Offensive line, running backs earn high marks
Eagles earn mixed grades from stirring victory in Green Bay
GREEN BAY, Wis. — The Philadelphia Eagles were all over the place in Thursday night's improbable win at Green Bay.
As such, they have mixed grades from their performance. Here's how they shake out:
Offensive line: A
Cleared the way for a running game that produced 176 yards and an average of 5.3 yards per attempt and did not allow a sack. The communication required against the tricky Green Bay pass-rush package was at a level that's beyond reasonable expectations even for a full week of preparation. But on a short week? That was just sick good.
“This is a good front, a really good front,” coach Doug Pederson said of the Packers. “A lot of our combination blocks had some success.”
Receivers: C+
Hard to grade this group because it was such a small part of the game plan. Alshon Jeffery caught a touchdown pass but failed to reel in a difficult two-point conversion that he should have had.
Tight ends: B
Zach Ertz (seven receptions, 65 yards) was his usual solid self, Dallas Goedert caught two of three targets and the run game flourished.
Running backs: A
Best game yet for the 1-2 combination of Jordan Howard (15 carries, 87 yards, two TD runs, one TD reception) and Miles Sanders (11 carries, 72 yards). Both also did good jobs in pass protection.
“We had watched from the past two weeks Denver and Minnesota [doing] a great job running the ball against them,” Howard said, “so we felt like we could attack them in that area of the game.”
Quarterback: B
Maybe Carson Wentz should do some kind of aerobic workout right before kickoff to create enough fatigue to counter the effects of a clear pattern of pregame adrenaline spikes that have him misfiring early. But as usual, he settled down and played a heck of a game.
Defensive line: B
This group was once again solid against the run, as it has been in every game. But Fletcher Cox is clearly lacking something, and Derek Barnett nearly cost them the game with a pair of penalties that more than offset a strip-sack that set up a touchdown.
Linebackers: C
Nigel Bradham came through with a gameclinching interception in the end zone in the closing seconds and dropped what almost certainly would have been a pick-6 in the third quarter. Zach Brown committed two brutal penalties. Kamu Grugier-Hill was a non-factor in his first game of the season.
“We've been a top red-zone defense the last couple years,” Bradham said, “and we take pride in that.”
Secondary: C
Cornerback Sidney Jones was burned on a long touchdown pass before leaving with another soft-tissue injury (hamstring) that has defined his three-year career more than anything else. Safety Rodney McLeod came up big on a goal-line stand in the fourth quarter. And deep reserve cornerback Craig James was huge in breaking up the pass that Bradham intercepted to seal the win.
Special teams: A
Sanders helped turn the game around with a 67-yard kickoff return to set the Eagles up for their first touchdown. Punter Cam Johnston pinned the Packers inside the 20 on three of four attempts. Can't ask for much more.
Coaching: B+
Head coach Doug Pederson discovered after some trial and error that a more ground-oriented attack was the way to go. Defensive coordinator Jim Schwartz was hamstrung by penalties that could be the result of his creating an atmosphere in which discipline is lacking, but we'll give him the benefit of the doubt for now.
They plugged up their leaky kickoff coverage and made a game-changing play on Sanders' big kickoff return, so special teams coordinator Dave Fipp did something right.
Pederson's teams have never lost a game on a short week (5-0 on Thursday, one being the 2018 season opener).
“I credit the players for how well they prepare during the week,” Pederson said. “I do my part getting them as fresh as I can and as healthy as I can. … These guys really take it upon themselves to prepare and be ready on Thursday nights.”
Overall: B
They weren't perfect, but good when they needed to be. Consider this: Before Thursday night, per ESPN, Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers was 58-0-1 in his career when his team led at home by 10 or more points. That makes what the Eagles did even more impressive Morning Call reporter Nick Fierro can be reached at 610-778-2243 or nfierro@mcall.com.