EAGLES send Green Bay packing
EAGLES 34 – Packers 29
EAGLES STATS:
Passing: QB Jalen Hurts (20/34 – 58.8 – 278 – 2 – 2)
Rushing: RB Saquon Barkley (24 – 109 – 4.5 – 2 – 0)
Receiving: WR A.J. Brown (10 – 5 – 119 – 23.8 – 1)
Drive Killer: S Reed Blankenship (TD: 0/Int: 1/ FR: 0/ 4th down stops: 0/ FF: 0)
Sack Leader: LB Zack Baun (Sacks: 2.0/ FF: 0/ Tackles: 13)
Special Teams Ace: K Jake Elliott 2/2FG, 4/4XP
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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: PACKERS did the Eagles actually get around to doing? Well let’s see:
1) Establish the Inside Run: The idea was to get Saquon Barkley going early, on inside runs. It didn’t happen early in the game (which is what I was aiming for), but it did happen early in his workload (by carry #7 of 24). That helped set the tone for the second half, where the Eagles did pile up points.
The Offense didn’t salt away the win, in terms of running the clock out, or scoring a back-breaking touchdown. However they tried to do both. On our last possession, 8 of those 19 plays, were hand-offs to Saquon, and we should have had that touchdown, but Jalen Hurts fumbled the snap. Heroically, Saquon was there to recover it, and we kicked a FG, putting us up by 5 points. (NOT DONE)
2) Take Away the Run: The idea was to stymie the Packers interior run game, and we did a great job of that. Our Defensive Linemen didn’t record a bunch of stats, but they did keep Zack Baun clean enough to make 13 tackles (9 solo) and 2 sacks.
Before you point out the Packers RB Josh Jacobs (16 – 84 – 5.25 – 0 – 0) rushing stats, consider that 43 of those rushing yards, are from the Packers last two drives, and 32 of those yards are from one carry. We absolutely made their QB carry this game on his own. Which was the second half of this key. (DONE)
3) Drive A Dotson: Nawp! Didn’t get within 1,000 yards of this one. Only one pass was thrown to WR Jahan Dotson (no stats) all game long. Shame too! Looking at the meager rushing numbers put up by every Eagle not named Saquon, a little loser box, might have helped out quite a bit. Thank goodness that Brown delivers. (NOT DONE)
4) Mix It Up: Reed Blankenship making the interception out of Robber Coverage, almost took my breath away. Visions of Ronnie Lott’s 8 interception season with the Raiders, started to dance in my head. That interception was downright predatory! Not the catch. The way it was set-up.
Blankenship dropped out of the coverage window, leaving it open for a split second. Just long enough to bait the throw. Then he broke on the receiver. If the ball had gone elsewhere, he’d have been out of position to help deep. Instead, it was a pick that led to the go-ahead score (DONE)
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This week’s Four Things score is 2 of 4, though it could have been 3 of 4. Next week the Birds defend our nest, from an 0 – 1 Falcons team, that lost to 6 field goals and no touchdowns.
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Game Hero: RB Saquon Barkley – He piled up 109 rushing yards, and three touchdowns (2 rushing, 1 receiving), in his Eagles debut. While his 26 touches feels a little high this early in the season, it was good to see him put them down with no injury, nicks, or otherwise ill effects.
Game goat: Eagles pass rush – MLB Zack Baun ran down QB Jordan Love (17/34 – 50 – 260 – 2 – 1) a couple of times, but none of our linemen got a good lick on the guy. That is, until DT Jalen Carter (2 – 0 – 0 – 0) tried to tackle Love (subsequently injuring him), as he fought to toss the ball to Josh Jacobs. We need sacks out of our linemen. Period.
On The Whole: The early miscues on both sides of the ball, justified every Eagles fan’s misgivings about the starters not playing at all in the preseason. Particularly Jalen Hurts who was not sharp, to say the least. Throwing two picks and fumbling twice, (once at the goal line), either indicates rust, or an outright lack of talent.
Though it’s too late to unspill that milk, I said it once before but it bears repeating now. Our starting guys should have played. The coach needs to hear that, for the next couple weeks at least.
Or until the Eagles start to look unstoppable.
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