EAGLES bat down Lions.
EAGLES 16 – Lions 9
EAGLES STATS:
Passing: QB Jalen Hurts (14/28 – 50.0% – 135 – 0 – 0)
Rushing: RB Saquon Barkley (26 – 83 – 3.1 – 0 – 0)
Receiving: WR A.J. Brown (11 – 7 – 49 – 7.0 – 0)
Drive Killer: CB Cooper DeJean (TD: 0/Int: 1/ FR: 0/ 4th down stops: 0/ FF: 0)
Sack Leader: OLB Jaelan Phillips (Sacks: 1.0/ FF:0 / Tackles: 5)
Special Teams Ace: K Jake Elliott 3/3 FG, 1/1 XP vs 35mph wind gusts
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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: LIONS did the Eagles actually get around to doing? Well let’s see:
1) Play the Run First: Since the game never got out of hand, we had to stay in this mode for the entire contest. In the end, we gave up just 74 rushing yards on the night, with no Lions player reaching 40. While we did successfully pass rush situationally, there never came a point where we could just pin our ears back and go. (DONE)
2) Gotta Feed the Dawgs: We did not get the 3 sacks that I set as a benchmark. Instead, we had to settle for just 2. We kept their QB’s feet moving, had him throwing off platform, and he even shared a pass with us. That however, had to do with a tipped pass by DT Jordan Davis (1 tackle) who would tip 3 passes in this game, with DT Jalen Carter (5 tackles) adding 2 of his own. We did a lot, but two isn’t three. (NOT DONE)
3) Use Our Wide Receivers: This one is a little murky. Between WR’s DeVonta Smith (5 – 1 – 8 – 8.0 – 0) and Brown, we didn’t hit the benchmark of 12 catches between them. However, it was a very windy night, and the Eagles ran the ball 40 times vs 28 pass attempts. It seems smarter that we didn’t try to get this one. (NOT DONE)
4) Run Hurts More: Hurts ran the ball 10 times for just 31 yards, but twice he picked up first downs on 12 yard runs. His running was far more decisive than it’s been most of this season. I do have one tiny gripe about it though: It wasn’t mixed into early drives quite enough. (DONE)
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This week’s Four Things score was 2 of 4. Next week, the best team in the NFC heads down to Texas to get the other half of this Cowboys sweep.
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Game Hero: Defensive Co-ordinator Vic Fangio – The Lions offense came into this game second in the NFL in scoring, with 31 points per week. Fangio came up with a concept that neutralized the Lions weapons, and kept them off-balance, all game. Also, getting players to buy into the little things, was huge!
Watching LB Nakobe Dean (3 – 1.0 – 0 – 0) on a surgically repaired knee, covering the speedy Lions players; or DT’s repeatedly getting their hands up to deflect passes; or committing to run containment, before pass rushing. Our Defense was amazing, largely because of how selflessly they played. That’s credit to Fangio.
Game goat: Offensive Co-ordinator Kevin Patullo – This was another game filled with questionable play-calling. The running from Shotgun. The WR bunch formations. Throwing on first down when backed up against our own endzone! Throwing passes to WR’s behind the line of scrimmage… I’m exhausted talking about this guy.
The only thing that I think got him off the hook this week, was Lions head coach Dan Campbell committing outright coaching malpractice, by deciding to try to convert FIVE fourth downs, and rolling snake-eyes each time. His desire to be seen as a tough guy, followed by how often he tears up at press conferences, really makes me wonder if he doesn’t need serious counseling for something.
On The Whole: The Lions came here talking shit about wanting a fight, and seeing this game as a measuring stick, and having circled the game, and yadda yadda blab blah blah. But by the second quarter, we had their QB screaming:
Again, we faced another so-called NFC contender, and ground them under our boot heel, while the world screamed about how “troubled” we are. Surely with all of our internal turmoil, we would fall apart and be easily vanquished, right? Right? WRONG! This was yet another example of the mantra “Everyone can beat the Eagles, until it’s time to beat the Eagles.”
Offensively we looked terribly out of sync, but at no point did we trail, or give the impression of not being in control. Again, that did have something to do with their head coach’s inability to learn; but it also points to a poise and resiliency within our team, that other teams just don’t possess.
We’re 8 – 2 Eagles fans. We’re number one in the conference. Enjoy this moment.
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