On the heels of a crushing loss against the Atlanta Falcons, Philadelphia Eagles fans are understandably upset. After the collapse in 2023, another blown lead and improbable loss re-lit some old flames. The game is very reminiscent of the 2023 game against the Seattle Seahawks. An improbable comeback late in the game in a game the Eagles should have won. However, it’s not all bad for the Eagles, and there are some encouraging signs from the Monday Night loss.
The Offense
Fans around the league have been voicing their opinions on the decisions by Head Coach Nick Sirianni. While there are some things to criticize, namely the fourth down decision early in the game, it’s hard to blame him for the ending on Monday. On a crucial third down to win the game, the Eagles drew up a play that worked, but Barkley dropped the ball. What’s more worrying was the lack of threats outside Devonta Smith in the passing game. The Eagles were already thin at wide receiver, but with A.J. Brown potentially missing another week or two, it could get a little scary.
But make no mistake, the Falcons defense is a good unit with a creative defensive mind in Raheem Morris. Despite that, the Eagles had every chance to close the game without A.J. Brown. A lot of the credit must go to Jalen Hurts. Hurts’ running success kept the team in the game and put them in a position to win. He made good decisions all night and a few awesome throws when the plays were there.
It’s pointless to go back in time and think about what would have happened if A.J. Brown had played against the Falcons. However, Brown’s ability to score long touchdowns against any corner in the league is a game-changing factor, like against the Green Bay Packers. In the future, he will be the difference for this Eagles offense in tight games like these.
The Defense
Starting with the positives, the secondary looks great for the Eagles. Despite a few big plays the secondary gave up, they covered well for most of the game until the last drive, but here lies the problem. Outside of Jalen Carter (who was benched in the beginning of the game due to tardiness) the Eagles have zero pass rush.
The Pittsburgh Steelers beat the Falcons in week one solely with their pass rush, making Kirk Cousins uncomfortable. When Kirk Cousins has protection in the pocket, he can carve any defense up. It doesn’t matter how well the Eagles cover; no defense will beat a good quarterback without a pass rush.
Criticism of Vic Fangio’s late-game play calling is fair, but here’s where it gets messy. Fangio’s defense revolves around two high safeties and deep coverages to limit big plays. He also does not blitz much, which puts a large onus on the defensive line to not only stop the run but pressure the quarterback as well. With how the Eagles’ defensive line has played through two weeks, they will need a change in their defensive game plans. This may take Fangio out of his comfort zone and experience as a defensive coordinator, which was the reason he was hired in the offseason.
The Next Stretch for the Philadelphia Eagles
Next week, the Eagles take on the on-fire New Orleans Saints and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers the following week before their bye. They play against two tough defenses and two quarterbacks that have played well so far. A.J. Brown’s health and availability will be a big factor, but if Hurts keeps up his performance from Monday, the Eagles offense will be fine.
The thing fans will need to keep an eye on is whether there’s some change with the defense. Fangio will have to alter his plan of attack and put more bodies toward the line of scrimmage in the coming weeks. These next two games will be crucial, and the panic meter will only go up if the defense cannot figure out their problems.
Main Image: Eric Hartline – USA Today Sports
