SAQUON Barkley runs the giants.
EAGLES 28 – giants 3
Passing: QB Jalen Hurts (10/14 – 71.4% – 114 – 1 – 0)
Rushing: RB Saquon Barkley (17 – 176 – 10.3 – 1 – 0)
Receiving: WR Arthur Brown (5 – 5 – 89 – 17.8 – 1)
Drive Killer: N/A (TD: /Int: / FR: / 4th down stops: / FF: )
Sack Leader: MLB Nakobe Dean (Sacks: 2.0/ FF: 0/ Tackles: 11)
Special Teams Ace: P Braden Mann drawing a roughing the kicker penalty
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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: GIANTS did the Eagles actually get around to doing? Well let’s see:
1) Use A Metric Fuck-ton of Play-action: Nope. Not really. Hurts dropped back to pass, all of 18 times. He was sacked 4 of those, and attempted just 14 passes. I was expecting the giants to make a point of taking away Saquon. Instead, he romped and frolicked in their wilderness.
If he wasn’t running away from giants defenders, he was running over them. Why fake giving him the ball, if actually giving him the ball, yields results like these? I was wrong about this one. And you have no idea how happy I am about that. (NOT DONE)
2) Chip Off the Block: Again, I expected a different kind of game, but Hurts dropped back all of 18 times, was sacked 4, and attempted just 14 passes, on the day. There just weren’t many opportunities to use play-action. Which is probably for the best, since LT Fred Johnson wasn’t getting any chip help on the outside. He also seemed to have his hands full when we did throw it. (NOT DONE)
3) Speed Up Their QB’s Clock: Brother, did we ever! On 29 dropbacks, QB Daniel Jones (14/21 – 66.6% – 99 – 0 – 0) was sacked 8 times, and was under duress when he was able to get passes off. He averaged 4.7 yards per pass, in this game. That’s less than half a first down per attempt! We finally got a look at what our Defense will look like, if we build a comfortable lead. (DONE)
4) Win On First Down: The giants saw 23 first downs in this game. They gained 4 yards or more, on 10 of those plays. The Eagles held them to 3 yards or fewer (including 3 sacks), a total of 13 times. So on 56% of the giants first downs, the Eagles imposed our will and won the down. (DONE)
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This weeks Four Things score was 2 of 4. I absolutely nailed the Defensive side, but totally whiffed on the kind of Offensive game, we were going to have to run. Well, next week we’re on the road again, to face a 3 – 4 Cincinnati team, that is trying to revive their season.
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Game Hero: RB Saquon Barkley – He went out there and set a tone. Lowering his shoulder and smoking DB’s. Putting his foot in the ground and absolutely butchering the giants defenders with runs of 55, 41, and 38 yards. It was glorious.
Game goat: CB Quinyon Mitchell (3 – 0 – 0 – 0) – He dropped yet another would be interception. This was what, number 3 or 4? Someone get Lester Hayes on the phone, and see if he has any more Stickum.
On The Whole: Fundamentals. We stood strong on them, and for the second week in a row, our Defense didn’t allow a touchdown, and we didn’t turn the ball over. The result of those fundamentals, was a dominating win. Granted, it was over a bottom-feeder team, but like last week, you have to win the games that you’re supposed to win. We have that base covered.
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