A daunting task awaits battered roster

PHILADELPHIA — Because of the struggles of the rest of the NFC East, Sunday’s inter-conference game against the Baltimore Ravens certainly does not fall into the “must-win” category for the Philadelphia Eagles.

However, with their injury-depleted roster facing a short week before their next contest, it’s not hard to project the Eagles going into their third straight home game on Nov. 1 with a 1-5-1 record and then having to face the first-place Cowboys on national TV.

But for now, here’s a closer look at the daunting task they face this Sunday with just one of their original starting offensive linemen (center Jason Kelce) available and wide receiver DeSean Jackson still unable to play because of a hamstring injury.

Storylines

Fansreturn: The City of Philadelphia’s decision to amend its ban on public gatherings has allowed the Eagles to welcome a limited number of fans back to Lincoln Financial Field for home games. The Eagles now will operate under the latest state guidelines, which allow for 15% of capacity in large stadi

ums but no more than 7,500 people total.

New identity?: A significant decline in production from Zach Ertz and injuries that knocked fellow tight end Dallas Goedert and wide receivers DeSean Jackson and Jalen Reagor out of the lineup indefinitely have forced the Eagles to rely more on second-year running back Miles Sanders and second-year wide receiver Travis Fulgham — who is in his first year with the Eagles.

Suffice to say, the juggernaut they envisioned with struggling quarterback Carson Wentz (NFL-high nine interceptions) at the controls has not materialized.

“I’m trying to do everything I can. Carson’s trying to do everything he can ... to win football games,” Ertz said. “It really doesn’t matter how many targets I have ... it’s all about finding ways to win a football game.

“Those big games, those 10-catch games, they’re probably going to come, but at the end of the day we’ve just got to find a way to win.”

The Eagles haven’t found their identity yet because they haven’t found a way to win — except once — in their first five games.

The Hurts factor: The Eagles may not have Lamar Jackson, Baltimore’s dynamic quarterback and reigning league MVP. But they do have rookie Jalen Hurts, wholikely can do as great a job as anyone in the league of mimicking Jackson’s movements and escape routes. Hurts has played Jackson on the scout team all week.

“So far, so good,” Eagles defensive end Brandon Graham said Thursday. “Yesterday was really good seeing the speed. ... Of course, he’s not Lamar, but he’s fast, too. So to see the speed of how fast things happen is definitely going to help us Sunday.”

Fun facts

Eagles RB Miles Sanders has the third-most rushing yards (316) in the NFL since his Week 2 season debut. Minnesota’s Dalvin Cook and Atlanta’s Todd Gurley are the only ones who have rushed for more yards in that span.

Jackson (86- for -135, 949 yards, nine TDs, two intercept ions) also is Baltimore’s rushing leader through five games, with 41 carries for 238 yards and a TD.

Travis Fulgham, in last week’s 38-29 loss at Pittsburgh, became the first Eagle since Jeremy Maclin in 2014 to pull down at least 10 catches to go with at least 150 receiving yards in a game. His 209 receiving yards are the most by any player in their first two games as an Eagle since Terrell Owens in 2004.

The Ravens feature the No. 1-ranked scoring defense in the NFL, allowing just 15.2 points per game.

Injuries

Ravens: DE Derek Wolfe (neck, concussion) is doubtful. S Anthony Levine (abdomen), CB Marcus Peters (thigh), WR Chris Moore (finger, thigh), G Tyre Phillips (shoulder), CB Jimmy Smith (knee), T Ronnie Stanley (shoulder) and WR Miles Boykin (thigh) are questionable.

Eagles: S Marcus Epps (rib), WR DeSean Jackson (hamstring), WR Alshon Jeffery (foot), T Lane Johnson (ankle), CB Avonte Maddox (ankle), G Matt Pryor (illness) and LB Duke Riley (rib) are out. CB Darius Slay (concussion) is listed as questionable but is expected to start. Sua Opeta or newcomer Jamon Brown will start for Pryor at right guard.

Key matchups

Eagles CB Darius Slay vs. Ravens WR Marquise Brown: Slay is expected to start after leaving last week’s game with a concussion. Only an unforeseen setback will keep him out. He likely will follow Brown, whose average of 14.5 yards per catch leads the team.

Eagles pass rush vs. Ravens QB Lamar Jackson: Because Jackson can escape the pocket so easily, the Eagles can’t rush him the way they do most other quarterbacks.

“Lamar Jackson is probably the most dangerous player in the league,” Eagles defensive coordinator Jim Schwartz said, “because there are times you can do everything right on defense and can’t catch him, or he can throw a ball side-arm, underneath of a free rusher and complete a pass. I think that you’ve got to have a resilient attitude when you play him and you know that a playmaker like him is going to make some plays. You just have to limit his big plays and you have to stay resilient.

“We can’t rush scared,” added defensive end Brandon Graham, “but we do have to rush responsible and we’ve got to make sure we’re on the same page.”

Eagles LBs vs. Raven sTE Mark Andrews: Whether they choose to cover him with a linebacker, safety, cornerback or a mix, they have to make sure they can get him to the ground after making the catch. Because he won’t be denied the ball. Andrews already has caught five TD passes and is as good down the field as he is in tight spaces and the red zone.

Eagles WRTravis Fulgham vs. Ravens CBs: Fulgham will be stepping up in class this week to a more physical brand of coverage in Marlon Humphrey, Marcus Peters and Jimmy Smith.

If he has another big game against the Ravens, there would be no doubt this former practice-squad player not only deserves a roster spot the rest of the season, but a starting spot.

Fierro’s pick

One win in their first five games hardly gives the Eagles any momentum against one of the finest teams in the sport. The matchups almost all favor the Ravens, too. The fact is, the Eagles don’t do well defensively against top-flight quarterbacks, much less reigning MVPs. And they certainly don’t have enough offensive firepower to win a shootout against any team — much less one with the league’s top-ranked defense.

The feeling here is the few thousand fans who are allowed in will wish they had stayed home and mowed their lawns by the game’s end.

Ravens 38, Eagles 17. (Season pick record 2-2-1)

Next up for the Birds

The Eagles will have to make a quick turnaround and play at home on Thursday night against the NewYork Giants, whobring an 0-5 record into Sunday’s home game against the Washington Football Team.