UNDEFEATED. Still.

EAGLES 35 – Steelers 13

EAGLES STATS:

Categories include an EXCLUSIVE weekly Offensive Line Report (Rushing TD’s (6 points) + 3rd downs converted by handoffs (1 point) + sacks allowed (-2 points) = score); as well as Drive Killer (Int – FR – 4th down Tackles – FF – TD).

New Category Ace is for Kick return TD’s, Returners run-down, kicks blocked, etc.

Passing : (S) QB Jalen Hurts (19/28 – 67.8% – 285 – 4 – 0)

Rushing : (S) RB Miles Sanders (9 – 78 – 8.6 – 1 – 0)

Receiving :(S) WR A.J. Brown (11 – 6 – 156 – 26.0 – 3)

Offensive Line Report/Enforcer : (1 + 2 – 3 = 2) / (S) C Jason Kelce

Drive Killer : (S) DT Javon Hargrave (0 – 0 – 0 – 1 – 0)

Sack Leader : (S) DT Javon Hargrave (6 – 2.0 – 0 – 1)

Ace : (B) CB Zech MacPhearson punt downed at the 1 yard line.

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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: STEELERS did the Eagles actually get around to doing? Well let’s see:

1) Divide and Conquer: Mixed bag on this one. We started out just rushing four, but we didn’t give their rookie QB any looks to figure out, so at no point did he ever seem, confused or unsure of where he wanted to go with the ball. We also didn’t blitz a lot more in the second half. (NOT DONE)

2) Suffocate the Run: Their RB’s combined for (14 – 82 – 5.8 – 0 – 0), which looks good on paper, but was shaky in terms of how reliable it was. And that was exactly the goal. Pittsburgh couldn’t rely on the run game, and so had to put all the pressure on their passing game. The result was an early touchdown (on a 4^th down trick play), and two field goals. (DONE)

3) Win the Phonebooth: The Eagles handed the ball off all of 10 times, before RB Boston Scott (7 – 21 – 3.0 – 0 – 0) was inserted to run out the fourth quarter. There were all of FOUR rushing attempts in the first half. It worked this week, but this is not usually a reliable way to win ball games. (NOT DONE)

4) Give Minka Fits: AND HOW! Do you realize that Steelers FS Minka Fitzpatrick (5 – 0 – 0 – 0) was in the vicinity of ALL FOUR passing touchdowns today. I figured that running a receiver at him, would take him out of the play. The Eagles said “Hold my beer”, ran a receiver at him AND scored at will on him. Also creating plenty of space underneath, which was the point.

For anyone who didn’t read Four Things: Steelers, those touchdowns may have been fun to watch. As the guy who wrote it, even though I’m an Eagles fan, it leaves me shook. If the Eagles can do that to a guy like Fitzpatrick, what CAN’T they do? (DONE)

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This puts us at 2 of the Four Things, as we rush ahead into a short week, to play on Thursday night, vs the Houston Texans. Ladies and gentlemen, this is the week for Philadelphia to beat Houston’s ASS in all forms.

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On The Whole:

This week I’d said that: We needed to send the NFL a wake-up call. We’re undefeated, and have won multiple ways. We aren’t part of the 2022 conversation. We ARE the 2022 conversation. The league needs to see us put on an execution. A slow, deliberate, methodical dismantling of an opponent. One where no one talks about a lucky bounce, or missed call, or some other fluke being the difference.

This was that game. Now onto 8 – 0. Houston, this is going to be a shitty week for you.