Problems are plentiful
To turn around 1-2 start, defense needs to be more productive
There was plenty of blame to go around in the Eagles’ 27-24 loss to the Lions on Sunday afternoon.
The Eagles’ offense lost two fumbles, had three pass-interference penalties and couldn’t make the big play late in an eminently winnable game at the Linc. Despite being without top receivers DeSean Jackson and Alshon Jeffery, the Birds scored 24 points and accumulated 373 total yards.
The special teams weren’t very special, starting with Jamal Agnew’s 100-yard kickoff return for a touchdown the first time Detroit touched the ball.
But the biggest reason the Eagles are 1-2 is their defense. The D has to be more productive.
The Birds forced no turnovers and had no sacks, which is inexcusable.
Malik Jackson and Tim Jernigan, who are the team’s No. 2 and 3 defensive tackles, are out with injuries, but there is still a lot of talent on the defense. And defensive coordinator Jim Schwartz typically moved end Vinny Curry or Brandon Graham inside on passing downs, enabling him to put a quality foursome of those two, plus Fletcher Cox and Derek Barnett on the field in those situations.
Somebody has to figure out a way to make a play.
“We’ve just got to get better,” Graham said. “It’s a long season. A lot of it today was selfinflicted and they capitalized on it.”
The defensive issues started early. After the Eagles followed the Lions’ kickoff-return TD with a 75-yard touchdown drive to go ahead 10-7, Detroit scored the next 13 points.
On their first possession, the Lions went 75 yards on 13 plays to retake the lead. They had three gains of 15 yards or more on the march downfield.
“We didn’t make the plays we needed to at the right moments,” safety Rodney McLeod said. “This one we’re at home. We got to really give this crowd what they want and get these fans involved. That starts with the defense. We got to create that energy early and often.”
Matt Prater added a pair of field goals to close out the half.
Another Detroit 75-yard scoring drive followed an Eagles’ TD. There were two more plays of at least 22 yards, as the Birds continued having trouble applying pressure to Lions quarterback Matt Stafford. They hurried Stafford only three times all day — two by Curry and one by safety Andrew Sendejo on a blitz.
“Clearly, third downs, being good in the red zone and creating turnovers is what makes you a good defense in this league,” McLeod said. “Some of those we came up short today.”
That the Eagles never had the ball with a lead Sunday was the defense’s fault.
While Cox, an All-Pro defensive tackle, pointed out how Detroit regularly kept a back and tight end in to block on passing downs, the secondary struggled to stay with the receivers, especially Marvin Jones Jr. (six catches for 101 yards and a TD). Schwartz mixed in linebacker, safety and corner blitzes to no avail.
“We have to come up with a plan to attack that, and I know [defensive line coach Phillip] Daniels will do a good job at it,” Cox said. “We know that teams are trying to slow down our pass rush, but we have to be more aggressive up front.
“We’re not getting to the quarterback — especially me. I’m not getting there quick enough. We have to do a better job as a defensive line and as a defense.”
The 1-2 Eagles have just two sacks through three games heading into Thursday night’s meeting with the Packers in Green Bay. While they have three interceptions, the Birds have no fumble recoveries and have forced just one so far.
“The difference often comes down to small things,” safety Malcolm Jenkins said. “I think our talent is the only thing not allowing us to be 0-3 right now. If we become a more disciplined and sound team, the sky’s the limit.”
The Birds need to figure it out in a hurry or else they’ll be 1-3, which could mean having to go 9-3 the rest of the way to make the playoffs.