Birds hope Chargers could be first Linc victim of season
PHILADELPHIA » A few losses at home is understandable for a rebuilding team such as the Eagles, especially since visiting teams are a collective 63-59 this season.
On the list of unexpected surprises the Eagles have unveiled this season, however, including the peace they made with Zach Ertz only to trade the fan-favorite tight end, no one would have guessed they’d be searching for their first home victory in Week 9. That’s what the Eagles are doing as the Los Angeles Chargers come to town for a 4:05 p.m. kickoff Sunday at Lincoln Financial Field. The Chargers and quarterback Justin Herbert are 4-3. The Eagles are 3-5.
“When we won on the road, we played good,” Eagles head coach without a home win Nick Sirianni said. “When we didn’t win at home, we didn’t play good — or when we lost on the road. We know how important that home field advantage is. Again, everything in this league matters. The parity in this league is so tight. We see it every week. We see teams that you don’t think should win against a certain team and it’s a close game, or it goes the opposite way.”
The Eagles are 3-2 away from the Linc, averaging 28 points and allowing an average of just 20.8 points.
At the Linc the Eagles average 21 points and allow 29.
“We’ve been really, really good at home when Doug was here,” center Jason Kelce said, referencing Doug Pederson. “I think part of that is the crowd, the noise they bring. The way our defensive line played under Jim Schwartz was to just get off the ball. Playing that way at home, teams are on silent cadence and it’s hard to mask when that snap’s coming, so you can get a better jump.
“This year I can’t say there’s any rhyme or reason. We were close against San Fran but for the most part it’s just kind of been the way games have gone. I don’t think it has anything to do with home versus away. I still think home field advantage is unbelievable.”
The Chargers are 2-1 on the road, beating the Washington Football Team and the Kansas City Chiefs but losing to the Ravens. The Chargers are 2-2 at home, although the atmosphere with fans from various visiting teams flocking west for the game has forced them to use the silent count.
On the road the Chargers average 18.7 points and allow 24.7 points. At home they average 29 points and allow 25.7 points.
Throw all the numbers into the algorithm and the Eagles are 1.5-point underdogs this weekend.
“I don’t think it has anything to do with the arena that we’re playing in,” quarterback Jalen Hurts said. “We failed to beat those good teams that are coming into our house. And that’s something we obviously want to change. We’re eager to go out there Sunday and play in front of our fans.”
Coincidence or not, Sirianni, the champion of competitive advantages, is hungry for a home win.
“We had a message before our first home game — embrace the home field advantage,” Sirianni said. “Take the home field advantage, and I know we will. Again, I think it’s just a coincidence, but when we have an advantage in something, we’ve got to utilize it.”
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Held out of the Wednesday practice for the Eagles were receiver JJ ArcegaWhiteside (ankle), defensive tackles Fletcher Cox (knee, rest) and Javon Hargrave (shoulder), and receiver Jalen Reagor (ankle). All of them played in the last game although Reagor was carted off and didn’t finish.
Limited in practice were linebacker Shaun Bradley (shoulder), offensive linemen Jack Driscoll (thumb), Lane Johnson (non-injury), Jason Kelce (non-injury) and Jordan Mailata (elbow) and cornerback Zech McPhearson (hamstring).
Safety Anthony Harris (hand/groin) practiced after sitting out the last two games.
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Eagles rookie defensive lineman Milton Williams got a game ball in Detroit after recording his first sack for the Eagles.
It was a symbolic gesture in that the Eagles went out on a limb to draft Williams instead of a cornerback in the third round of the draft, and he’s getting some of the snaps that used to go to some of the veteran defensive linemen. Guys like
Fletcher Cox. At any rate, Williams is getting the ball engraved and is open to suggestions on how to keep it safe and secure.
“I’ve been putting a lot of work in and a lot of people on the outside don’t see the work that you put in, but to finally get some stats on the stat sheet,” Williams said. “Like (defensive coordinator Jonathan Gannon) said, I know I’ve been doing my job, doing what they’re asking me to do on defense. But to finally get it on paper, to get a sack, TFLs, things like that.”
The aggressive 6-3, 290-pounder is turning into a finisher. That 4.63 he posted in the 40-yard dash at 284 pounds prior to the draft looks slow compared to how fast he plays. That video of the Eagles’ war room with Tom Donahoe very unenthusiastically returning Howie Roseman’s high-five after the pick of Williams this past spring looks so wrong these days.