YET another thrilla, not in Phila!
EAGLES 14 – Patriots 13
EAGLES STATS:
Passing: (B) QB Tanner McKee (15/19 – 78.9% – 140 – 0 – 0)
Rushing: (B) RB Tyrion Davis-Price (4 – 28 – 7.0 – 0 – 0)
Receiving: (B) WR Joseph Ngata (5 – 5 – 88 – 17.6 – 0)
Drive Killer: FS Avonte Maddox (TD: 0/Int: 1/ FR: 0/ 4th down stops: 0/ FF: 0)
Sack Leader: OLB Nolan Smith (Sacks: 1.0/ FF: 0/ Tackles: 1)
Special Teams Ace: WR John Ross 2KR, 68 yards, 34.0 avg
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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) Starters Must Play: Nope! Yet again Head Coach Nick Sirianni teased the possibility of playing his starters, and then decided not to. If the Eagles come out firing on all cylinders Week One, then he was right. However, if they come out looking at all out of sync, then he’ll have some ‘splaining to do. (NOT DONE)
2) Stop the Inside Run: With the starters not out there, this is tough to gauge. Statistically, our back-ups did a decent job vs starters. So that’s something to hang our hats on. The guys we put out there, did the job, in this game. ILB Zack Baun made a couple nice plays vs the run. (DONE)
3) Open Up the Offense: Yes. This happened. When third stringer Tanner McKee came in, he ran the exact same system that back-up QB Kenny Pickett (11/13 – 67 – 84.6 – 0 – 0) had been running. The difference was that McKee had time to air out more passes. (DONE)
4) Show Up: We didn’t come out and play down to a less talented team. What we did was worse. Our coaching staff, removed any sense of urgency from this game, by not even dressing most of our starters. The result was a close win, sealed by a fluke fumbled snap, instead of an outright blowout. (NOT DONE)
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This week’s Four Things score is 2 of 4. Understandably, that 50/50 score, produced a coin flip of a win. Maybe we’ll be better next week, when the Vikings visit South Philly.
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Game Hero: QB Tanner McKee – Led the team’s only touchdown drive, and looked very in command of the playbook out there. I almost wanted to give this to LB Brandon Smith for sealing the victory, but he only recovered the fumble. He in no way forced that final turnover.
Game goat: “Starting” Offensive Line – Yes, I know that our back-up O-line was out there against the Patriots starters, but they put Pickett in a no-win situation. Due to sloppy protection, Pickett was forced to rely on short passes. Trying to get the ball downfield, he was sacked 4 times. Some are saying that he’s afraid to open up the offense. Still others say, that he’s holding the ball too long.
Just a note. Both the pass protection and run game production picked up once RG Tyler Steen left with an injury, and giants cast-off Nick Gates came in. I’m not saying that Steen was the problem. I’m saying that Gates was a stabilizer. I’m on record already, saying that I don’t think much of Steen. He has yet to prove me wrong.
On The Whole: It’s hard to say, given how much of this roster will be looking for real jobs in two weeks. Did our back-ups produce an uneven game? Or did a number of future burger flippers, personal trainers, and UPS deliverymen, just give themselves stories that will be passed down like heirlooms?
In any case, until we see our actual starters take the field, these games will be hard to truly evaluate.
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