EAGLES again outclass Packers
EAGLES 22 – Packers 10
EAGLES STATS:
Passing: QB Jalen Hurts (13/21– 61.9% – 131 – 2 – 0)
Rushing: RB Saquon Barkley (25 – 119 – 4.7 – 0 – 0)
Receiving: WR DeVonta Smith (4 – 4 – 55 – 13.7 – 0)
Drive Killer: CB Quinyon Mitchell (TD: 0 /Int: 1/ FR: 0/ 4th down stops:* / FF: 0)
Sack Leader: OLB Nolan Smith (Sacks: 2.0/ FF: 0/ Tackles: 8)
Special Teams Ace: OLB Jeremiah Trotter Jr. kept fumble alive and made FR
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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) Use Lots of Play-Action, Early: Not only did the Eagles not do this early. They didn’t use much of it all game long. Considering the weakness of the Packers pass rush, and Hurts just getting back from concussion protocol; it seems like a no-brainer that play-action would make the Offense run so much smoother. Oh well. (NOT DONE)
2) Bottle Up Their Inside Run: We did a great job of this. With the exception of a 31 yard run (which was almost a tackle for loss), Packers RB Josh Jacobs (18 – 81 – 4.5 – 1 – 0) was held in check all day. In fact, his day was nearly identical to the (16 – 84 – 5.2 – 0 – 0) game that he had, in their first loss against us this season.
The idea wasn’t to shut down the run, but make it an unreliable aspect of their offense. We did that, and it put all the weight on QB Jordan Love (20/33 – 60.6% – 212 – 0 – 3). He was clearly not up to the task of shouldering the load and carrying his teammates. Mission accomplished. (DONE)
3) Get Hits On Their QB: We got just two sacks of their QB. However, after that first one, where he landed on his previously injured throwing elbow, he was clearly rushing his mechanics. He also scrambled out of danger few times, but that just altered his practiced launch points. Couple that with rushed mechanics, and you get 3 interceptions to 0 touchdowns. (DONE)
4) No Weird Shit: We had just one missed extra point, which was well inside of the tolerance limit established for this game. There were no goofy play calls. No head-scratching timeout usage. We didn’t do anything weird to shoot ourselves in the foot. I’m proud. (DONE)
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This week’s Four Things score was 3 of 4. With a margin like that, you expect a comfortable victory, and this was that. Next week we host the Rams, a team that we beat in their home this season. And last season.
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Game Hero: The Defense – On a day when the Offense was not at all sharp, our Defense forced 3 of our 4 takeaways. (Special Teams forced the first.) We contained their run game, and harassed their QB into three interceptions. Even after LB Nakobe Dean (6 – 0 – 0 – 0) went down with a torn patella tendon, LB Oren Burks (5 – 0 – 0 – 1) who forced the fumble on the opening kickoff, stepped right in and played at a high level.
Game goat: DE Josh Sweat (1 – 0 – 0 – 0) – His presence seems greatly diminished down the stretch of the season, and into the playoffs. For this game he was almost invisible. We can’t have that next week.
On The Whole: Despite us not firing on all cylinders, there were a few CHOICE moments in this game. In fact, both of Jalen Hurts touchdown passes were memorialized. The first one came from the cleanest pocket that you’ve ever seen. Hurts riffled the ball 11 yards to WR Jahan Dotson (2 – 1 – 11 – 11.0 – 1).
The second, was a 24 yard catch and run to TE Dallas Goedert (6 – 4 – 47 – 11.75 – 1). He clearly brought his violence to the game, as he repeatedly stiff-armed the trailing defender, who had zero chance of making the stop.
One of the best parts of the game, was after Packer defensive lineman threw Saquon to the ground after whistle had blown the play dead. Though the Eagles were getting the first down, it didn’t stop the Offense, including Hurts, from getting into the face of the offending player. Good to see.
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