Since the clock hit :00 on that cold January night in Lincoln Financial Field, all of Philadelphia were immediately looking forward to the 2014-2015 NFL season. An unconventional off-season to say the least saw the release of Desean Jackson, the first round pick used on a project of an outside LB, and 2nd year RT Lane Johnson get suspended for 4 games under the NFL substance abuse policy which he claims to be a mistake, besides those head-scratchers the Eagles were favorites to win the NFC East and be a potential power house in the NFC. Well we are a quarter of the way through the season and the Eagles stand atop the NFC East in a tie with the Dallas Cowboys at 3-1(that's a surprise!) and now I'm going to break down how the season has been so far.
Week 1: Jacksonville Jaguars vs. Philadelphia Eagles.
The Jags came into Lincoln Financial Field as a heavy underdog all across the board, but they weren't listening to everyone else. Journeyman QB Chad Henne was able to connect with Undrafted Rookie FA WR Allen Hurns(who had the best preseason WR statistics in entire NFL), for two big play touchdowns. While the defense was able to cause 3 turnovers, two sack fumbles of Nick Foles and an intercepted pass in the back of the end zone, intended for TE Brent Celek. To add insult to injury, LG Evan Mathis went down in the first half with an MCL injury and Allen Barbre with an ankle injury both will be missing extended time. Eagles ran into the tunnel with a wave of boos from the home faithful down 17-0.
The second half was as 180 degrees of a turn-around as you could imagine. Nick Foles was missing terribly in the 1st half and the ground game could not get it going, but things changed on 4th and 1 around midfield, without question Chip Kelly had a designed run for newly acquired New Orleans Saint RB Darren Sproles as he busted it up the gut of the Jags D for a 49 yard TD run swinging the momentum back in Philly's favor. Sproles was the spark plug able to take advantage of punt returns giving the Birds great field position. The offense started to look like the Chip Kelly offense that exploded onto the NFL scene last year, especially when Foles hit a wide-open Jeremy Maclin for a 68 yard TD Pass. The Eagles went on to win the half 34-0 and winning the game 34-17.
Week 2: Philadelphia Eagles at Indianapolis Colts.
This Monday night showdown was the battle of the top 2nd tier QB's in the game both from the 2012 draft in Nick Foles and Andrew Luck. Again, the game had the feel of the Jaguars game with the Eagles being dominated in their bend but dont break defense with a surprising run-heavy Colts offense being able to control the ball and the game. The Eagles went into the half down 17-6 but again you cannot count out Chip Kelly and his flock of Eagles.
The Eagles were not able to explode out of the half like they did with Jacksonville, this was a game of back and forth that the Eagles were not going to give up on. The second half was similar with Darren Sproles taking the game into his hands and helping the Eagles to move down the field. The Eagles were able to keep it close and with the help of a timely interception from also newly acquired New Orleans Saint's Safety Malcolm Jenkins, were able to set-up Undrafted Rookie FA Kicker Cody Parkey with the game winning field goal in the last seconds to give the Eagles a 30-27 win to move on to 2-0.
Week 3: Washington Redskins vs Philadelphia Eagles.
The return of Desean. Desean Jackson and the Washington Redskins(Yes, I will continue to call them the Redskins because its been their team name forever and now everyone wants to be Politically Correct about it, I'll pass on following suit) came into town with Desean facing a shoulder injury, but played through it, and with Kirk Cousins getting his first start against the Eagles with Robert Griffin the 3rd down with an ankle injury that will sideline him for multiple weeks to come. Kirk Cousins was having with way with the Eagles Defensive Backs and Pierre Garcon was having himself a day catching a TD pass. The Eagles Offense was not able to get on the field because after the first drive TD from the Redskins, backup RB Chris Polk was able to take his first kickoff return to the house for a 102 yd TD putting the game at 7-7. Desean Jackson was jawing off at the Eagles sideline everytime he lined up on that side but was not doing much for most of the game, we'd hear from here later. The Defensive Line of the Redskins were able able to penetrate the Eagles already depleted Offensive Line of the Eagles and disrupt and beat up Nick Foles all day. Despite being down 20-7 in the 2nd Quarter, Foles was about to connect with Rookie 2nd Round Draft pick WR Jordan Matthews for 2 TD's giving the Eagles a 21-20 halftime lead, and this one would be a dogfight to say the least.
The 2nd half of the game was not as explosive offensively as the 1st half, but boy were there fireworks! Desean did have an 81 yard TD reception on a break down in coverage from Nate Allen, which lead to him being Desean doing a mock eagle dance and kicking of something imaginary away, good for him, his team was happy, even though they would eventually go on to lose. Then, Foles would go on to throw what looked to be an interception by Redskins DB Breeland, would later be overturned due to ball hitting ground before being secured, that would cause a brawl between the two teams. Foles lightly was running towards the CB who was being tackled as Foles was blindsided by Redskins DT Chris Baker. As Foles lays on ground grabbing his should Eagles LT Jason Peters ran over to defend his QB by trying to fight Baker grabbing his facemask, sidelines would clear, madness arose and both Peters and Baker were tossed from the game. Back to the game, Jeremy Maclin was able to have a wonderful game, keeping the Eagles drives continuing with one big catch after another adding a clutch TD reception to put the Eagles up 34-27. Cody Parkey followed with a 51 yd FG to give the Eagles a 10 point cushion. The Skin's Roy Helu would score a TD to bring it to 37-34 and as Redskins were driving to tie the game/take the league, Malcolm Jenkins was about to come up with another clutch INT for the 2nd week in a row. Eagles would go on to win 37-34 to improve to 3-0.
Week 4: Philadelphia Eagles at San Francisco 49ers
ALARMGATE! I just had to say it once, real quick, Sunday morning approximately 2 AM a 49ers fan pulled the fire alarm at the Eagles Hotel, not making excuses but unacceptable...that is all I have to say about that.
The Eagles went into Santa Clara, home of new SF Levi's stadium, 3-0 and SF with a 1-2 record. The Eagles could've built on their so far undefeated season and really bury the 49ers, but that wouldn't be the case. The Eagles were not able to get anything going on offense but their Defense and Special Teams accounted for all three of their touchdowns. A Trey Burton Punt block accompanied by the Brad Smith TD recovery, a Sproles Punt return TD, and a Malcolm Jenkins INT for a TD, making that three straight weeks with an INT. The Eagles were able to do their part on Defense, sacking the elusive San Fran QB Colin Kaepernick 4 times, (5 if you count the sack taken back by Defensive penalty) and were able to hold their offense to two touchdowns, a broken down Gore reception TD and a tight corner end zone reception by Stevie Johnson in the redzone. Phil Dawson had a busy day with his foot making 4 FG's. It was the Eagles Offense late in the game that finally started moving the ball and made it to the San Francisco 5 yard line for 1st and goal. On first down Eagles RB Lesean McCoy was able to run the ball down to the SF 1 1/2 yd line and would pass three straight downs and unsuccessfully make it to the endzone. The Eagles would go on to lose the game 26-21 and drop to 3-1 on the season.
Quick Recap
One week the Eagles RB's and TE's have it going on but the defense and receivers are not playing up to the par, so on and so forth and vice versa. The whole team can't seem to get it together. 3-1 is probably better than most Eagles fans would have expected with the Colts and Niners being tough away match-ups, but the way the Eagles have not been able to put it all together would be grounds for concern but we do not want to get carried away and be grateful for the good record.
Bottom Lines:
The Offensive Line Needs to get healthy and become a more cohesive group.
Nick Foles Needs to be a better decision maker.
McCoy is going through a rough patch but with a healthier line in coming weeks will shape back into MVP-caliber form.
The Special teams have been a positive and a difference maker.
The Defense have got to get better with the Pass Rush (good sign from Sunday getting better) but if do not perform as such the DB's will get burned and team will not be able to make a good playoff run.
Thank you for reading, I will have a 2nd Quarter/Halfway Point Recap after game #8 for the Eagles
Go Birds!
Marc Tomasini signing out!
