Eagles Week 16 Review: PHILLY TAKES CONTROL OF THE EAST!

“In conclusion, Dallas should be ashamed if they find a way to lose this football game. The Eagles are as shorthanded as it gets and their secondary just isn’t good in any way. Even if the Eagles defense can channel their inner Week 12 and slow down the Cowboys offense, the offensive side of the ball is a major concern against any half-decent defensive unit. I hate betting against the Eagles, but I just cannot see a way where this team can come out on top outside of a ridiculous meltdown by the Cowboys. As Max Kellerman said, if Dallas finds a way to lose this game, Jason Garrett shouldn’t even be allowed to take the team plane home.

Still holding out hope, though.

Prediction: Eagles 20, Cowboys 30”

The reverse jinx worked. Somehow, someway, the severely banged-up Philadelphia Eagles pulled out a signature win over the Dallas Cowboys to save their season. Here’s what we learned:

1. The Eagles Still Need to Do One More Thing

Beat the Giants. That’s it. Beat the New York Giants at MetLife and the Eagles punch their ticket to the postseason. While the Eagles have shown us that there are simply no guarantees when it comes to this team, there are not many matchups that could be more favorable in a situation like this.

2. Carson Wentz is the Real Deal

Easily the most-criticized QB in the league, Wentz delivered once again when it mattered. Against a defense allowing just 226 passing yards per game, Wentz threw for 319 yards (his second-highest total of the season) on 77.5% completion (his highest of the season) and a shade under 8.0 yards per attempt (his highest since Week 1). He had just one touchdown pass, which came on an absolute dime to Dallas Goedert (more on him later). Missed opportunities (looking at you Jake Elliott) and untimely penalties (Jason Peters…) resulted in the Eagles scoring only 17 points, but luckily the defense (with the help of Dak Prescott) came to play.

3. Weekly Review of the Receivers

On the first play from scrimmage, Wentz delivered a deep laser to J.J. Arcega-Whiteside who actually made a tough catch and hauled it in. Once he reeled in that ball, I knew this game was going to be different. Over the course of the season, the Eagles receivers have failed to haul in passes with any sort of contest, so it was good to see Arcegatron finally do what he was drafted to do. He had another nice grab later that drive to keep the chains moving. While he didn’t see any targets for the remainder of the game, it was a good start for the struggling rookie. Greg Ward added another 4 grabs for 71 yards including two third-down conversions on the opening drive. His combined stats from the last two games are 11 catches, 132 yards, and a touchdown, or a standard Michael Thomas game. Robert Davis even got in on the action, bringing in the second reception of his career.

4. Dallas v. Dallas

Dallas Goedert didn’t come to play around. He finally showcased the abilities that we all knew he had. On a whopping 12 targets from Carson Wentz, Goedert caught 9 of them for 91 yards and a touchdown. Seven of his nine receptions came in the first half. In a game where Zach Ertz was hurt early, Goedert’s best game of the season was sorely needed.

5. Dak Prescott, Amari Cooper, and The Eagles Defensive Backfield

Dak Prescott did not look good Sunday evening. He missed out on several big gains and possible touchdowns because he could not put the ball where it needed to be. His shoulder injury wasn’t significant enough to place him on the final injury report, so why was the man who’s supposedly better than Wentz playing so badly in the most important game of the year? With his Kirk Cousins-Esque performances against decent or better teams, Prescott may have lost himself a lot of money this season.

Prescott’s top target Amari Cooper should also expect a lighter wallet. Just like Prescott, he was well on his way to receiving a large payday before completely disappearing in big games. Since his rookie season in 2015, Amari Cooper leads the league in dropped passes, adding another one on what should’ve been an easy third-down conversion. Prescott’s face said it all; he couldn’t believe that his #1 guy dropped such an easy pass. Cooper was also taken out of the game prior to the biggest play of the contest. Jon Gruden is somewhere laughing right now.

For the Eagles, Ronald Darby is injured once again. The defense was playing lights out until he was outclassed by Michael Gallup on a catch that should’ve never been made. He aggravated the hip that he popped up on the injury report with a couple of weeks ago, and according to Doug Pederson, it’s significant. Darby wasn’t good himself this year, but I can’t be certain that I’d rather see Rasul Douglas attempting to cover receivers with any sort of speed. Jalen Mills wasn’t terrible, but he was bailed out by a few poor balls from Prescott. I would like to see him celebrate when he forces incompletions himself.

7. Miles Sanders > Ezekiel Elliott?

Elliott, the catalyst of this Cowboys offense, was known for having big games against the Eagles. Even with a couple of nice runs in the second half, he couldn’t even eclipse the 50-yard mark on the ground. Bottling him up made the Cowboys offense one-dimensional, and we all saw what happens when you make Dak Prescott beat you (hint: you don’t score a touchdown). Sanders followed up his 172-yard breakout with 156 total yards and the run that sealed the deal. With Jordan Howard unlikely to play again this year, it’s going to be Sanders continuing to carry the load.

The Eagles travel to MetLife Stadium next Sunday to face the New York Giants for a spot in the postseason.

-By: Micah Jimoh

Writer/ Interviewer

Eagles Week 16 Preview: Win or Go Home

Sunday, December 22 at Lincoln Financial Field, Cowboys 2.5-point favorites

The Eagles are tied for first place in the NFC East and a win on Sunday could keep them there alone.

Injury Report:

OUT

Philadelphia: T Lane Johnson (ankle)

Dallas: LB Leighton Vander Esch (neck)

QUESTIONABLE:

Philadelphia: WR Nelson Agholor (knee), DE Derek Barnett (ankle), RB Jordan Howard (shoulder), CB Avonte Maddox (ankle)

Dallas: CB CJ Goodwin (thumb), WR Devin Smith (knee), LB Joe Thomas (knee)

Unfortunately for Philadelphia, stalwart right tackle Lane Johnson will not return for the biggest game of the season. While Demarcus Lawrence hasn’t been as dominant as we’ve become accustomed to seeing over the past two seasons, he still poses an issue for Halapoulivaati Vaitai. Nelson Agholor remains on the injury report with this nagging knee injury that we don’t know much about. I wouldn’t expect to suit up. He’s been bad this season, but when Greg Ward is your best wide receiver, you take what you can get. It was a surprise to see Avonte Maddox wind up on the injury report. The cornerback position has been weak over the past few weeks, losing a starter won’t help. Maybe this is the first week where we see a heavy dose of 2018 late-season hero Cre’Von “strap” LeBlanc. Derek Barnett practiced this week, so there’s a chance he returns to his starting spot on the defensive line. Jordan Howard still isn’t cleared for contact, here’s to Miles Sanders having a repeat of last week’s breakout performance. For Dallas, the only major contributor injured is LB Leighton Vander Esch who’s been out for a solid month now. Sean Lee will remain in his spot. There was also some buzz around Dak Prescott’s shoulder injury, but he isn’t listed under a game status meaning he’ll be full-go.

Analysis:

Here’s the deal. If the Eagles lose this game, their season is over and they also lowered their draft position with consecutive wins in the previous two weeks. If the Eagles win, they’re a win against New York or a Dallas loss away from a postseason berth. In short, this game basically serves as the NFC East championship.

After being heavily scrutinized for their inability to defeat decent or better teams, the Dallas Cowboys responded by burying the Los Angeles Rams (and their playoff hopes) last week. After a performance like that, the general confidence of the team should be high coming into Week 16’s crucial matchup. On the other hand, the Eagles snuck past Dwayne Haskins and the Washington Redskins in a game that was much closer than the final score indicates. The porous secondary failed to show up again, allowing Haskins to have the best game of his career. His 121.3 passer rating was a full 35.1 percentage points higher than his previous best. Prescott has gotten the best of the Eagles in these last couple of matchups and that won’t change if the secondary continues to play the way it has. In order for Philadelphia to stand a chance against their bitter rivals, the defense needs to return to the form it showed in back-to-back matchups against two powerhouses in Seattle and New England. Do I trust their ability to do that? Ask Eli Manning.

Prescott and Cooper are enough trouble on their own, but maybe even more dangerous than those two is their running back, Ezekiel Elliott. While Elliott is posting the lowest yards per game average of his young career, he’s still on the doorstep of 1,200 yards this season. Elliott has also been known to get the best of the Eagles in their matchups, averaging a whopping 175 yards from scrimmage in the last three games. The Eagles must slow him down in this game or else they can kiss the division goodbye. Adrian Peterson looked spry last week against Philadelphia (19 touches, 91 yards), so recent history isn’t encouraging. 

The Eagles offense is going to struggle, let that be made clear. At the end of the day, no matter how much will you have or however much prepared you may be, there is only so much a team can lose before falling apart. The Eagles had one wide receiver with a catch last week, and no other receivers will be returning to help out. Zach Ertz will be the focus of the Cowboys 7th-ranked defense in terms of yards per game allowed, and receiving options fall off dramatically after the star tight end. It would help to see Miles Sanders post a repeat performance because the run game is essential to winning the time of possession battle. Doug Pederson and the staff are going to have to think of creative ways to move the ball because it can’t be expected that Philadelphia can emerge in a defensive slugfest. 

In conclusion, Dallas should be ashamed if they find a way to lose this football game. The Eagles are as shorthanded as it gets and their secondary just isn’t good in any way. Even if the Eagles defense can channel their inner Week 12 and slow down the Cowboys offense, the offensive side of the ball is a major concern against any half-decent defensive unit. I hate betting against the Eagles, but I just cannot see a way where this team can come out on top outside of a ridiculous meltdown by the Cowboys. As Max Kellerman said, if Dallas finds a way to lose this game, Jason Garrett shouldn’t even be allowed to take the team plane home.

Still holding out hope, though.

Prediction: Eagles 20, Cowboys 30

-By: Micah Jimoh

Writer/Interviewer

Brandon Brooks, Rick Lovato Among Five Eagles Pro Bowl Selections

Even in a down season by our recent standards, the Eagles will still be represented well in the 2019 Pro Bowl. Zach Ertz, Brandon Brooks, Jason Kelce, Fletcher Cox, and Rick Lovato were all voted into the game. Out of the five, Ertz is the only one who will not start. Unfortunately for the NFL’s reception leader among tight ends, he is in the same conference as third-year superstar 49ers tight end George Kittle.

Brandon Brooks

A PFF-darling, Brandon Brooks has also gained recognition from NFL fans for his top-shelf play all season. It was less than 12 months ago when the 340-pound behemoth tore his Achilles tendon in the divisional round of the 2018 playoffs. Eight months after the devastating injury, he suited up for the Eagles in Week One, playing 73% of snaps. His first week back along with Week 12’s matchup with Seattle were the only two games this year in which Brooks did not play every snap. Philadelphia made sure to reward him handsomely, inking him to a 4-year 54.2 million dollar extension five weeks ago.

Fletcher Cox

The Pro Bowl is a popularity contest, and Fletcher Cox was a beneficiary of that fact. Cox remains a very good player by all means, but he hasn’t been the same destructive force that he’s been over the past few years. He began the season dealing with a nagging foot injury stemming from the same playoff game that Brooks was hurt in, but he’s gotten healthier and better as the year has gone along. For the year, Cox has just 3.5 sacks (his lowest total since his second season if he finishes with the same total) and 37 tackles. He has also forced two fumbles. Hopefully, Cox can have a late-season surge similar to last year’s when he recorded 6.5 sacks over the final five weeks. 

Zach Ertz

Madden NFL 20 may not give him the respect he deserves, but at least the fans do. Obviously, Ertz wasn’t going to match the same lofty totals that we saw from him last season, but he’s done a heckuva job keeping up his productivity. Among tight ends, Ertz’s 84 catches ranks second (Kelce, 86) and his 888 yards ranks third (Kelce, Waller). Ertz has also been subjected to much more defensive attention than last year due to him being really the only reliable option for Carson Wentz. It’s funny thinking about how several Eagles fans wanted Dallas Goedert to be the main man so the Eagles wouldn’t have to pay Ertz. Goedert is currently averaging less than 35 receiving yards per game.

Jason Kelce

Ranking first among all centers in snaps played, Kelce has allowed just one sack on the season. He’s proven his magical 2017 season wasn’t an outlier, making first-team All-Pro again in 2018 and now has a shot at it for a third straight year. Missing the Pro Bowl in 2017 & 2018, Kelce has finally reached the point where name recognition can get him into the game even if his play falls off in the coming years.

Rick Lovato

Eagles fans must’ve showed out for this one because does anyone actually have an idea of who the “best” long snappers in the league are? Regardless, with the introduction of long snappers into the Pro Bowl ballot this season, Lovato becomes the first NFC long snapper to be voted into the NFL’s all-star game. Impressive stuff.

Jake Elliott Snubbed?

Elliott didn’t make the Pro Bowl in favor of New Orleans’ Will Lutz, and while this could be considered a snub, I think it’s fine having Lutz in there. Elliott’s FG percentage is slightly higher (90.5 to 88.6), but Elliott has attempted just 21 kicks compared to Lutz’s 35. Lutz is also 37/38 on extra points compared to Elliott’s 29/31. Both are having impressive seasons, and you can’t go wrong either way.

-By: Micah Jimoh

Writer/Interviewer