REPORT CARD
OFFENSE
It is a problem when Daniel Jones drops back and is immediately swarmed. It sort of limits what a quarterback can do. The plan was to limit the snaps for Saquon Barkley (9-28 rushing, 2-20 receiving) because of his neck issue. The game got out of hand and Barkley took a seat in the second half. Jones was sacked four times and backup Tyrod Taylor was dropped three times. Evan Neal had a rough game. Going 4 of 13 on third-down conversions was not helpful.
DEFENSE
Jalen Hurts did what he pleased with his arm (21 of 31, 217 yards, 2 TDs) and his legs (7-77). RB Miles Sanders (17-144, 2 TDs) feasted on what is clearly a porous run defense. CB Fabian Moreau was called for two penalties in the first quarter and had trouble covering anyone wearing white and green. The Eagles converted 6 of 11 on third down and amassed
27 first downs. A bright spot: OLB Azeez Ojulari had two sacks.
SPECIAL TEAMS
Jamie Gillan’s first punt was a thing of beauty, 52 yards angled to the left sideline for a return of only 1 yard. His third punt was an embarrassment, as he dropped the ball and then made a desperation kick off the turf — an illegal kick, as it was. Elerson Smith used his long arms to block a punt late in the second quarter. The kickoff coverage unit in the second quarter allowed a 66-yard return from Boston Scott and gave up a 35-yard return to Scott in the third quarter. Not good.
COACHING
Brian Daboll has some job ahead of him rallying his team after this mess. Rotating and then sitting Barkley was the correct call by Daboll. There are bigger games ahead. There did not seem to be any finely tuned plan from Mike Kafka to deal with the Eagles defensive front. Wink Martindale is finding it impossible to cover up all the deficiencies in the secondary.