“WATCH the Vikings game!” they said. “It’ll be fun” they said. That game had all the subtle enjoyability of being hit by a car. If you didn’t spend part of Sunday saying “Wait. What?” then odds are, you aren’t an Eagles fan.
As for those of us who ARE Eagles fans, allow me replay some of yesterday’s soundtrack: Roughing my ass! Wait hold on, so he just fumbled it? Jalen, sit your silly ass the fuck down! Fuck him up Fletcher! We’re trying to draw them offsides on 4th and 20?? The onside kick bounced up! It bounced up! We might be able to…Arrrrrghhh Sonofawhore!
Eagles 21 – Vikings 23
The tackling dummy known as Carson Wentz (24/35 – 68.5 – 311 – 2 – 0) had a really good game yesterday, for a guy who spent the day getting beat to shit. Wentz even added 26 yards while running for his li- (Let me whitewash that.) He added 26 yards while rushing. Watching LG Isaac Seumalo “protect”Wentz, made me think perhaps he has QB Nick Foles on his fantasy football team. Speaking of fantasies, a coach thinking that he can beat an NFL team, while running it only 16 times, and passing it 35 times, must love Mary Jane. RB Jay Ajayi (8 – 29 – 3.6 – 0 – 1) led the team in rushing yards with just 29. Yes! Those numbers were our best numbers. This game was some Reggie.
I hear you asking, “What about all the stuff that stats don’t reveal?” Well Billy, that’s the reason for these “Four Things” articles. We introduce an idea of what needs addressing BEFORE the game, so that fans have to honestly answer questions about those things, AFTER the game. This helps to get us, and keep us, all on the same page.
So, of the Four Things we were looking for in this last game, what exactly did we see?
1) Get chippy: The idea was to try and use the TE’s to help the OT’s. The Eagles employed no version of that and opted for TE’s releasing quickly into their routes. It worked for them getting catches, but on the whole Wentz took a beating that could have been severely lessened. NOT DONE
2) Do the obvious thing: Our Secondary didn’t give up as many big cushions this week, but instead of playing some press, the Corners bailed on virtually every play. That allowed the Viking to complete 30/37 (81.0%) of their passes. No team can survive that. NOT DONE
3) Get vertical inside: TE Zach Ertz (10 – 110 – 11.0 – 1) made a living today, while working straight-line routes right off the line. Adding a few chip blocks would have changed the outcome of this game, but you can’t have everything, right? DONE
4) Do your job: Part of a Secondary’s job is tackling. Part of an Offensive Lineman’s job is blocking. Did it look like those units did those things? Nope. NOT DONE
For a second week in a row, we limp away with a Four Things score of 1 of 4. That brings the season tally to 7 out of 20. In just a couple days we get our first division game of the year, and given the state of the NFC East, it’s not quite must-win, but it is damned critical.
On The Whole:
The second half comeback effort was ice to see. Largely, this years team has looked like a boxer, with his back against the ropes, covering his ribs to avoid more body shots. Well our head keeps being exposed, and teams are going up top to beat us. The fix for this is obvious, but it remains to be seen if Doug Pederson is willing to take those two steps.
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