PRESEASON games matter.
EAGLES 25 – Patriots 20
EAGLES STATS:
Passing: QB Jalen Hurts (22/33 – 66.6% – 170 – 1 – 0)
Rushing: RB Kenneth Gainwell (14 – 54 – 3.8 – 0 – 0)
Receiving: WR A.J. Brown (10 – 7 – 79 – 11.2 – 0)
Offensive Line Report: (TFL: 3 / Sacks: 3 / Scrums Won: 0 / Scrums Lost:0 )
Drive Killer: CB Darius Slay (TD: 1/Int: 1/ FR: 0/ 4th down stops: 0 / FF: 0)
Sack Leader: DT Jalen Carter (Sacks: 1.0/ FF: 0/ Tackles: 1)
Special Teams Ace: K Jake Elliott (4/4 FG’s)
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I hear you asking, “What about all the stuff that stats don’t reveal?” Well, that’s the reason for these Four Things articles. It’s to point out what we need to address BEFORE the game. Then AFTER the game, there’s a no-bullshit assessment of whether or not the Eagles did any of what they needed to do, to ensure the win.
So how much of what I mentioned in Four Things: PATRIOTS did the Eagles actually get around to doing? Well let’s see:
1) Establish the Run: We looked like we were going to with our first drive of the game, with 8 designed runs (7 handoffs) for 39 yards (4.8ypc). Then we bailed on it, with just 9 total handoffs for the remainder of the game.
The misdirection and RPO aspect of our run game from last year, was nowhere to be seen. The Eagles did employ some play-action, and it was somewhat effective at buying Hurts time to throw, but it didn’t help him when he tried to run. He looked to be pressing into the hole before it opened, doing half the job for Patriot defenders.
As a result, we never forced the Patriots to load the box. That took away simple answers for Hurts when passing. Instead, the Patriots forced him to read and think. At times his rookie crutch (bootleg wide right, stare down a receiver, force a ball down the sideline) was on glaring display. (NOT DONE)
2) Load the Box: The idea was to take away the Patriots run game (22 – 76 – 3.4 – 0 – 0); and put the game in the hands of Patriots QB Mac Jones (35/54 – 64.8% – 316 – 3 – 1). Those parts got done. We just didn’t have to load the box to do it. (NOT DONE)
3) Set the Dogs on Them: On third downs, use a five man rush. Go to Cover Two or a Tampa Two. Get those hands up, and challenge every ball in the air. NOPE!
We hardly saw a five man rush out of the Defense in this one. Sadly many of Jones passes were completed to receivers that were too wide open to be believed. From a defensive standpoint, it looked like Defensive Coordinator Sean Desai was still calling a vanilla preseason game, and trying not to show too much.
Their offensive line was missing three starters, and playing two rookies, and still we didn’t get a sack until the 4th quarter. Desai is on his way to making me miss former DC Jonathan Gannon. (NOT DONE)
4) Pull the Trigger: Once the run game took over, deep shots down the field would be there for the taking. Except the run game never took over, and TE Dallas Goedert (no stats) is apparently invisible to Hurts. We took two legit deep shots all game long, both to A.J. Brown. One was overthrown, the other catch was overturned by replay.
Otherwise, our passing game consisted mostly of Screens and checkdowns to RB’s. New Offensive Coordinator Brian Johnson, called a terrible game today. (NOT DONE)
This week’s Four Things score, is an ignominious 0 of 4 to start the season. We’d better get things in order quickly though, because we play again THIS THURSDAY. The 0 – 1 Vikings are coming to Philadelphia for a heaping helping of knuckle sandwich, with a side order of “Now stay the fuck down!” But we won’t be serving that, if we play like we did this Sunday.
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Game Hero: DT Jordan Davis (0.5 – 1 – 5)
Some will say it was Jake Elliott, but to me it was Davis. He forced an early fumble that led to a touchdown, helped stop the Patriot run game all day, and got half a sack, on a late drive, that became a turnover on downs.
Game goat: The coaching staff. I’m irritated with Sean Desai for rarely rushing five linemen. I’m irritated with Brian Johnson for bailing on the run game, and calling an ass-ton of Screens. I’m irritated with Head Coach Nick Sirianni for not playing the starters in the preseason, and contributing to all the rust we saw in this one.
On The Whole:
This was an ugly win, but it was a win. It was also a win against a team that has an all-time great coach, in terms of scheming and adjusting; yet we won both halves of the game. Scoring 16 – 14 in the first; and 9 – 6 in the second. If we weren’t so rusty, we’d have beaten the brakes off that team.
When the game ended, I was going to pen a spittle-flecked diatribe, over putting the team in this position due to rust. However, in his post-game press conference, Sirianni said that if he had it to do over, he’d have played the starters some in the preseason. Hey, if he’s learned, there’s no reason for me to harp on it. So let’s move on.
In fact, let’s celebrate with a song!
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