Schrager's Week 4 Cheat Sheet: Battered Eagles hope to stay unbeaten

After a third straight game in which they’d trailed by 10 or more points and still ended up with a win, Chip Kelly’s Philadelphia Eagles are now 3-0 and one of just three undefeated teams in the league. Chip’s fast-paced offense -- something a lot of NFL pundits assumed wouldn’t work after NFL defensive coordinators had a bit of time to adjust and study it -- along with his unorthodox, new-age physical training techniques get a lot of play in the media. So do a lot of the things Kelly says in his press conferences.

But the work Kelly and his coaching staff have done with the Eagles’ offensive line in the season’s first month is the real story out of Philadelphia thus far. Back in July, I wrote that the best thing the Eagles had going for them was the return of five starters on the offensive line.

Sure enough, in the weeks that have passed since that article was published, starting right tackle Lane Johnson was suspended for the first four games for violating the league’s policy on performance-enhancing drugs, while his replacement, Allen Barbre, has already been lost for the season with an ankle injury. Starting right guard Evan Mathis is on the injured reserve and is out indefinitely, and now starting center Jason Kelce -- who was having an incredible start to the season -- is out for an unspecified amount of time with a sports hernia. Kelce, who signed a seven-year deal during the offseason, will be replaced by a player named David Molk.

Molk was a seventh-round pick of the Chargers in 2012 who was cut and spent all of last year out of football. No team had him on their active roster; no team had him on its practice squad. A man without an NFL home, he returned to his hometown of Lemont, Illinois, helping coach his old high-school football team as an assistant. Molk, who has never started an NFL game, will get the nod on Sunday against one of the best defensive lines in football.

In Chip Kelly’s offense, the center is responsible for making all the calls on the offensive line, too. It’s the way the offensive system is built.

Yes, veterans Wade Smith and Dennis Kelly can play multiple spots off the bench if called upon, but this isn’t the offensive line the Eagles expected to have blocking for Nick Foles, LeSean McCoy, and Darren Sproles back in training camp.

Yet, the Eagles are 3-0, they’re atop their division, and they’re heading out to San Francisco for a Sunday night matchup with the 49ers that they feel very confident about.

Is Chip Kelly fazed by an offensive line that’s been riddled by injuries and suspensions? C’mon.

When asked about it on Monday, Kelly responded, “I don't have a level of concern. Just tell us who we've got that is available to play and let's go play.”

And so it goes.

Now, let’s get to the Week 3 games.

Disagree with what I write? Good. Hit me up @Pschrags on Twitter or email me at PeterSchrager@gmail.com and let me have it.

CHEAT SHEET WEEK 3 TRIVIA QUESTION OF THE WEEK:

Devin Hester’s 14 Special Teams Player of the Week awards are the second-most all-time. Which current NFL player has won the award the most times?

(Answer at bottom)

THE OTHER ARTICLE OF THE WEEK

The Shawshank Redemption opened 20 years ago this week. It was an absolute dud at the box office. Vanity Fair’s Margaret Heidenry tells the story of how the movie went from an after-thought in the theaters into an American classic.

The Key Excerpt:

Morgan Freeman relies on less empirical evidence. “About everywhere you go, people say, ‘The Shawshank Redemption -- greatest movie I ever saw,’ ” he told me. “Just comes out of them.” Not that he’s a disinterested observer, but Tim Robbins backs his co-star: “I swear to God, all over the world -- all over the world -- wherever I go, there are people who say, ‘That movie changed my life.’ ” Even the world’s most famous former prisoner connected with the movie, according to Robbins: “When I met [Nelson Mandela], he talked about loving Shawshank.”

THROWBACK JERSEY OF THE WEEK

Each week, we’ll direct you to a throwback jersey worth purchasing. In honor of Arizona’s red-hot 3-0 start, I present you this vintage Garrison Hearst jersey, available on eBay.

Peter Schrager Podcast

This week’s guest was Brian Urlacher. We discuss why he’s no longer in the broadcast TV world, whether he regrets never winning a ring in Chicago, and whether or not he’d ever return for one more shot at the Lombardi. Listen below:

Now, on to the picks.

Big bounce-back week last weekend. After notching just six wins in Week 2 (shameful), I rallied to nail 12 of 16 games and gain your confidence back.

Week 3 Record: 12-4

Overall Season Record: 28-20

Thursday

New York Giants at Washington: Before we crown Kirk Cousins the new Commander-in-Chief and the greatest quarterback in NFL history (which I was just about ready to do at halftime of last weekend’s game versus the Eagles), he needs to show that he can play that way for an entire game. The third-year quarterback out of Michigan State put on a show in the first two quarters last week, but then completed just 40 percent of his passes in the second and third quarters, and threw three straight incompletions with the Redskins down three late in the game. All eyes will be on Cousins, but if I’m a Washington fan, I’d be a bit concerned about rookie cornerback Bashaud Breeland, too. Filling in for DeAngelo Hall, Breeland will have his hands full with an experienced wide receiver in Victor Cruz. Cruz and Hall have had some epic battles versus each other over the years. Can Breeland hold his own? I’m not so certain. Give me the Giants on the road, the rare Thursday night victory for a road team.

The Pick: Giants 24, Redskins 19

Final: Giants 45, Redskins 14

Sunday

Green Bay at Chicago: The Packers offense hasn’t looked good in the team’s first two road games. Aaron Rodgers has struggled immensely in losses at Seattle and Detroit and the running game has sputtered. Time to panic, right? Well, the last time I recall the media questioning Rodgers, it was after the team got off to a slow 2-3 start to the season in 2012. Rodgers responded to the doubters that week by tossing a career-high six touchdown passes and gashing a good Texans team in Houston on a Sunday night. The vultures are circling. That’s when Aaron Rodgers shines. The Packers will find a way on Sunday.

The Pick: Packers 33, Bears 24

Buffalo at Houston: When people say the NFL is a fraternity, I often roll my eyes because, well, what’s that even mean? Sure, there are friends, but isn’t that the same in any industry? But in the case of Doug Marrone and Bill O’Brien, the kinship is real. The two men met in 1996, both as low-level assistants for head coach George O’Leary’s Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets squad. They carpooled to work together. Marrone and his wife introduced O’Brien to their friend, Colleen. He’d marry her soon thereafter. O’Brien and Marrone spent four years in Atlanta as colleagues, rising up the ranks on O’Leary’s staff, and spending a lot of time out on the road recruiting. The two men coached together at Georgia Tech until 1999, a season in which the Yellow Jackets led the nation in total offense at more than 500 total net yards per game (509.4). They’d go their separate ways, but remain close friends. On Sunday, they’ll square off as NFL head coaches for the first time in their football lives. Cool story when the NFL could certainly use one.

The Pick: Bills 20, Texans 16

Tennessee at Indianapolis: Week 4 may sound too early for a “make or break” game, but in the case of Jake Locker, you’ve got to think the pressure is on. The former No. 8 overall pick in 2011 did not see the option picked up on his contract this summer, meaning he’s in the final year of his rookie deal. His team is 0-3, head coach Ken Whisenhunt doesn’t have a storied history of patience with young quarterbacks (ask Matt Leinart), and the Titans couldn’t be any less relevant on the national radar. Big game for Locker, who is as frustrating a quarterback to watch in the pros -- all the physical tools, flashes of brilliance -- as he was in college.

The Pick: Colts 34, Titans 24

Carolina at Baltimore: Are we ready for the Darrin Reaves Era? How about the Brenton Bersin Era? With injuries piling up at both the running back and wide receiver spots in Carolina, the Panthers may have to turn to these relative unknowns for production on Sunday. Reaves is an undrafted rookie free agent out of UAB. With DeAngelo Williams, Jonathan Stewart, Mike Tolbert, and Fozzy Whitaker all battling health issues, Reaves could be toting the rock on Sunday. And Brenton Bersin? You don’t know Brenton Bersin? Have you been living under a rock? Bersin is the first Wofford College player to make an NFL opening day roster since Panthers owner Jerry Richardson. The wideout, who’s caught two balls this season, went undrafted in 2012, was cut by the Panthers two different times that season, and was considering a job in finance prior to this year. Steve Smith’s suiting up in Baltimore for the Ravens on Sunday. Brenton Bersin could be getting targets for the Panthers.

The Pick: Ravens 24, Panthers 20

Detroit at New York Jets: Lots of jokes were made about Stephen Tulloch’s injury last Sunday. Injured while celebrating a sack, the Internet had a blast. I couldn’t help but feel bad. Tulloch’s one of the game’s good dudes and a steady performer. He was playing in his 131st consecutive game last Sunday, the longest active streak for a defensive player in the NFL. That goes back to his rookie year in 2006. Tulloch will be missed. Don’t be surprised if this team rallies around the news and blows out the Jets on Sunday.

The Pick: Lions 34, Jets 17

Tampa Bay at Pittsburgh: I interviewed Brian Urlacher on my FOXSports.com podcast this week and asked him if he’d consider coming back to the NFL and suiting up for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, a Lovie Smith-coached team that’s struggling defensively and has a giant void when it comes to leadership. I set the price at $4 million for the rest of the year, a large sum, but knowing how happy Urlacher is with his 36-holes-a-day, an amount that’d at least make him consider the possibility. His response: “I used to be the player you say I was. I’m not that guy anymore. It’d be a tough question, because I love football. I don’t miss the game that much unless I’m watching it, and I think, ‘Damn, I can still do this and that.’ I’d have to say no, though, I think. I think I’d say no, but it’d be really hard to say no to Lovie, because, like I said -- I have so much respect for Lovie and everything he’s doing.” So, you’re saying there’s a chance?! No, no chance. Sorry, Bucs fans.

The Pick: Steelers 28, Buccaneers 23

Miami at Oakland, in London: Oh, you think you want football, London? You think you guys deserve one of our NFL teams? Well, here’s a Dolphins-Raiders game to enjoy. You give us “The Office,” The Beatles, and Victoria Beckham. We give you ... this! You’re welcome, London.

The Pick: Dolphins 23, Raiders 20

Jacksonville at San Diego: The Blake Bortles Era has officially begun in Jacksonville. I’ve been a big Bortles guy since before the draft and believe he’ll play better than expected Sunday in San Diego. I just can’t pick the Jaguars to win this one outright. Opposing tight ends seem to have big days against the Jaguars, and I can see Antonio Gates doing just that. One thing worth noting -- the Jaguars' defensive scheme is heavily modeled after Seattle’s. The Chargers, of course, beat Seattle in Week 2.

The Pick: Chargers 27, Jaguars 21

Atlanta at Minnesota: The Falcons travel to Minnesota, home of arguably the franchise’s greatest victory in its history -- the 1998 NFC Championship Game. Fortunately for Atlanta, Randy Moss, Cris Carter, and John Randle aren’t suiting up for this Vikings team. Unfortunately for Minnesota, the offense for this version of the Falcons is even more explosive than that Super Bowl one. Teddy Bridgewater will get the start, and will do so in front of a home crowd outdoors -- but with no Adrian Peterson, Kyle Rudolph, or Brandon Fusco, I just can’t see Minnesota having enough offense to outscore Mike Smith’s team.

The Pick: Falcons 30, Vikings 20

Philadelphia at San Francisco: Jim Harbaugh and Chip Kelly squared off twice as college coaches. Harbaugh’s Stanford team knocked off Kelly’s Oregon Ducks 51-42 in November 2009. A year later, Kelly got the last laugh, with a 52-31 blowout. I’d say this is the rubber match, but with different players, staffs, and circumstances -- this is about more than the two head coaches. I’m concerned about the 49ers. I know Candlestick Park wasn’t the most luxurious spot and maybe not ideal for a big Silicon Valley tech merger discussion, but it was hard to win there as a visiting team. The new stadium has great WiFi and several electrical outlets to charge your smartphone. I’m sure the food is delicious and you can check Twitter and Facebook from your seat. But I’m not convinced it is the toughest place for a road team to win in. That said, I think the 49ers find a way. 1-3 is a real hole for them to be in. They know it. They’ll find a way.

The Pick: 49ers 31, Eagles 26

New Orleans at Dallas: My Cowboys! Yes, my Cowboys! I predicted Dallas would win 10 games and go to the playoffs in August and got roasted for it. After Week 1, I was ready to hire a master coder and quietly delete all remnants of that prediction from the interwebs. Sure enough, the Cowboys have responded by winning two straight, and doing so by relying on the running game and an opportunistic defense. Sean Payton and Rob Ryan have ties to the Cowboys and the Saints always play well on Sunday nights, but I’m taking Dallas. New Orleans is a different team at home and on the road. And even in last week’s 20-9 win over the Vikings, the Saints offense didn’t have the same sizzle and pop that it’s had in recent years. I like the Cowboys. I mean, my Cowboys, in a wild one.

The Pick: Cowboys 36, Saints 31

Monday

Patriots at Chiefs: New England isn’t expecting a walk in the park when they travel to Arrowhead on Sunday. Bill Belichick said this week, "It is a tough place to play. We haven't played in Arrowhead since they've re-done it so I'm not sure exactly what that brings. There's great energy out there. The fans are fanatical. There's a lot of crowd noise. I'm sure it will be as loud as it possibly can be on Monday night when we have the ball or are kicking it. We'll deal with that. It is a high energy place and of course coach Reid does a great job with his team. They're coming off a big year last year and a big win in Miami. I'm sure the juices will be flowing Monday night. It will be rockin' and rollin'." Rockin’ and rollin’! I agree with all of this, but I still like New England.

Peter,

In your opinion, what’s been the most athletic play of the season thus far? I find myself reading so much about Goodell and Rice and the kid in Carolina and Peterson, but I love the athleticism of these guys. Did you see Anthony Fasano’s catch in Week 1? That’s my pick. Yours?

Darren R.,

Spokane, Washington

Darren,

I must say -- with the emails I receive each week, they’re usually negative, somewhat sarcastic, or overall, an attempt at humor. So, when I started reading this email, I was waiting for a snarky line at the end or something somewhat dark at some point. Nope. Just a straight-forward—I like sports, I like athletic gifts, what’s been the best play? I can dig that. The most athletic play of the year, in my opinion, came Week 2 and it was Patriots’ defensive end Chandler Jones blocking a field goal, recovering said field goal, and then outrunning everyone on the field to return it 58 yards for a touchdown. Just unreal athleticism. No shock, of course, that Jones comes from one of the most athletic families in America. His brothers are Jon “Bones” Jones, a UFC fighter, and Art Jones, a defensive tackle, for the Colts. I also love that 350-plus pound Terrance “Pot Roast” Knighton (he could be 380 pounds, by the looks of him) has blocked a pass at the line of scrimmage in Week 2 and blocked a field goal in Week 3. That takes crazy athleticism for a big man.

CHEAT SHEET WEEK 4 TRIVIA ANSWER OF THE WEEK