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One thing I'm watching: Will Big V bring Eagles a victory?

Halapoulivaati Vaitai will line up at right tacklea gainst a group of Carolina defensive ends that includes Julius Peppers.

Philadelphia Eagles offensive lineman Halapoulivaati Vaitai.
Philadelphia Eagles offensive lineman Halapoulivaati Vaitai.Read moreClem Murray/Staff Photographer

CHARLOTTE — One thing I'm watching tonight is Halapoulivaati Vaitai at right tackle for the Eagles, in a hostile road environment, against a group of Carolina defensive ends that includes one of the NFL's savviest vets, 37-year-old Julius Peppers.

Maybe it's a little unfair to "Big V" to cite that popular stat about the Birds being 9-2 with Lane, 2-8 without him in 2016, since they haven't played without him this season. But in a matchup between 4-1 teams, the fact that a second-year, fifth-round pick with six career starts is replacing the fourth overall selection in the 2013 draft is a pretty big deal.

I really think that if Carson Wentz has time to find his receivers, the Eagles aren't underdogs to very many teams, including the Panthers.

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