Eagles vs. Rams: 9 Predictions for the Birds This Sunday

Finally, the NFL season will kick into gear. The Eagles will face a tough, gritty Rams team under the guidance of an up and coming coach in Steve Spagnuolo.

A loss opening the year will send Eagles fans into panic considering this team is being hyped up to be a Super Bowl or bust team.

Here are 9 predictions for the Eagles-Rams game:

The Fresh-Faced Offensive Line Will Struggle

If I told you before training camp that the two starting guards would be Evan Mathis and Kyle DeVan, you would of thought I was crazy.

The offensive line needs continuity to succeed as a group. Pulling guys from the waiver wire and inserting them into the lineup will be detrimental to the success of the line, especially a week before the season.

I expect the Eagles line to struggle against a strong Rams defense. Steve Spagnuolo will undoubtedly try to test Jason Kelce with complex blitz schemes. Kelce and Vick have to work together to relay signals to recognize where the blitz is coming so Vick can make a pre-snap adjustment.

Todd Herremans will also be a player to watch because moving from left guard, arguably the least important spot on the line, to right tackle, the most important spot for the left-handed Vick, will be a transition that will take more than the couple of weeks Herremans has had to acclimate himself to playing the tackle position.

Michael Vick Will Be Forced To Use His Legs More Often Than the Eagles Want

As a result of poor offensive line play this preseason, Vick has been running for his life trying to escape the pressures of the defensive linemen. I wouldn't be surprised to see the same outcome in the Rams game, as Spagnuolo's expertise is pressure on the quarterback.

The Eagles know Vick's running ability adds another dimension to the offense, and one more the opposing defense has to worry about, but they also know his running could result in a major injury.

Though I think Vince Young is a capable backup, by no means would I like to see him starting anytime this season.

LeSean McCoy Will Be Vick's Leading Receiver

In the Eagles vs. Browns preseason matchup, Vick had no time to pass, thus he relied on LeSean McCoy's great pass-catching abilities. McCoy finished just the first half with seven receptions for 69 yards.

McCoy was Vick's security blanket and checkdown last year, as he posted a career high with 78 catches, leading any receiver or tight end on the team. That is almost five receptions a game.

Even though Vick has had time to practice with Jeremy Maclin and Steve Smith, practice is a whole lot different than in game situations.

DeSean Jackson Will Burn a Rams' Defender

DeSean Jackson is known for running his go and fly routes consistently and delivering a deep play with his elite speed. At times, he seemingly only ran these routes, especially after he suffered his concussion going over the middle against the Falcons.

Andy Reid sometimes falls in love with the deep play and I'm sure he will be calling many deep plays for Jackson.

Jackson has the ability to run past any Rams corner or safety, I'm looking at you Quintin Mikell! Arguably the greatest weak spot on defense is their secondary which will have a tough task of defending all the Eagles weapons.

Look for Vick and Jackson to connect at least once.

Defense Will Struggle To Stop Steven Jackson

Though the Eagles have had success slowing down Steven Jackson, he ran for only 40 yards in the season opener three years ago against the Eagles. The run defense that year was stout starting with the improving Brodrick Bunkley and Mike Patterson.

That year the Eagles also did not run the wide-9 scheme, which basically eliminates the defensive ends from being factors against the run.

The Eagles' undersized linebackers will have to fight through blocks and then try to stop this 240-pound monster.

If the Eagles lose this game, look for Jackson to be a big part of the reason why.

Casey Matthews Will Be a Culprit of Why the Eagles Will Not Stop Jackson

This is more of a follow-up of the last slide; I predict that Matthews will especially have a tough time bringing down the physical, bruising running style of Steven Jackson.

The Rams sport a very solid offensive line and this could spell doom for the Eagles' run defense which has been a concern this preseason.

While Matthews could eventually be a competent middle linebacker, he will not be playing up to potential right away. He still has to call out plays, audible plays if he sees there is something wrong with the defense, relay the information to the rest of his teammates and then worry about the actual play.

Defense Contains Sam Bradford

The Eagles defense is built to rush the passer and with a great secondary to back up the pressure, quarterbacks will have an incredible difficult task of throwing consistently. To beat this defense would start with establishing the run.

Sam Bradford will enter his sophomore season and the Eagles will be sure to bring the heat on him to force him into bad decisions.

With edge rushers like Jason Babin and Trent Cole, and inside rushers with Cullen Jenkins and Trevor Laws, the Eagles pass rush should be one of the best in the league.

I expect the defense to record at least four sacks on Bradford.

At Least One Member of the Big 3 Intercepts Bradford

Who are the Big 3? No, not Halladay, Lee and Hamels, but the trio of cornerbacks with Nnamdi Asomugha, Asante Samuel and Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie.

The Eagles have arguably the best tandem with Asomugha and Samuel, and their contrasting styles should translate on the field.

I think the Eagles strong pass rush will be too much for the Rams' offensive line and Sam Bradford too handle, forcing him to make a couple bad decisions with the football.

It is certainly plausible for one member of the Big 3 to pick Bradford off.

Eagles Win a Tough, Close Game

If you look at the rosters of both the Rams and Eagles, one would certainly pick the Eagles in a blowout win, but what one fails to understand is that this Eagle team has so many new faces on the offensive line and defense.

By midseason the Eagles should be playing more like a team, rather than a bunch of All-Star individuals thrown together on one team.

The Rams will try to establish the running game and will succeed, setting up the short passing game for Bradford. Bradford though will have to deal with an almost unblockable pass rush. On offense, the Eagles may not find much rhythm because of the inconsistencies of the offensive line.

Ultimately though, talent prevails in the NFL. We have seen it the past two years, as the most talented teams won: Packers and Saints.

Final Prediction: Eagles 24-16