QB Mark Sanchez to start for Eagles against Tampa Bay

So I just jumped on the opportunity when Allan (Barrett) presented it to me and I thought, what a way to make someone’s day, what a way to make a family’s day.

TE: Buccaneers writers have noted that the middle of Tampa Bay’s defense has been vulnerable. And that’s just the tip of an iceberg that could sink the Eagles’ season. The Eagles have their issues on offense with injuries at quarterback, running back, the offensive line and struggles at outside wide receiver.

The total for Sunday afternoon’s tilt is set at 45.5 points according to the sportsbooks.

For the Eagles to beat the Bucs, Sanchez must take care of the ball.

However, it’s not like the Eagles aren’t without any hope. On the other hand, the Bucs allowed five receivers to exceed 100 yards, too.

“Everything I do, he knows when I’m going to do it, how I’m going to do it”, Winston said. “Now I have to go up there and face them”. That’s right around what Jimmy Kempski, Rich Hofmann and I are all predicting, based on our staff predictions. Jimmy is the only one with the over, however, predicting a total of 46 points, while Rich and I both have the under with 43 and 44 points, respectively.

“It takes time you know, like I said, I’m not ideal, nobody is in this world, but I’m going to take care of that and get better”, he said. Top overall draft pick Jameis Winston is already showing veteran traits at quarterback, and the team has overcome a plethora of injuries on both sides of the ball. Eagles punter Donnie Jones had a punt blocked for the second time last week. They are No. 6 in rushing, with 126.6 yards per game. If Sanchez has any kind of success Sunday, he should be able to hit this number. But the Eagles averaged just 2.3 yards per rush against the second worst run defense in the NFL. If those pass catchers are in the lineup, the Bucs are more unsafe.

“We’ve got to get turnovers”, he said. Whether or not that will translate into a victory depends on how well he protects ball, not just how far he throws it. “You want as many options as possible”. Winston won his first 26 starts at Florida State, an NCAA Division I record. In those five games, starting with a win over the Jaguars following the Carolina loss, the Bucs earned three wins.

Mathews is out this week, which means there’s no question who will carry the load.

The Eagles would lose the game, 20-19, and drop to a disappointing 4-5 on the season. That would allow Sproles to line up more often on the outside and continue to be used – or not used, depending on who you ask – in much of the same way he has been all season.

“Anything I can do to change someone’s life”, Winston told 10Sports. It could the same thing Sunday as Jason Peters is listed as questionable with a back injury.

The intermediate passing game, though? With 10 runs of 20 or more yards, the Eagles are fourth in the league. And because of that, I don’t think Sproles matches his season-high of 11 carries against the Bucs. The result…(and this could be our boldest prediction yet) NO interceptions by Mark Sanchez.

“Randall Cunningham was one of those guys, especially back in those times, that brought excitement to the game, like Steve Young, ” Winston said. But the Eagles match up so very, very well against this Buccaneers defense that Sanchez should have no trouble moving the ball. He threw an interception in the end zone that ended the Eagles chances of a comeback. I’m not talking about on the scoreboard – I’m talking about the ability to impose their will from the start and control the game. But when I went to look up his stats in the red zone, I was shocked at what I found – his numbers are better there than anywhere else on the field. In a way, that’s all you really can do with this team.