Dotson scores in PSU victory
The former Nazareth star returned a punt for a TD to help rally the Nittany Lions.
The timing of the Eagles’ move to a new starting quarterback is curious, to say the least.
Rookie Jalen Hurts, who has replaced Carson Wentz for the time being, will be making his first NFL start Sunday at home against the New Orleans Saints, who not only lead the NFC with a 10-2 record but feature the NFL’s top-ranked defense, giving up an average of just 288 yards per game.
But the Eagles are 3-8-1 and fading fast in the NFC East with four games to play. So maybe it’s the perfect time to see what they have in their second-round draft pick.
Here’s a detailed look at the matchup:
About the Saints
After dropping two in a row in September, the Saints have put together nine straight wins to bolt to the top of the NFC standings as they continue to close in on home-field advantage throughout the NFC playoffs.
Losing starting quarterback Drew Brees to broken ribs hasn’t slowed their progress. They’re 3-0 with Taysom Hill (58-for-81, 629 yards, 2 TDs, 68 carries for 362 yards and 5 TDs) as their starter and will be counting on him again in this game.
Running back Alvin Kamara is one of the league’s most dynamic and productive weapons. He leads the team in rushing (143 carries, 673 yards, 9 TDs) and receiving (70 catches, 655 yards, 4 TDs) and is complemented perfectly in the backfield by 6-3, 230-pound bulldozer Latavius Murray (126 carries, 568 yards).
The Saints’ defense has 16 takeaways this season, led by safety Marcus Williams and cornerback Janoris Jenkins, who have three interceptions apiece. Defensive end Trey Hendrickson leads them with 10.5 sacks.
About the Eagles
One of just two teams to have fallen short of 30 points in every game this year, the Eagles finally benched Wentz, who had amassed NFL highs in interceptions (15) and sacks (50) while completing a career-low 57.4% of his pass attempts.
Miles Sanders ranks second among the league’s RBs in rushing average (5.4).
Wide receiver Jalen Reagor, their firstround draft pick this year, returned a punt 73 yards for a touchdown last week.
Defensive end Brandon Graham will appear in his 156th career regular-season game, surpassing Trent Cole for the most games played by a defensive lineman in franchise history.
Graham also leads the Eagles in both sacks (7.0) and tackles for losses (12) this season.
The Eagles lost longtime offensive lineman Jason Peters for good whenit was revealed on Friday that he was headed for season-ending toe surgery. Hewill be replaced at right guard by Nate Herbig.
How long for Hurts?
Although coach Doug Pederson and the Eagles are committed to giving Hurts the start in Sunday’s game, they left the door for Wentz’s return at any time.
“I said this earlier in the week and I’m going to continue to say it: I truly believe that [Wentz] can get back to the type of quarterback that he was even a year ago,” Pederson said. “I just think we can get him there and I look forward to that opportunity.”
Kelce snaps in more ways than one
Center Jason Kelce uncorks some wild shotgun snaps from time to time. But his snap on Wednesday was right on the money whenhe offered a brutally honest assessment of the state of the Eagles.
“You feel bad that [Wentz is] the sole one taking the hit right now,” Kelce said. “Obviously, the entire offense has been terrible — offensive line, running backs, receivers, coaches. You aren’t this bad unless everybody shares blame in this whole thing. I think everybody here knows that, I know that Carson knows that, that this is not just him. ... It’s hard to believe we’re at this point now, to be honest with you.
“The season has not gone the way any of us anticipated or would have liked to have gone. But sitting here 3-8-1 you’ve got to try to make a change. Obviously, the offense has been absolutely terrible, the last four weeks in particular.”
Kelce sawed off the barrel of the shotgun here and fired.
“Whenever you’re this bad, it’s never just one person,” he said. “It’s never just one position group and it’s never just players, coaches and front office. It’s everybody, and that’s the reality.”
Confidence in Hurts growing
While his teammates may be upset that Wentz was benched, it doesn’t mean they aren’t impressed with Hurts.
“He brings a lot of confidence,” fellow rookie Reagor said. “You guys have seen him play. Y’all seen him play in college. The guy knows how to win, and so does Carson. He’s done it here for a long time.
“Jalen, he brings swagger, he brings confidence, just like Carson brings swagger and confidence. This is just a chance for him to grow and expand as a leader, and this is his opportunity. I wish him the best. I wish Carson the best. And you know, whoever we rock with, that’s who we rock with and we’re just going to try to get this thing on the right track.”
Going, going … gone?
The Eagles’ playoff chances went from bad to worse last weekend when they lost and the Washington Football Team and New York Giants won.
Now they have just a 6% chance to make the playoffs, according to the NewYork Times interactive calculator.
Injuries
Saints: DT Malcom Brown (shoulder) and CBPatrick Robinson (hamstring) are out. WR Deonte Harris (neck) is questionable.
Eagles: LB T.J. Edwards (hamstring), S Rudy Ford (hamstring), CBMichael Jacquet (hamstring) and T Jason Peters (toe) are out. S Grayland Arnold (hamstring) is questionable.
Key matchups
Eagles QBJalen Hurts vs.
Saints S Malcolm Jenkins
Jenkins knows the Eagles offense infinitely better than Hurts, and by now he has transferred that knowledge to everyone else on the defense.
Which means the Saints know what will be coming, even from an elusive quarterback they’ve never faced.
The over/under on Saints defensive TDs, therefore, is two.
Eagles LBs vs. Saints QBTaysom Hill
Hill is an accurate passer (71.6 completion percentage) who adds a dimension with his legs that puts enormous stress on the back end of any defense.
The Eagles have been playing without top linebacker Nate Gerry, who just had surgery. T.J. Edwards has a hamstring injury that prevented him from practicing Wednesday and Thursday.
That likely leaves Alex Singleton, who isn’t exactly a gazelle, and Duke Riley to not only deal with Hill but Kamara.
“Puts a little bit more on the guys that are healthy that can get out there,” defensive coordinator Jim Schwartz said. “It also, just the way it goes with linebackers, those linebackers are always on all the special teams plays, and when you do get some injuries … it puts more responsibility on guys that had to go cover kicks and play every snap on defense.
“That’s life in the big city. That’s what happens. But it’s nothing wehaven’t been through before. We’ll have a good plan and confidence in the guys that we have when we get to Sunday, and we’ll just see where that takes us this week.”
Eagles CB Darius Slay vs. Saints WRMichael Thomas
Even when physically sound, Slay has not been able to slow opponents’ top receivers the way the Eagles believed he would when they gave up two draft picks to get him and then rewarded him with a rich, new contract.
Now he is playing through a knee injury and Thomas is coming off his finest game (nine catches, 105 yards) of an injury plagued season.
Fierro’s pick
Could Hurts help the Eagles pull their biggest upset in two seasons? Las Vegas certainly thinks it’s possible by making the line less than seven points.
There’s only one problem: The Eagles have to play defense when they don’t have the ball, and their defense needs a quarterback change too.
This is a group with too many holes, underachievers and injuries.
Saints 44, Eagles 24. (Season pick record 8-3-1)
Next up for the Birds
The Eagles visit the Arizona Cardinals next Sunday. The Cardinals enter this weekend with a 6-6 record.