Monday Night’s Marvelous, Birds 24 Vikes 7

 

Things started out well and got better for the Eagles in a dominating first half of Monday Night Football that doubled as the final score in a 24-7 victory.  There were a lot of things to draw from this game, especially using week 1 as a mirror for improvement (or failure to improve).  Game 2 thoughts…

This victory showed a combination of strategic, tactical and operational efficiency.  The Eagles have a strategic goal of defeating teams “from the inside out,” focusing on excellent offensive and defensive line play.  They’ve implemented their strategy by acquiring personnel on both lines to provide good starters & more than adequate depth.  Tactically, they develope offensive and defensive game plans to play to their strengths (typically starting with their lines), and find/expose opponent weaknesses. In this game, the offensive tactical focus was to beat a zone defense with short-intermediate passes to receivers that would have time to out-position their defenders.  Their defensive tactics included getting pressure on Kirk Cousins, even if occasionally (about ¼ of the time) bringing a blitzer.  Operationally, Eagle defenders pressured Cousins into aggressive throws that led to his low completion percentage (Under 59%) and 3 interceptions. Offensively, Jalen Hurts had is best game operationally, gaining over 50 yards with 2 TD’s running while completing passes for over 300 yards against a zone defense he was able to dissect.

Special Teams: Not Good- The Eagles are 28^th in DVOA in the NFL in Special Teams (DVOA is Football Outsiders stat that evaluates performance value of every play).  This is exemplified by the Eagles being victims of “mortar” kickoffs (Pop-ups to the 10) per Quez Watkins inability to get the ball to the 25.  He is not solely responsible, as poor blocking has him quickly surrounded, but it appears he lacks the natural instincts to go straight up field and make the first guy miss. The blocked field goal didn’t help either (again per poor blocking, this by Noah Togiai, although punter Siposs TD saving tackle was exemplary.

Jalen Hurts had beaten Detroit with his legs, escaping the blitz.  He beat the Vikings with a combination of excellent Offensive Line play to give him time to pass (frequently >3.5 seconds when the expectation is 2.3 seconds), good diagnosis in reading the Minnesota zone coverage, and excellent separation from the DB’s by his receivers (NFL average separation is 2.9 yards, Eagle receivers had 4.2 yards average separation).  This resulted in a very good passing line of 26-31-333-1 (with 1 pick), a 108.7 passer rating.  After 2 games Hurts has the highest passing grade in the league from PFF.

It’s been only 2 games, but the Eagles corners, their “triumvirate” of Slay, Bradberry and Maddox, are playing quite well.  All 3 have at least one interception.  Slay was defensive player of the week for his excellent Monday night performance (5 passes defensed, 2 interceptions), and per Pro-Football Focus (PFF), currently leads the league with his coverage grade (Bradberry is 18^th in the NFL and Maddox is 10^th).

Miles Sanders is workmanlike this year.  In seasons past, he’s always avoided contact to go for the “home run.”  This year, he’s running smart nd getting the tough yardage.  Per OC Shane Steichen, “He does a nice job of just sticking his foot in the ground and getting through those voids. It might be an ugly two or three yards, but it’s not a negative run. He’s doing a nice job and we have to continue to do that.” 

The Eagles coaches had a great Monday night.  The Offense was good enough to capture the NFL lead after 2 weeks, and the defense only gave up 1 score after Jon Gannon decided to trust his players & occasionally send the heat. 

Dallas Goedert is playing well, 15^th across all NFL receivers in YPC (2^nd for TE), 6^th overall for TE by PFF in receiving, all while doing a typically good job blocking (He will be a critical weapon this upcoming weak vs. a challenged Washington Commander secondary).

Quez Watkins and Zach Pascal are only the 4^th/5^th targets after AJ Brown, Davonta Smith and Dallas Goedert, and that doesn’t even include the running backs.  But their lack of volume does not mitigate good quality.  Watkins had 2 catches for 69 yards, and Pascal is making a critical first down catch or two each week while getting his hands dirty blocking in the run game.

Thanks to Johnny Page from Bleeding Green Nation posting all-22 clips showing, among other things, the performance and athleticism of Josh Sweat, who so far is the best Eagle pass rusher.

TJ Edwards had 10 tackles, a pass deflection and a QB hit.  He has quietly solidified his starting position over the heralded Nakobe Dean and has become a defensive leader as well as their “Mike” man.

For those concerned the offense was not up to snuff (scoreless) in the second half, that’s a misnomer.  They only had 4 possessions, and these were the results:

• Drive 1- 11 plays, 59yds, blocked FG (not offenses fault).
• Drive 2- 8 plays, 32yds, big connection to Watkins from Hurts nullified by penalty (Jordan Mailata hold).
• Drive 3- Nothing in 2 plays due to a ball intercepted off Kenny Gainwell’s hands
• Drive 4- 7 plays, 29yds, late game drive on the ground to take time off the clock & burn Minn. Time outs.

For gamblers out there, the Eagles are climbing the boards.  Hurts is now 5^th among all NFL players for MVP odds (11:1, up from 66:1 in mid-March).  The Birds are 2^nd in the NFC to reach the Super Bowl (10:1, behind only Brady’s Bucs).  Onto Week 3 in Washington!

Eagle Lesson: Any Howie haters still out there?  Mr. Roseman has put together what appears at worst to be a top 10 NFL squad, and could solidify to something much better.  Kudos to Howie for turning around a 4 win team into a ‘21 playoff participant, and potentially something much better in 2022.