Eagles Week One Win vs Browns Recap

Carson Wentz Celebrating.  Image Courtesy: nbcphiladelphia.com

The Philadelphia Eagles defeated the Cleveland Browns 29-10 in the Season opener at home.

 

Carson "Can't Miss" Wentz

• Carson Wentz was phenomenal!  The recurring theme around this game has been "but it's the Cleveland Browns, they aren't that good."  Yes, this is true, but I don't think any of us could've imagined Carson having a better game than he did.  The Eagles staff knew he had the mental compass to be able to play QB in this league and on Sunday after being thrust into the position with the departure of QB Sam Bradford, but the question going into the game was is he ready coming off of a rib injury and lack of snaps in preseason?  Well now you know!
• His stat line, according to ESPN.com: 22-37 for 278 Yards, 2 Touchdowns, 0 Interceptions with a QB rating of 101.0.
• Wentz commanded the field when he was on it by calling audibles, reading coverages and protections, showing poise in the pocket against pressure, making sure he did not put his body in harms way, using both arm strength and touch on the ball when necessary, placing the football where only his receivers could get it and even throwing his receivers open at times.
• Wentz looked so comfortable out there that it made me feel comfortable as I sat and watched it in front of my television.  He looked like a 5th-year Veteran out there and even after the game at his press conference you could tell he was just doing his job and is taking everything one day at a time and that is all you can ask of him!  

 The Offense

•  It's not very often that you see an unknown commodity such as Carson Wentz get on the field day 1 and completely have the rest of his team feed off of his play, but Sunday the Eagles offense may have played better with him in one game than they did all last season with Bradford.
• Running Back Ryan Mathews right out of the gate was busting through the Cleveland Browns Defensive Line for consistent gains of 5+ yards on 1st and 2nd downs.  Mathews was rewarded at the end of the game with a goal line touchdown for his hard work throughout the day.  He ran hard and effectively helping the Eagles to keep drives alive as the Eagles won the Time of Possession battle, which rarely every happened in 3 years under former Head Coach Chip Kelly, at around 40 minutes to Cleveland's 20 minutes of possession.
• WR Jordan Matthews had a stellar game with 7 receptions eclipsing 100 yards and a beautiful touchdown catch on a beautifully thrown ball from Carson.  Wentz was also able to connect with 2nd year underachieving WR Nelson Agholor on a perfectly placed 35 yd bomb to bust the game open.
• Now while there was a lot of good that came from Sunday's game there was some things on Offense that could've been better.  The Offensive Line which generally played well but they did let the Browns Defensive Line get to Wentz too many times even though they only recorded one sack.  At times the offense was unable to sustain drives due to pressure and a couple of dropped balls here and there from the receivers, which still is a point of emphasis that needs to be addressed.

The Defense

• When the Eagles hired Jim Schwartz this off-season as the Defensive Coordinator we knew that this team was going to go back to attack-style, smash-mouth football that this blue-collar city has been accustom to.  The Eagles Defensive Line was ferocious for most of the day wreaking havoc on new Cleveland Browns Quarterback Robert Griffin III, who after Sunday's game was placed on the IR(Injured Reserve) out for the next 8 weeks with a serious shoulder injury.  There was a short period of time just before and just after halftime where the D Line could not get pressure on RGIII which was very frustrating.  After a botched snap to RGIII that led to a Safety for the Eagles the line never looked back as they got after RGIII for the rest of the game.
• The Linebackers played pretty well because they really did not need to be mentioned that much.  Pro Bowl Tight End from last year for the Browns, Gary Barniage, was unable to do anything at all all day as the LB's kept the TE in check.  Eagles 2nd-year LB Jordan Hicks was graded as one of the best Linebackers in Week One from Pro Football Focus.
• Eagles safeties Rodney McLeod, who had a beautiful INT on a tipped ball, and Malcolm Jenkins played well by having their Cornerbacks back's for most of the game and coming up and making tackles in the run game when needed.  As I mentioned the CB's were just okay to me in this game, but did give up 2 very long receptions to Browns receivers.  Veteran CB Nolan Carroll, who had an above average preseason, let QB turned WR Terrell Pryor have a pretty solid game against him.  If the line was not able to get after RGIII then that could've lead to more issues for Carroll and CB Leodis McKelvin.   At the end of the day the Eagles Defense held the Browns Offense to only 10 points which is very promising but they will play better offenses.

Special Teams

• The one aspect that Chip Kelly did right while he was here was provide this team with solid Special Teams play.  When Chip Kelly was fired the Eagles were able to retain ST's coordinator Dave Fipp, who has done wonders for this team.
• To highlight, Punter Donnie Jones was able to pin the Browns near their own endzone many times throughout the afternoon and Special Teamer Chris Maragos was able to get to the punt returner and not let them advance the ball.
• Running Back Darren Sproles continued to amaze with making fast and shifty punt returns in which gave the Eagles great field position throughout the afternoon taking pressure off of Wentz and the Offense.

      Overall the Eagles played a great game to start the season and I'm surprising myself by saying what I am about to, but a good amount of credit goes to new Head Coach Doug Pederson.  Pederson had this team ready to go out there on Sunday and establish dominance on a sub-par Cleveland Browns team.  His play calling was not only vital to the team's overall performance but was key to how Carson Wentz would play in his first NFL regular season game.  A key moment in this game was when the Eagles came up to a 4th and 4 not too far into Cleveland territory where Pederson didn't hesitate to go for it and in doing so they got the 1st Down.  But wait there's more!!!  On the very next play feeding off the momentum Pederson let Carson fire an incredible ball to a 35-yard TD to WR Nelson Agholor that busted the game wide-open in the Eagles favor.  Pederson with the help of Offensive Coordinator Frank Reich and Quarterbacks Coach John Defilipo allowed Carson to play the game the only way he knew how to play it and did not restrict him from going for big plays which Pederson knows is a part of Wentz's DNA.  The Eagles face a test next week on the road in Chicago on Monday Night Football.  This team has the city excited and I do believe it is a winnable game but they will most likely be without TE Zach Ertz(Dislocated rib) and CB Leodis McKelvin.