The Philadelphia Eagles and New England Patriots got their preseasons off to losing starts last week, but don’t expect head coaches and friends, Chip Kelly and Bill Belichick, to be losing sleep just yet. As you may have heard, records don’t matter in the preseason.
The NFC and AFC East Division winners from last season continue their preparations with a preseason game on August 15 that’s hardly short on interesting storylines. Check out our preview of the upcoming Ravens-Cowboys preseason game, and read on for the five key storylines for the Eagles vs. Patriots.
[sc:Football ]Five Key Storylines for Eagles vs. Patriots Week 2 NFL Preseason Game
1. Mark Sanchez faces the Pats again
The last time Mark Sanchez faced the New England Patriots in 2012, he had a face full of backside when he committed one of the worst plays in NFL history – the infamous “Butt Fumble.” After sitting out all of 2013 and getting cut by the Jets earlier this year, “The Sanchize” will finally face the Pats again with his new franchise, the Philadelphia Eagles.
[sc:NFL240banner ]Sanchez, who’s signed to a one-year deal, is battling with another former USC quarterback in Matt Barkley for the Eagles’ backup QB spot behind Nick Foles. Sanchez looks to have the upper hand over his fellow Trojan after going 7-of-10 for 79 yards in the Eagles’ first preseason game against the Chicago Bears.
One of Sanchez’s biggest wins as a pro came against the Patriots in New England back in the 2011 AFC Divisional Playoffs. Sanchez will be highly motivated to deliver another decent game against the Pats in Foxboro to further improve his chances of landing the Eagles’ backup gig.
2. The Patriots’ Backup QB Situation
Tom Brady was given the game off against the Redskins, which gave Ryan Mallett the chance to start. Mallett, last year’s backup QB, has been the subject of trade speculation this offseason, and had the opportunity to showcase himself for potential suitors in his start. However, he didn’t produce a terribly impressive stat line, going 5-of-12 for 55 yards.
Instead, rookie Jimmy Garoppolo looked the more impressive of the two, as he completed nine of 13 passes for 157 yards and a touchdown. Garoppolo should get similar playing time against the Eagles and if he delivers another good performance, Mallett’s days as the Pats’ backup QB may be numbered.
3. Cary Williams and the “cheaters” collide
Eagles’ cornerback Cary Williams made headlines ahead of preseason by calling the New England Patriots “cheaters,” a reference to the infamous Spygate scandal which saw the Pats charged for illegally videotaping opponents’ signals.
Ahead of the joint practice with the Pats before their Week 2 preseason game, Williams isn’t backing off his comments one bit, which has given what would otherwise be another run-of-the-mill preseason game an added edge.
Will the Pats go out of their way to target Williams in the game for running his mouth? Or will Bill Belichick and better sense prevail and let Williams’ outspokenness slide? We’ll find out on Friday.
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4. Pats stars come out and play
Bill Belichick opted to give his big stars on offense (Tom Brady, Danny Amendola, Julian Edelman) and defense (Darrelle Revis, Jerod Mayo, Dont’a Hightower) the first preseason game off against the Washington Redskins.
Barring any lingering injury, it’s probably safe to assume we’ll see a number of these players get their first run out against the Eagles. They may not be out there for long, but with the preseason almost halfway done, Belichick will want his stars on the field before the start of the regular season.
5. Zach Ertz Making His Case
Zach Ertz has caught the right pair of eyes this offseason. Both head coach Chip Kelly and offensive coordinator Pat Shurmur gave the second-year tight end some very positive press with regard to his role in the Philadelphia Eagles’ offense this season. Kelly said Ertz “can have a huge role” in their offense, while Shurmur said Ertz “made the biggest improvement” among tight ends this offseason.
Ertz backed up those glowing remarks by leading the Eagles with four catches and 60 yards in their first preseason game against the Bears. Another standout game against the Patriots should strengthen the coaching staff’s already growing confidence in Ertz to be a consistent contributor on the Eagles’ offense.
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