Eagles Stun Steelers in Battle of Pennsylvania

Wentz/Roethlisberger Post Game. Image Courtesy: http://www.inforum.com/sports/4122902-wentz-eagles-remain-unbeaten-shredding-steelers

The Philadelphia Eagles are 3-0 after Demoralizing the Pittsburgh Steelers...Yes, you read that correctly. 

 

• Not only were the Steelers and the National media shocked at the outcome of Sunday's game, but most of the fan base in Philadelphia was in shock as well at how lopsided this victory was for the Eagles, I myself included.  On my friend Keith Smallwood's podcast for The Small Ball Lineup, I predicted the Steelers just edging out the Eagles in a close 28-27 win and boy was I wrong.  The Steelers are usually a Super Bowl contender year-in and year-out and this year has not been much different but on Sunday the Philadelphia Eagles made you think otherwise.  Both the Offense and Defense for the Philadelphia Eagles dominated the Steelers and Eagles QB Carson Wentz continued to turn the NFL upside down with his terrific play!

• Carson "Can't Miss" Wentz was back at it again on Sunday as class was in session for the Pittsburgh Steelers at Lincoln Financial Field in Philadelphia.  The rookie QB went 21-31 throwing for 302 yards, 2 TD, 0 INT, with a QB Rating of 125.9 and 10 yards rushing.  The Legend of Carson continues as he turns in outstanding performance after outstanding performance.  It seems as if the kid gets better from week-to-week as the competition has gotten better.   Fans of the Eagles and across the NFL who are tuned-in to this team have been waiting for him to make a real rookie mistake that shows he is human and in 3 games that has not happened yet.  The Eagles offense has not surrendered a turnover and that in large part is due to Wentz's play.  Now don't worry, I have not completely lost my mind...yet!  It is only 3 games into the season, and Wentz is still young, and there will be growing pains, but many have expected to see that sooner and that is what is so surprising.  More than just his in-game play, which I could go on forever about, his command and leadership of men on the field has been outstanding.   
• One example to show his trust and maturity with his teammates is a sequence of two plays he had with WR Dorial Green-Beckham.  DGB dropped a perfect pass from Wentz that went right through his hands that he should have caught, but instead of Wentz showing frustration towards DGB, Wentz welcomed the WR back to huddle with open arms, gave him a pat on the back and said let's go.  The Next play Wentz went back to Green-Beckham across the middle of the field for a long first down reception moving the ball passed midfield, continuing a drive that would eventually lead to a TD.

• The Offense as a whole played fantastic, by far the best game of the short season.  The offensive line played as a cohesive unit not giving up a single sack keeping Wentz upright for the entire game against a stout Steelers Front-7 (Defensive linemen and Linebackers) that could not get much pressure on the QB.  Wentz was able to spread the ball around through the air to his WR's, TE's, and RB's with ease all day.  WR Jordan Matthews had a relatively quite game with 2 receptions for 19 yards but one of them was for one of Wentz's 2 Touchdown passes.  The other TD was quite a remarkable play, improv from both Wentz and RB Darren Sproles(6 receptions, 128 yards, 1 TD) on the fly.  On 3rd and 8 early in the 3rd Quarter, Wentz was blitzed from the Steelers D up the middle and from his blindside so he side-stepped the rush, rolled out to his right and hit Sproles, who saw the play break down and took off down field as Wentz rolled out, about 10-15 yards downfield where Sproles used his speed to dash through the entire Steelers defensive backfield to score on a 73 yard pass reception.  Carson Wentz in 3 games has gotten very comfortable with his 3 Tight End's so far in Zach Ertz(Did Not Play; dislocated rib), veteran Brent Celek and Trey Burton.  Celek and Burton so far have not only done a good job blocking for Wentz but have been a nice security blanket for Wentz, especially in Sunday's game combining for 5 receptions for 80 yards (61 of those Celek's).  There was one small issue towards the beginning of the game and it involved RB Ryan Mathews, who has been known to be injury prone in his career.  After his 2 TD performance in Chicago last Monday Night Mathews was stuffed in the backfield on his only 2 carries for -5 yards, we would later find out he was having issues with his ankle.  In Mathews' place RB Wendell Smallwood slashed through the Pittsburgh defense on 17 carries for 79 yards and 1 TD which mostly came in the second half but before the game got out of hand.  3rd-year RB Kenjon Barner also provided a TD on 8 carries for 42 yards as the change-of-pace back.

• The Defense through 3 weeks has been playing like a solidified Top-5 defense in the entire NFL giving up the least amount of points.  Defensive Coordinator Jim Schwartz is really a defensive guru, because wherever he goes he is usually able to get the most out of all his players.  This entire defense has bought into the 4-3/Wide 9 scheme that Schwartz has taught and it shows with every player always being in the position they are supposed to be.  Also the defense, who in the past has been known for missing takcles under Chip Kelly and Billy Davis, has been making every tackle not letting opposing offenses take advantage of them.  Pittsburgh QB Ben Roethlisberger was frustrated all day not being able to do much.  The only somewhat bright spot for the Steelers was All-Pro WR Antonio Brown who caught 9 balls for 102 yards but was not able to find the endzone.  RB Deangelo Williams who lead the NFL in rushing the first two weeks of the season was shut down and held to 21 yards on 8 carries as they played from behind all game.  A complete team effort by the defense was highlighted by Eagles Defensive Tackle Fletcher Cox who had 2 sacks and a forced fumble of Roethlisberg, Defensive Tackle Bennie Logan who had a blocked FG and a sack, and Defensive End Brandon Graham who had a sack and the fumble recovery that was forced by Cox.  The Defensive backfield faced a large test against Roethlisberger and the skilled and speedy receivers of the Steelers and they passed with flying colors.  Safeties Malcolm Jenkins and Rodney McLeod were fantastic by providing help over top of the cornerbacks, who also had a solid day as a unity, and were making tackles towards the line of schrimmage.  Jenkins did a great job tackling and was also spying on Pitt WR Antonio Brown all day holding him in check, while McLeod wrestled away a late game interception.

• Special Teams has played as well as they have for the past 3-4 seasons since ST Coordinator Dave Fipp had arrived in Philadelphia.  As I mentioned before DT Bennie Logan blocked an early Field Goal attempt by the Steelers setting the tone of momentum for the Eagles.  On top of that Punter Donnie Jones and the rest of the punt coverage team was able to pin the Steelers deep on their own side of the field throughout the game.  The same can be said for the Kick coverage unit as they were able to hold the Steelers starting field position behind the touchback mark of the 25 yard line.  Just another solid day for the Special Teams unit as a whole!

• The Coaches had an almost perfect game plan for all 3 phases of the game as the Eagles dominated a hard to dominate team in the Pittsburgh Steelers.  I have already gushed about the coaching of DC Jim Schwartz and STC Dave Fipp but now I will shortly discuss the impact of Head Coach Doug Pederson, Offensive Coordinator Frank Reich, and QB Coach John Defilipo since I spent so much time earlier discussing Wentz and the offense.  To start off credit goes to Owner Jeffrey Lurie and General Manager Howie Roseman for trusting that Pederson, Reich, and Defilipo would be able to coach up Rookie QB Carson Wentz and making the moves to get the North Dakota Gun-slinger.  OC Frank Reich and QB coach John Defilipo have been major aids to first time play caller in Doug Pederson and I don't know if this team is doing as well as it is if it was not a collaborative effort between the three offensive minds.  Now Dougie P through 3 games has called 3 of the best coached Eagles games(in a row) I've seen since former Head Coach Andy Reid did in the 2004 season with McNabb and Owens.  It is truly incredible how we have been able to watch the transformation of Doug Pederson in less than a year, because when the Eagles hired Pederson this offseason I thought we were doomed and in pretty quick fashion he is proving the haters (as I've said including myself) wrong.  I can keep going on but I'll save that as this team hopefully gets better, but as a former Eagle and NFL QB Vince Young once said "Doug P (ha-ha) very special guy".  The one area I do hope Pederson and staff can adjust to is with is the fact the team will probably lose All-Pro Right Tackle Lane Johnson after this bye-week to suspension for 10 games.  That will be determined in the near future, but until then Eagles fans continue to enjoy these wins and the fact that we finally have OUR QUARTERBACK!!!

Go Birds and #FlyEaglesFly