The Philadelphia Eagles lost a heartbreaker today. Carson Wentz and company played better than most expected but still ended up short against an elite Kansas City Chiefs team. With eight seconds left in the fourth quarter, Carson found Nelson Agholor in the end zone to cut Kansas City’s lead to seven. Living on a prayer, the Eagles would then win an onside kick attempt giving the Eagles a shimmer of hope — but, a last-second hail marry didn’t find an Eagles receiver and the game ended. It was a tough loss but losing on the road to an AFC team shouldn’t affect the playoff picture too much come December though. Regardless, here are some knee-jerk reactions to the game!
Week Two Philadelphia Eagles Takeaways
The Pass-Rush and the Secondary Exceed Expectations
There may have been some tackling issues in the second half, but the Eagles front-seven put some serious pressure on Chiefs quarterback Alex Smith all game. The potent combination of Brandon Graham, Fletcher Cox, Tim Jernigan, and Vinny Curry was expected to play well. It did. Jim Schwartz has to be proud of this unit’s progress since last season.
As great as the defensive line was though, the secondary might have been the real star of the game — when you consider the circumstances. Rodney McLeod and Jaylen Watkins went down with injuries very early in the game. Neither returned. Rookie Rasul Douglas and free agent Corey Graham played in their steads. As soon as Douglas entered the lineup he was tested by a short pass from Smith. Douglas tackled superstar Tyreek Hill immediately. A lot was asked of the rookie and he met the challenge; Hill finished with less than 50 yards.
The Eagles secondary was a problem area coming into this game, but they allowed only 232 yards. A lot, yes, but the Chiefs had 352 yards on the road last week. Bonus note: Jalen Mills has been great so far this season.
The Eagles Receivers Aren’t a Problem Anymore
Nelson Agholor wasn’t as involved in the passing game as he was last week, but his touchdown reception nearing the end of the game was clutch. And saying “Nelson Agholor is clutch” is a very welcome surprise.
Another welcome surprise? Both Alshon Jeffrey and Torrey Smith made plays today. There are still hiccups to be addressed, but the Eagles may have at least three solid receivers on the roster. Don’t discount rookie Mack Hollins either. He had a fantastic special teams tackle and at least two first down catches.
Howie Roseman got Carson some legitimate weapons in the offseason. Look for those connections to improve as the team builds chemistry.
The Run Game Must Improve
LeGarrette Blount might as well have been a healthy scratch today. One reception for zero gain isn’t exactly a good stat line. Still, the Eagles did show improvement. Darren Sproles led the backfield today and didn’t show his age. His fumble at the end of the first half definitely hurt Philly, but he had more than a few first-down runs.
Despite Sproles leading the backfield, he wasn’t the Eagles’ leading rusher. Carson Wentz took home that distinction with four scrambles for 55 yards. Sproles did rush for 4.8 yards-per-carry but didn’t see the ball much in the second half. It’s clear the running game isn’t where it’s supposed to be. Don’t be surprised if Corey Clement or Wendell Smallwood get more involved next week. Carson can’t throw 40-plus passes every game
Ultimate Verdict
Though the Eagles lost today, there was still a lot to be happy about. Philly nearly tied the game with five seconds left. That’s a lot better than what New England did in New England did in their own stadium last week. The NFC East is wide open right now, but the Eagles are looking good.
