What do you make of this Philadelphia Eagles group?
They definitely deserve credit score for not crumbling after two straight losses. By beating the Minnesota Vikings, they’ve managed to cease the bleeding. And with a win over the New York Giants subsequent Sunday, they may very well be 6-2 getting into their Week 9 bye. There are a lot worse positions to be in.
On the identical time, it’s exhausting to totally consider they’re nearly as good as their 5-2 document says they’re. 16 groups have a greater level differential. They entered Week 7 ranked fifteenth in DVOA. The 2025 Eagles would possibly simply be a comparatively common soccer group at this cut-off date?
Maybe they are often greater than that. You must like a group’s probabilities when the quarterback is enjoying at a really excessive stage, which is what Jalen Hurts did on Sunday. It’s additionally solely truthful to level out that Philadelphia has navigated one of many NFL’s hardest schedules so far.
To what extent the Eagles’ most up-to-date win was a step in the correct route? I don’t know. On the very least, it wasn’t a step within the fallacious one. So, that’s one thing!
Okay, sufficient rambling. Time handy out winners, losers, and I don’t is aware of.
For much more evaluation, take a look at my look on The Ringer’s Philly Particular postgame podcast with Sheil Kapadia (and Ace Producer Cliff Augustin).
Everyone knows Hurts has performed a few of his best possible soccer within the largest video games of his profession. He’s been a playoff riser on this regard.
Whereas a Week 7 battle doesn’t practically maintain the identical magnitude of a postseason matchup, this was an necessary spot for the Eagles. They wanted to indicate response after shedding two straight video games. There was strain on Hurts to carry out after having his worst sport of the season in Week 6.
And carry out he did. Hurts had his finest sport of the season and top-of-the-line of his complete profession towards one of the vital highly-regarded defensive coordinators in your entire NFL.
Hurts achieved what elite quarterbacks are paid a lot cash to do from time-to-time by carrying the offense on his again.
He made some actually nice throws, quite a few them being out of construction performs with the scheme seemingly doing him no favors.
He got here up actually large in clutch conditions. Dealing with a Third-and-15, he hit DeVonta Smith for a 28-yard achieve. Dealing with a Third-and-13 the place the pocket immediately collapsed on him, he managed to outlive and roll out to his proper to hit A.J. Brown for a primary down on the Eagles’ ultimate landing drive. Dealing with Third-and-9 with the sport primarily on the road, Hurts linked with Brown deep to have the ability to ice the sport and never give the Vikings the ball again with an opportunity to win.
The 2024 Eagles have been constructed on operating the soccer and minimizing Hurts’ passing makes an attempt. That components labored extremely properly final yr however the 2025 Eagles should not the identical group. They haven’t been in a position to run the soccer successfully.
It’s time for the Eagles to rethink their identification as a operating group and as a substitute focus far more on passing the ball. Final yr was about leaning on Saquon Barkley. This yr it must be about leaning on Jalen Hurts. Doing so may ultimately assist open up the speeding assault.
No NFL participant has logged extra receiving yards in a single sport this yr than DeVonta Smith, who noticed 11 targets for 9 receptions, a career-high 183 receiving yards (20.3 common), and one landing.
79 of these yards got here on the deep shot he reportedly lobbied for. (It looks like each time play occurs on offense, it’s as a result of the gamers have been prompting the decision?!)
DeVonta had this large day regardless of visibly enjoying by way of some discomfort. He’s such a tricky cowl and the Eagles could be well-served to proceed to feed him. Good issues occur if you throw him the soccer.
Good issues occur if you throw him the soccer. Brown’s six targets resulted in 4 catches for 121 yards (30.3 common, lol) and two touchdowns. After some earlier struggles the place they weren’t fairly on the identical web page, Hurts and Brown have been in a position to join on a number of high-leverage performs out of construction.
Feed DeVonta Smith. Feed A.J. Brown. Preserve passing the ball!
Carter completely demolished Carson Wentz on the play the place the previous Eagles quarterback threw a pick-six proper to Jalyx Hunt. That strain helped result in seven factors for the Eagles in a sport they received by six. Consistency hasn’t fairly been there for Carter this season however this was a reminder that his top-end efficiency could make a significant influence.
Sure, Wentz threw proper at Hunt, however I don’t suppose each edge rusher in that place is ready to make that catch. Pondering Hunt’s expertise as a defensive again in school in all probability helped in that situation. Along with the pick-six, Hunt logged two quarterback hits and a go deflection.
DeJean had an incredible go breakup on a fade throw to Justin Jefferson in the long run zone that finally saved the Eagles 4 factors in a sport they received by six. Not many different defensive backs within the NFL are making that play whereas going up towards one of many league’s best possible broad receivers.
Talking of retaining Jefferson in test, this was an fascinating word from the insights on NFL Professional:
Justin Jefferson caught 1 of three targets for simply 10 yards throughout 20 matchups towards Quinyon Mitchell in Week 7. Mitchell matched up with Jefferson in man protection 13 occasions and compelled 2 tight home windows general. Getting into Week 7, no cornerback had matched up with Jefferson greater than 8 occasions in a single sport. Towards all different Eagles defenders, Jefferson caught 4 of seven targets for 69 yards.
Mitchell appeared to have some losses to Jordan Addison, who’s an excellent participant. However Q answered the bell towards Justin Jefferson.
Welcome again, Nakobe! It was good to see him wanting just like the participant he was previous to struggling a big knee harm again in January.
Dean rotated in at off-ball linebacker with Jihaad Campbell taking edge rusher snaps. Regardless of not having a full-time function, he completed third on the Eagles in whole tackles. A kind of included him exploding into the backfield for a TFL.
Dean is simply too good to not have some type of function on protection. The Eagles will proceed to determine precisely what that’s.
Ojomo sacking Wentz on Third-and-5 on the plus-10 yard line compelled the Vikings to accept one in all their many crimson zone area objectives. Ojomo additionally contributed to a different crimson zone cease the place the Vikings’ landing was worn out by the offensive holding penalty he drew (type of a weak name however, hey, the flag was thrown).
Ojomo appeared just like the participant we noticed usually creating inside disruption again in coaching camp. After logging zero sacks in 25 common season video games previous to this yr, Ojomo is as much as a team-high three sacks in seven video games so far.
Hopefully Ojomo is OK after taking a giant shot from Kelee Ringo. The Eagles want his go speeding juice on the sphere.
I get loads of issues fallacious in regards to the Eagles, which is why I’ve to take a victory lap once I’m proper for as soon as. Feeling respectable about this name from my Q&A trade with Every day Norseman final week:
4) Give us one “underneath the radar” participant on all sides of the ball for the Eagles who you suppose will play a job for the Eagles on Sunday.
Protection – Josh Uche. He’s simply one in all 4 Eagles edge rushers remaining on the energetic roster after Za’Darius Smith’s retirement. Uche has but to log a sack this season however he leads the Eagles in Professional Soccer Focus’s Move Rush Productiveness stat. He additionally ranks eighth amongst NFL edge rushers in go rush grade. Feeling like he’s attributable to give you a strip-sack. With 74 profession fumbles in 102 video games performed, I do know all too properly about Wentz’s propensity to lose management of the soccer.
Uche didn’t strip-sack Wentz … however he did give you an necessary sack (his first of the season) to show 1st-and-goal on the 10-yard line to 2nd-and-goal on the 18-yard line. That play was a part of the Eagles’ protection stopping the Vikings from scoring previous to the two-minute warning, which finally helped the offense to shut out the sport.
THE EAGLES’ RED ZONE DEFENSE
The Eagles allowed a season-high 387 yards. Not nice!
However in six journeys to the crimson zone, the Vikings solely scored one landing (and simply barely!).
Vic Fangio’s protection certain was bending nevertheless it didn’t break.
THE EAGLES’ RUNNING GAME
Saquon Barkley’s 18 carries resulted in simply 44 yards (2.4 common). It clearly wasn’t a him concern as a lot as he was usually contacted proper after getting the ball. Heck, there was a run the place Barkley turned a TFL into a brief achieve for a primary down through a nifty spin transfer.
The Eagles simply haven’t been in a position to get the run going. It doesn’t essentially imply they received’t be capable to get it going in some unspecified time in the future this season. But it surely clearly can’t be their identification proper now.
THE EAGLES’ TEAM HEALTH
The harm part from my sport recap was an extended one.
The most important concern is the standing of Cam Jurgens, who left early attributable to a knee harm. Brett Toth had some struggles whereas filling in at middle.
Adoree’ Jackson must clear concussion protocol earlier than being eligible to return. If he can’t play, it’ll be Kelee Ringo beginning towards the Giants. That certain didn’t go properly final time; he was benched towards New York and solely returned to the sport as a result of Mitchell bought harm.
I’m not fearful about Elliott, who had his first miss of the season. However with all these kickers now making 60+ yarders look routine, a 42-yard miss in a dome wasn’t look. The Eagles actually may’ve used these three factors. Elliott additionally had a penalty for his kickoff bouncing in need of the touchdown zone, which allowed the Vikings to start out an eventual landing drive at their very own 40-yard line.
Dillon was a wholesome scratch as RB4 after fumbling points in Week 6. Is he going to stay on the roster?
Wentz deserves to be within the “Losers” part given how dangerous he was on this sport. He left so many performs that have been there to be made on the sphere. He continues to be a turnover machine with 75 fumbles and 71 interceptions in 103 profession video games performed. He had a very dangerous intentional grounding penalty that contributes to the Vikings’ crimson zone woes. Good for Eagles followers to be on the opposite aspect of Wentz’s very irritating moments.
I’m going to spare Wentz from the “Losers” class, nevertheless, out of respect for his contributions to the Eagles’ Tremendous Bowl success. 1) He left the 2017 group in nice place to have the ability to get the No. 1 seed on the time he suffered a season-ending harm. 2) His want for the Eagles to commerce him in 2021 finally contributed to the Eagles touchdown Jalen Carter, who got here by way of for the Birds of their most weak second within the playoffs final season.
My good good friend Niels Rosenquist (a loyal BGNer) raised the query: “Has any participant performed extra for the Eagles than Carson Wentz if you embrace the commerce and all he’s performed afterwards?
It could be fairly humorous if the 2025 Eagles can look again on this sport as their get-right second.
I’m attempting to be truthful right here.
To Sirianni’s credit score, the group appeared extra able to play this week than they did towards the Giants, which was under no circumstances. That’s good.
I appreciated Sirianni’s aggression to go for it on 4th-and-4 on the Eagles’ first drive. I appreciated Sirianni’s strategy to have the offense go the ball on the Eagles’ ultimate drive as a substitute of simply attempting to run 3 times and punt it.
I actually didn’t like Sirianni’s determination to give up late within the second quarter. As a substitute of attempting to play for a area aim, he merely gave up after Hurts took a sack to get knocked again to Third-and-13 at their very own 35-yard line and with two timeouts to work with. The dearth of ambition and the dearth of belief in his gamers isn’t good culture-setting conduct. It begets a cowardly worry mindset.
I actually didn’t like what I presume to be Sirianni’s directive to intention for reaching fourth-and-short on the Third-and-5 play to start the fourth quarter. It appeared just like the Eagles have been attempting to get to the Brotherly Shove as a substitute of attempting to get the primary down. And when Barkley’s run didn’t achieve any yards — which was no shock for the reason that run sport was clearly struggling — the Eagles despatched out the sphere aim group, which is when Elliott missed the try. The Eagles went for it on 4th-and-4 from the plus-37 yard line on the primary drive of the sport however 4th-and-5 from the plus-23 yard line is a bridge too far?! And why have been the Eagles taking the ball out of Hurts’ palms when he was clearly balling out by that time?
Sirianni talked rather a lot about discovering options popping out of the Eagles’ mini-bye. I don’t know if the teaching workers actually offered options on this sport as a lot because the gamers have been simply making performs.
At one level within the first half, I discovered myself questioning precisely what Sirianni is bringing to the desk. Which feels loopy to say contemplating his actually good observe document of profitable soccer video games, together with a Tremendous Bowl. However I do suppose it’s necessary to parse by way of correlation and causation. And I don’t know if Sirianni is doing an incredible job of offering worth to this point this season. It feels just like the expertise helps the teaching greater than the teaching serving to the expertise.
Each single week, there’s a stretch the place the offense seems to be hopelessly inept.
On this sport, it was after a powerful opening drive that resulted in a landing.
The Eagles’ subsequent 9 performs resulted in simply eight yards gained and three punts.
And people eight yards embrace 18 yards gained by the Eagles on two Third-and-long quit performs … an 11-yard test down on Third-and-20 and a seven-yard test down on Third-and-14.
Nobody is realistically anticipating a landing on each single drive. However to be that incapable with regularity is basically simply unconscionable. It’s the most costly offense within the NFL … by far.
It’s not all Patullo. However the play-caller is a part of the issue. And so is the top coach who picked him for the job.
It could be good to suppose the Eagles figured some issues out on offense on this sport. However, once more, I don’t know in the event that they actually did as a lot because the gamers made performs out of construction. Is that sustainable?
I’ll say the elevated under-center play-action utilization was an overdue however nonetheless welcomed growth. Curious to see if it’ll keep in any respect. Additionally curious simply how a lot of it was associated to not wanting Brett Toth to shotgun snap the ball, which has been a problem for him.
I don’t know if I’m shopping for the Campbell at edge rusher experiment. I get that the Eagles are actually skinny on the market and it’s good to have the ability to get Dean on the sphere greater than under no circumstances. However Campbell is traditionally gentle for an edge rusher and that a lot was obvious with the Vikings having some success operating his manner.
Campbell additionally had a nasty missed sort out on a Wentz Third-and-10 run to permit a primary down. The rookie deserves some grace for having to experiment with one other place on the fly.
Mukuba logged his second profession interception on Wentz’s arm punt. Good on him to make the play nevertheless it was a present.
The rookie security had a very dangerous missed open area sort out towards Justin Jefferson. As a substitute of one thing like Third-and-6 at midfield, the Vikings moved into area aim vary to finally make a kick that reduce the Eagles’ result in one possession.
Rodgers bought torched by each DeVonta Smith and A.J. Brown at varied factors within the sport. He wouldn’t have been a flawless participant if the Eagles stored him as their CB2.
That mentioned, nonetheless truthful to favor him to Adoree’ Jackson and Kelee Ringo.
BG is my favourite Eagle. He’s *THE* all-time Eagle in my thoughts.
That being mentioned, I don’t need him to unretire. Not as a result of I don’t suppose he can’t assist this group. I’m really assured that he can. He was enjoying rather well previous to getting harm final yr. He didn’t retire as a result of he was washed.
BG retired as a result of it was a possibility to exit on prime as a two-time Tremendous Bowl champion. He retired to spend extra time together with his household, amongst many different endeavors.
The Eagles are wanting actually, actually skinny at edge rusher. So I get desirous to deliver him in. And I get BG wanting to assist his teammates.
I simply actually appreciated how he was in a position to stroll away after the Eagles received Tremendous Bowl LIX. That felt so proper. BG even mentioned Howie Roseman advised him the story was too nice when BG had expressed some curiosity in not retiring.
Assuming he comes out of retirement, there might be part of me that enjoys seeing him go well with up for the Eagles once more. However I don’t know if it’s the correct determination.
