The Philadelphia Eagles are 8-1 after a hectic win over the Dallas Cowboys! Time handy out some winners, losers, and IDKs.
WINNERS
THE EAGLES’ PLAYOFF OUTLOOK
Already lined this matter in a separate article nevertheless it bears repeating that this win was large for the Eagles’ playoff outlook.
Being 8-1 and dropping Dallas to 5-3 is sooooooooooooo a lot better than falling to 7-2 and watching the Cowboys at the very least briefly overtake first place within the NFC East by matching that file with a possible win over the New York Giants throughout Philly’s bye.
Extremely beneficial cushion to have.
And a file that traditionally bodes effectively for making it to the ultimate sport of soccer season:
BRANDON LEE GRAHAM
After logging a career-high 11 sacks final 12 months, BLG bought off to a quiet begin this season with simply half of a sack and one TFL by way of eight video games.
One couldn’t assist however surprise if the 35-year-old nonetheless had fuel within the tank.
Seems, he does!
Graham got here up clutch with 1.5 sacks on back-to-back performs in the course of the Cowboys’ penultimate drive. He helped power Dallas right into a Third-and-21 state of affairs that led to a turnover on downs.
Had the offense carried out a greater job of closing it out, that might’ve been the Cowboys’ last drive.
We must also point out that Graham’s hustle on the two-point conversion try influenced Dak stepping out of bounds with the ball in need of the objective line. Had Dallas truly transformed, they’d’ve been capable of at the very least ship the sport to time beyond regulation with a discipline objective.
By the best way, Graham is only one sport away from tying David Akers for probably the most video games ever performed in an Eagles uniform.
JOSH SWEAT
Sweat took over Haason Reddick’s mantle as The Nearer on this sport.
With the Cowboys advancing so far as the Eagles’ six-yard line, it seemed like Philly was actually going to blow it. However after a false begin that knocked Dallas again to the 11-yard line, Sweat (dashing from Reddick’s traditional aspect for a twist!) beat Terence Steele to sack Prescott on the 22-yard line.
Sweat deserves extra nationwide recognition for the season he’s having.
JALEN HURTS
Hurts gave everybody a scare when he bought up slowly after taking a helmet to his bone bruised knee late within the second quarter. He seemed to be in critical ache.
You might’ve heard a pin drop with how quiet it was at The Linc throughout halftime.
However Hurts shortly proved he was capable of maintain enjoying. Regardless of being extra restricted than traditional as a runner, he was capable of learn Micah Parsons on an choice and take off on third down to maneuver the chains.
Three performs later, he may’ve made his finest throw of the season by dropping an absolute dime to DeVonta Smith in the long run zone for the go-ahead rating. The cornerback crushed on that play was DaRon Bland, who has allowed the bottom passer ranking within the NFL this season when focused (33.8).
You actually can’t say sufficient about this dude’s toughness and can to win.
All instructed, Hurts accomplished 73.9% of his makes an attempt for 207 yards (9.0 common), two touchdowns, zero interceptions, and a 130.2 passer ranking. It was simply his second sport this season and first since Week 4 with zero giveaways.
The Eagles wanted their franchise quarterback to ship a signature win over their prime rival in such a important sport and he did simply that. Hurts is doing very effectively to hold the crew along with his arm whereas not having the ability to lean on his regular dashing capability.
He simply wins.
DEVONTA SMITH
As beforehand famous within the Hurts part, Smith’s landing catch got here on a play the place he was capable of beat one of many top-performing cornerbacks within the NFL proper now.
DeVonta additionally had a key Third-and-9 seize to maneuver the ball into Dallas territory throughout Philly’s second TD drive.
150 yards for him up to now two video games after solely producing 99 within the three video games earlier than that. Additionally back-to-back TDs for the primary time since doing so in Week 1 and Week 2.
Try DeVonta speaking about his TD celebration with A.J. Brown and extra in Raichele Privette’s interview with him for BGN Radio:
LUCK EVENING OUT
Make no mistake: the Eagles don’t win this sport with out getting fortunate.
Luck is definitely not the one cause they received; they earned the 28-17 lead they established.
However to fumble thrice and get well all of them? Particularly the one on the finish the place A.J. Brown runs into D’Andre Swift? The ball clearly bounced of their favor.
And the Eagles don’t have anything to apologize for in that regard. The Cowboys have had loads of luck in video games in opposition to Philly in current historical past.
Some issues to pop to thoughts off the highest of my head:
- The Dan Bailey opening kickoff in 2014 the place the ball inexplicably bounced again TOWARDS the Cowboys’ kickoff protection crew for a Dallas restoration. Severely, when have you ever ever seen that occur?
- Leodis McKelvin barely dropping a certain fourth-quarter decide by Dak Prescott in 2016. The Cowboys then received the time beyond regulation coin toss earlier than driving for the game-winning TD.
- The Cowboys benefited from probably the most unconscionable ruling I’ve ever seen go in opposition to the Eagles: No Clear Restoration. Then they received the time beyond regulation coin toss (AGAIN) to arrange the game-winning TD, which was a Dak third down throw that was someway deflected by Rasul Douglas into the ready arms of Amari Cooper.
- Haason Reddick strip-sacked Dak Prescott final 12 months and the Cowboys someway recovered with a ton of Eagles defenders close by whereas Gardner Minshew and Miles Sanders every misplaced a fumble to Dallas.
So, yeah, I’m going to say luck was because of lastly work within the Eagles’ favor as an alternative of in opposition to them in a Cowboys sport.
To me, these moments above have been misplaced to an oversimplified speaking level that the Cowboys and Dak “personal” the Eagles.
NICK SIRIANNI
Kudos to Sirianni for being aggressive from the bounce. He had the Eagles efficiently go for it from 4th-and-1 at their very own 32-yard line. That SHOULD be a simple resolution when you’ve got a just about unstoppable short-yardage play just like the Brotherly Shove working for you … however not all coaches would’ve carried out it.
Sirianni later went for it once more on 4th-and-3 from the Cowboys’ 27-yard line to assist ultimately arrange a 7-0 Eagles lead. In contrast, Mike McCarthy settled for a discipline objective from 4th-and-3 simply six yards behind on the 33-yard line late within the second quarter.
Despite the fact that it failed, I favored Sirianni’s resolution to problem the spot on a Dak Prescott 4th-and-1 sneak. Difficult the spot in such a state of affairs is normally ineffective however this was a high-leverage alternative with a turnover on downs in prime scoring territory on the road. It did appear like Dak could have did not get the marker.
Sirianni will get some credit score for the offense doing good issues to construct a lead as excessive as 11 factors.
He additionally wears some blame for the tip of sport errors. Main as much as this matchup, Sirianni shared how his messaging to the gamers was about not beating themselves. And so they got here too near doing simply that!
The conservative method to make the Cowboys burn their timeouts and depend on a protection that had been getting shredded was not good. The Eagles ought to’ve made a greater effort to attempt to get a primary down and finish the sport on offense.
BRIAN JOHNSON
Let’s begin with the positives.
The TD drive to go up 11 factors was fairly masterful; the Eagles traveled 87 yards on 11 performs whereas taking 6:18 off the clock.
Altogether, the Eagles’ offense produced 28 factors and 292 yards on a Dallas protection that was permitting 17.4 offensive factors per sport and 287.4 yards per sport.
The Eagles efficiently transformed all three pink zone journeys into touchdowns, placing them 12/16 over their final 4 video games mixed. They’ve made actual, significant progress in that space.
Now, for the tip of sport debacle.
Johnson is taking loads of warmth for the shot play to A.J. Brown whereas dealing with Third-and-3 on Philly’s penultimate drive.
I do assume a run makes extra sense there since you’ll be able to wind some extra clock and conceivably set as much as go for it on 4th-and-short for those who don’t already get the primary down.
That mentioned, I feel Johnson is getting a disproportionate warmth for that play (right here I’m going, being a staunch defender of the Eagles’ OC as soon as once more). For one, do we all know for certain that Hurts didn’t verify to it? Even whether it is completely on Johnson, he’s having Hurts throw to a participant who’s been downright unstoppable. Hardly an egregious idea. And even when it’s unhealthy play name, that doesn’t justify a nasty throw from Hurts going out of bounds there.
Massive image, I’m nonetheless extra inspired by Johnson than not.
HAASON REDDICK
Reddick by way of 9 video games …
2022: 6.5 sacks, 5 TFLs, 9 QB hits
2023: 7.5 sacks, 8 TFLs, 12 QB hits
JASON KELCE
Kelce was the Eagles’ highest-graded participant by PFF.
However far more importantly:
KENNY GAINWELL
Sirianni talked about not shedding religion in Gainwell and, certain sufficient, he was the primary pink zone operating again up in opposition to Dallas. And, naturally, he had in all probability his finest run of the season for a landing. Kudos to Kenny.
Gainwell additionally had a very good lead block for D’Andre Swift on that pony package deal play that gained 20 yards (seemed like a run play was truly a move).
DARIUS SLAY
Slay additionally only a 85.0 passer ranking in protection and helped make that key sort out on Dak with Cunningham to maintain him in need of the tip zone.
ZACH CUNNINGHAM
Cunningham led the Eagles in complete tackles with 10. That quantity doesn’t shock contemplating it felt like he was in all places. PFF credited Cunningham with a team-high 4 stops, that are tackles that represent a “failure” for the offense.
Cunningham’s spotlight second got here when he helped to maintain Dak in need of the objective line by sending the Dallas quarterback helicoptering by way of the air.
TYLER STEEN
Steen struggled in move safety, permitting six pressures on 35 move block snaps (per PFF). However he nonetheless confirmed some potential whereas going up in opposition to a troublesome line of defense in his first-ever NFL begin.
And, actually, he deserves to be on this class for his large fumble restoration alone.
BRADEN MANN
Don’t look now however the Eagles have a high quality punter!
Mann received’t be incomes All-Professional or Professional Bowl honors however that’s completely positive. An improve over Arryn Siposs was desperately wanted and that’s what he represents.
Mann had 5 punts on this sport for 259 yards, a 51.8 common. Two of his punts had been downed contained in the 20 and none of them went for touchbacks. His longest try went 57 yards (whereas being aided by a positive bounce).
Mann ranks fifteenth out of 35 punters this 12 months in common internet yards per punt (42.6) and 18th in common hangtime (4.37). Siposs ranked thirty first (39.3) and tied for twenty seventh (4.22) final 12 months, respectively.
Good to have hope that the punter received’t be a legal responsibility within the playoffs.
LOSERS
NEGADELPHIA
I’ve to confess … I’ve been bothered by a few of the unfavourable sentiment I’ve witnessed after A GAME WHERE THE EAGLES BEAT THEIR TOP RIVAL TO MASSIVELY IMPROVE THEIR PLAYOFF OUTLOOK.
I get it. The Eagles got here fully too near blowing this sport. They’ve performed with hearth all too typically this season, making wins really feel far more hectic than they’ve needed to be.
However, come on, they’re 8-1 coming into the bye week.
And I say that whereas attempting to protect in opposition to being overly resulted-oriented. Sorry if this offends however I’m sometimes a Course of > Outcomes man.
Fashion factors are completely related. You don’t need the Eagles to be in the same boat to the place the 2022 Minnesota Vikings had been, the place their win-loss file inaccurately indicated they had been MUCH higher than related underlying metrics like level differential and DVOA. Their poor standing in these classes made it wholly unsurprising after they misplaced a house playoff sport to the New York Giants.
To be clear, I’m not evaluating the 2023 Eagles to the 2022 Vikings. The hole between Minny’s W-L file and the superior metrics was a lot, a lot greater than it’s for Philly.
It’s honest to argue the Eagles must play higher to succeed in the last word objective of profitable the Tremendous Bowl. I’m not saying we will’t level out nits to choose.
However there appears to be some who’re responsible of taking the crew’s present success without any consideration.
This stage of consistency is nothing to sneeze at:
I believed Kevin Kinkead of Crossing Broad mentioned it effectively in a clip that’s price your time:
Perspective is all too obligatory.
Query: if the Eagles might commerce locations with any crew proper now, which crew would that be?
The Baltimore Ravens? Certain, they’ve been wanting fairly good. In addition they misplaced to Gardner Minshew and Kenny Pickett. And right here’s how their quarterback has fared within the postseason so far:
The Kansas Metropolis Chiefs? Wow, fairly daring of you to say you’d somewhat be the reigning Tremendous Bowl champions who might need the most effective quarterback of all time and one of many highest head coaches of all time. Even then, not all is sunshine and rainbows for them! The Chiefs not too long ago misplaced to a Denver Broncos crew that almost allowed probably the most single-game factors in NFL historical past earlier this season. There’s an article on Arrowhead Delight about how KC’s offensive line has not too long ago “been a complete mess.”
The Dallas Cowboys? The crew that the Eagles simply beat and you may set your watch to them disappointing within the playoffs?
The San Francisco 49ers? The crew that’s misplaced three straight and is likely to be witnessing their quarterback turning right into a pumpkin?
The place’s this enviable crew with no flaws that you just want the Eagles could possibly be extra like?
Reply: It doesn’t exist.
RJ OCHOA
Q: Who doesn’t love an NFC East Mixtape podcast episode coming off an Eagles win over the Cowboys?
A: Our frenemy from Running a blog The Boys, RJ, who was so assured in Dallas profitable that he made the Cowboys +3 his Lock Of The Week decide and likewise made a financial wager with me.
Don’t miss this week’s NFC East Mixtape quantity, which drops on the Bleeding Inexperienced Nation podcast feed and the BGN YouTube channel on Wednesday morning.
A.J. BROWN
Couldn’t even handle to have a seventh straight sport with at the very least 125 receiving yards? Loser!
Only a joke. Brown was clearly good; he led the Eagles with seven receptions for 66 yards, and a landing. He additionally drew a 17-yard move interference penalty.
He additionally bumped into D’Andre Swift to trigger a fumble that would’ve price the Eagles to lose! So, his inclusion on this part is generally a bit however not fully.
ELI RICKS
Ricks is in a troublesome spot as an undrafted rookie free agent who didn’t even rep at nickel cornerback within the offseason. Nonetheless intrigued by his long-term potential. However he’s clearly not able to cowl CeeDee Lamb.
JAMES BRADBERRY
He’s been struggling after having such a powerful season final 12 months.
Bradberry allowed a 129.2 passer ranking when focused on this sport.
In equity, he did do a very good job of disallowing a catch to Jalen Tolbert on the Cowboys’ penultimate drive to assist power a turnover on downs.
However the unhealthy has been outweighing the nice.
NAKOBE DEAN
Dean arrange the Cowboys at 1st-and-goal from the 8-yard line with a defensive move interference penalty. Three performs later, Dallas scored their second TD to take a 14 to 7 lead.
Dean additionally left the sport early with a foot damage. It’s unclear if it’s the identical one from earlier this 12 months. Not good that he’s been struggling to remain on the sphere relationship again to coaching camp.
KEVIN BYARD
Byard allowed a 118.8 passer ranking in protection and had a dumb pointless roughness penalty. He hasn’t impressed up to now, although that’s considerably to be anticipated since there’s definitely a studying curve at his place.
DEREK BARNETT
The Eagles’ 2017 first-round decide was justifiably demoted to being a wholesome scratch. Is a launch on the horizon?
CRYBABY COWBOYS RADIO TEAM
Lol, that is unhappy.
I DON’T KNOWS
SEAN DESAI
Bizarre one to parse!
On one hand, the Eagles surrendered 406 yards of offense. That’s not good!
Then again, the Eagles allowed simply six factors within the second half. That’s actually good!
But it surely definitely didn’t really feel good since Dallas got here extremely near scoring extra!
Luke Schoonmaker was inches away from a landing. Dak almost transformed a two-point conversion. On the ultimate drive, the Cowboys traveled from their very own 14-yard line to the Eagles’ 6-yard line in 19 seconds regardless of having no timeouts.
It felt like Desai didn’t have sufficient solutions to cease CeeDee Lamb and Jake Ferguson from terrorizing them over the center. In fact, that’s not fully his fault for the reason that Eagles are weak with the personnel there.
However Desai relied too closely upon Ricks, a UDFA CB enjoying a comparatively new place to him, and Sydney Brown, a rookie security enjoying a comparatively new place to him, on Lamb. It was robust to observe them get torn up whereas remembering that the Eagles are paying two prime 15 CB contracts to Bradberry and Slay. Finally, Desai did use Slay on Lamb nevertheless it nonetheless wasn’t as typically because it ought to’ve been.
DALLAS GOEDERT
Goedert is predicted to overlook time with a forearm fracture.
If the Eagles put him on injured reserve, he’ll miss these 4 video games for certain:
Week 11 at Kansas Metropolis Chiefs
Week 12 vs. Buffalo Payments
Week 13 vs. San Francisco 49ers
Week 14 at Dallas Cowboys
The bye week doesn’t depend in the direction of Goedert coming back from IR. It’s about 4 video games missed versus 4 weeks missed.
But when it’s a four-week damage, the Eagles might decide to maintain Goedert on the roster with the hope of getting him again for the Dallas sport. They don’t must put him on IR (in the event that they do plan to go that route) till nearer to the Chiefs sport, so the bye does grant them extra time to determine.
Within the meantime, the Eagles are wanting skinny at tight finish. Jack Stoll, Grant Calcaterra, and Albert Okwuegbunam aren’t overly inspiring. Goedert’s absence might imply the Eagles extra closely relying upon 11 personnel. May additionally imply we see extra Julio Jones.
D’ANDRE SWIFT
He fumbled twice, though exhausting to solely blame him for the second when Brown shouldn’t have run into him. Swift’s three fumbles in 9 video games tie the earlier most he had in a season as a rookie in 2020.
Swift’s 18 carries solely produced 43 yards (2.4 common). He did add 31 yards on two catches.
THE EAGLES’ RUNNING GAME
The Eagles averaged 164 dashing yards per sport over the primary 5 weeks. They’re all the way down to 86.75 dashing yards per sport over the previous 4 weeks.
The Eagles solely averaged 3.3 yards per carry on this sport in opposition to a Cowboys protection that was permitting 4.1 yards per carry.
Prior to now, the Eagles have been ready to make use of their run sport to exploit the clock and finish the sport on offense. On this one, not having the ability to run successfully contributed to the Eagles’ last three drives being three straight three-and-outs. Their last six runs produced simply 10 complete yards.
Hurts being much less cell than traditional definitely isn’t serving to. The Eagles will hope the bye week helps him heal up.
Cam Jurgens’ anticipated return in Week 11 is a cause to consider the run sport will enhance.
Will we see a completely rejuvenated run offense, although?
RASHAAD PENNY
After not seeing a contact since Week 2, the Eagles started the third quarter with two straight Penny runs. The primary went for six yards and the second went for 2. Then he didn’t play one other snap.
OK, then.
If the run sport continues to wrestle, the Eagles ought to actually attempt to get Penny concerned greater than in no way.
MATT LEO
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