Undefeated Eagles show they have the right blueprint
Philadelphia Eagles quarterback Jalen Hurts walked to the podium postgame and he did not crack a smile.
This was despite the Eagles securing a gritty 20-17 NFL win over the Arizona Cardinals to improve to 5-0. It is the team’s best start since 2004 and just the third time in franchise history they have begun a season undefeated through five weeks.
“I personally have mixed emotions about the game itself,” Hurts said. He explained he and the offence left opportunities out on the field. He highlighted the fourth-quarter drive that resulted in a go-ahead field goal that proved to be enough to win the game.
“What could I have done more to put us in a better position,” Hurts said. “I feel like in many ways I let them down.”
The Eagles did leave opportunities on the board. They had their lowest offensive output of the season, went 2-4 in the red zone, and the defence gave up 363 total
yards and the team were outscored 7-6 in the second half.
“You have to be able to fight through adversity. That’s what it comes down to, fighting through adversity. When adversity strikes, what are you going to do? How are you going to respond,” Eagles wide receiver DeVonta Smith, who had a career-high 10 receptions, said.
The undefeated Eagles have not faced much adversity this season. Philadelphia’s 357 total yards and 20 points were both season lows.
But Hurts and Philadelphia can smile. The Eagles can win in a variety of fashions because they have won the battle at line of scrimmage in each of the first five games.
“It starts upfront. When guys upfront are playing good, the team is playing good. When your good players are playing good, the team is playing good,” Eagles defensive tackle Fletcher Cox said. “It all just trickles down.”
It has all trickled down to victories for Philadelphia. The Eagles entered week five with a league-leading 16 sacks and were just the sixth team since the 1970 merger to produce 10-plus rushing touchdowns through four games. Philly produced one more sack and two additional rushing touchdowns versus the Cardinals. That was testament to their stout play upfront on both sides of the ball.
The NFL has undoubtedly transformed into a passing league. But the blueprint to winning all football games is winning the battle at the line of scrimmage – and that is what the Eagles have done in each of their five games.