooper have the fastest get-off of any tandem in the NFL. This is also what our two all-world OTs pride themselves on. Both Lane Johnson and Jordan Mailata have the quickest snap anticipation in the NFL. Whoever wins this battle will win the game. And by the way, A.J. Brown against the reigning Defensive Player of the Year Patrick Surtain II will also be a fun matchup.
This was a tough week to predict the winner, even with my Birds being undefeated. OK, here it is:
Eagles 31, Broncos 21
Mike Mulhern (4-0)
The vibes are high in Denver, coming off a playoff appearance and looking to take the next step this season. The Broncos are on a short week after beating up on the Bengals on Monday night. But this week will be a reality check for them. The Eagles are upset, despite an undefeated record and a big road win over the Buccaneers. The offense has plenty to fix after a second half disaster. The defense gave up enough big plays that Vic Fangio is surely holding their feet to the fire this week. It adds up to an angry Birds team looking to make a statement on Sunday against an opponent that is probably feeling themselves a little too much this week.
The Broncos’ defense has been arguably the best in the league this season, but they aren’t going against Jake Browning and that Cincinnati offensive line. The Eagles have had their issues up front, but Nik Bonitto and company won’t be coming clean around the edge like they were last week. A.J. Brown is sure to get his touches after the drama that surrounded him this week, and giving him one-on-one opportunities against Patrick Surtain could be the perfect fix. Brown wins a couple 50/50 balls, the juices get flowing, and the offense gets rolling.
Eagles 30, Broncos 17
Ashlyn Sullivan (3-1)
To the disappointment of the offense craved fans — I do think this will be a low scoring, grind it out type of game. The Broncos’ defense is stifling. The No. 1 red zone defense and the most sacks in the NFL. This does not seem like the game where A.J. Brown and the passing offense’s problems are going to be cured. I don’t trust the Eagles’ offensive line is totally healthy and don’t think Jalen Hurt is going to have extra time to sling it this week. The Broncos are coming into Philadelphia with a lot of momentum and I would normally pick them to beat the Eagles based on the matchups … if the Broncos didn’t have a young quarterback in Bo Nix. Nix is coming off his best week yet, but he still has thrown four interceptions this season. I think Bo Nix loses this game for the Broncos and the Eagles remain undefeated in the most underwhelming way.
Eagles 21, Broncos 17
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