The good, the bad and the ugly in an unsightly tie
PHILADELPHIA — Every time the Eagles and Bengals get together, something weird and almost always bad seems to happen for the Eagles, who usually lose.
Sunday’s events were so strange that neither team won, almost certainly because neither team deserved their first victory in what turned out to be a 23-all tie.
So let’s get right to the pertinent details.
What went right
Miles Sanders continued to prove himself as an elite talent, rushing for 95 yards on 18 carries. In the fourth quarter, he broke open deep for what likely would have been a touchdown catch, but the pass was overthrown.
Showing signs of his former self, quarterback Carson Wentz was fearless in the pocket and rushed for a career-high 65 yards — mostly on scrambles. He also directed an 11-play, 75-yard touchdown drive that tied the game with 21 seconds left in regulation.
The defense allowed just 4.3 yards per play, hit quarterback Joe Burrow 18 times on the way to eight sacks and limited the Bengals to three third
down conversions in 13 attempts.
What went wrong
Their red-zone defense allowed touchdowns on Cincinnati’s first two opportunities.
Wentz tossed two more interceptions to run his season total to an
NFL-high six through three games. He was intercepted just seven times in each of the previous three seasons.
Both Bengals touchdowns were the result of blown coverage.
What stood out
Halftime adjustments continue to be ineffective for the offense, which has scored just 13 points in the second half this season.
Despite injuries that kept wide receivers Alshon Jeffery and Jalen Reagor from being activated and knocked DeSean Jackson out of the game, J.J. Arcega-Whiteside played just 18 snaps and was never targeted.
After kicking a field goal for a 3-0 lead on the first play of the second quarter, the Eagles went three-and-out on three straight pass attempts in each of their next two possessions. This, after running the ball 11 times for 62 yards in the first quarter.
Linebacker T.J. Edwards (51 defensive snaps) has climbed ahead of Duke Riley (seven defensive snaps) on the depth chart.
After three games, the defense still doesn’t have a takeaway.
Cheers
Kicker Jake Elliott made good on all three fieldgoal attempts, including a 54-yarder.
In the absence of DeSean Jackson, Alshon Jeffery and Jalen Reagor, wide receiver Greg Ward came through with career highs of eight catches and 72 receiving yards.
Cornerback Darius Slay continued his excellent blanket coverage and finished with seven tackles.
Defensive ends Brandon Graham and Derek Barnett finished with 2.0 sacks apiece.
Jeers
Wentz once again struggled with routine throws and missed Sanders on what would have been a game-winning touchdown.
Coach Doug Pederson didn’t trust his offense enough to try an all-or-nothing two-point conversion at the end of regulation or his defense to keep the Bengals from scoring from midfield with 19 seconds left in overtime by punting and accepting a tie. He admitted in a radio interview on Monday morning that he shouldn’t have handled the end of overtime that way.
Corey Clement foolishly piled on following a 19-yard punt return by Alex Erickson, allowing the Bengals to start a second-quarter drive at the Eagles’ 38 and turn it into a game-tying field goal.
Safety Jalen Mills committed a 14-yard pass interference penalty in the end zone to set up Cincinnati’s first TD.
Matt Pryor’s false-start penalty in overtime kept the Eagles from attempting a game-winning field goal because it pushed Elliott out of his range — from 59 to 64 yards — and led to Pederson’s decision to punt with 19 seconds remaining and essentially accept a tie.
What they said
Pederson, Monday morning on 94.1 WIP, admitted he would have handled the end of overtime differently if he had it to do over again. “Looking back on it, I probably would have gone the other way and took a chance on [putting the offense back on the field after Pryor’s penalty] and maybe take a shot down the field.”
Wentz, on punting near the end of overtime: “I understood the decision. Tying is no fun. I don’t think I’ve ever been in a tie, so it’s just kind of an awkward way to end the game. [It’s] frustrating when you have a chance there to kick the field goal.”
Graham, on Pederson’s decision to punt: “I trust coach. I am not worried about nothing else. Coach definitely makes the right decisions on whatever he feels for this team. I got his back.”
Mills, on the team’s mindset after an 0-2-1 start: “It’s the same. Go out, compete Monday through Friday at practice. Come out on Sunday and play for the win. My five years being here now, that’s all this team has ever done is fought through adversity, fought through injury, fought through ups and downs throughout the season.”
What’s next
The Eagles (0-2-1) visit the San Francisco 49ers (2-1) next Sunday night. The Niners are defending NFC champs.
More roster moves could be coming if the injuries to TE Dallas Goedert (ankle) or WR DeSean Jackson (hamstring) or CB Avonte Maddox (ankle) prove serious.