Traditionally, the third preseason game in the NFL is the game important starters get to run around on the field in actual plays, and going into Thursday’s game against the Cleveland Browns, the Philadelphia Eagles appeared to be acting traditionally. Coach Doug Pederson had indicated his starters would play about a full half, but of course, in the preseason that means anyone with a hangnail or worse will not play.
In other words, the Eagles would be without Carson Wentz, Jason Peters, Jay Ajayi, Alshon Jeffery, and Nelson Agholor. Wentz, Peters and Jeffery were all still recovering from significant surgeries, but all three seemed nearly ready to play. Nick Foles would start at quarterback, apparently putting to rest any concern about what, to all observers, seemed a minor hit on his throwing side in the previous exhibition game. That’s “put to rest” unless his first three throws squirted out badly off target.
Philadelphia Eagles Weak Showing Against Cleveland Browns Cries Out for Carson Wentz
All the above considered, then, this wouldn’t really be a test of the defending Super Bowl champions, but it would be about as close as the Eagles would be to that all preseason. The Browns, of course, would be the Browns. The game would be played in Cleveland, and seven-year veteran Tyrod Taylor was expected to play QB for the Browns in the first half.
The first overall pick in the most recent NFL draft, Baker Mayfield, was slated to work with Cleveland’s second team.
Mid-day sports talk radio in Philly revolved around the fact the Eagles haven’t looked particularly good in their meaningless games so far. Also, the obsessive evaluation of Foles, the Eagles all-time suspect-hero, continued. A caller to WIP named James damned him as a “mediocre scheme quarterback.” The following caller, Rasheem, declared James wrong, asserting all but the most elite quarterbacks are scheme dependent.
Fullback-turned-talk-show-host Jon Ritchie expected the Browns to blitz.
Finally, before kickoff, the Eagles were still seemingly undecided about the slot receiver for Week One – Sidney Jones or Avante Maddox – and the weak-side linebacker – Nate Gerry or Kamu Grugier-Hill.
About 35 minutes before kickoff, Jeff McLane of Philly.com tweeted a list of 16 Eagles not expected to play. It included all those above and 11 others with fairly recognizable names. This seemed appropriately careful for the injury op season. A few moments later, McLane added another name.
(At some level, it is astonishing that documenting this sort of thing is actually a job.)
The Game
When the Super Bowl champions lose 5-0, anyone can see something went wrong, even when it didn’t really count. When the evaluation of such a loss occurs, there are surely some embarrassing discussions among coaches and young men who are largely fighting for jobs.
That’s it on sympathy.
The Eagles offensive line looked horrible, and the “champs” allowed seven – count ’em – seven sacks.
The best offensive play run by the available first team might have been one of the ugliest-looking, when Foles tripped into his own end zone, dropped the ball, recovered it, then found a receiver downfield. It really doesn’t matter which receiver because a review showed Foles was touched by Browns’ defensive end Myles Garrett with his knee down in the end zone for a safety.
Foles’ best efforts that counted were likely the first three passes he threw, all to tight ends, the first to Dallas Goedert and the next two to Zach Ertz. They came very early in the first half; late in the half he hit Shelton Gibson for 21 yards before throwing an interception.
In between, nothing much good happened, and it was not surprising to hear sideline reporter Erin Andrews say after the halftime break that Coach Pederson was unhappy with Foles.
The Eagles defense did better all evening but, again, the opponent was the Browns. In the end, the game’s story was the stumbling offense, such as was available. Three things were highlighted: Ertz and Gibson can catch passes, and the return of Carson Wentz is to be devoutly desired.
