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The Eagles and Cleveland Browns couldn’t have collided at a greater time on Sunday at Lincoln Monetary Subject. Each groups wanted a panacea. The Eagles had been trying to treatment their horrid efficiency of their earlier sport in opposition to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, whereas the Cleveland Browns had been in search of something to salvage an inventory season that will now be misplaced.
The Eagles are 3-2 after a 20-16 victory over the 1-5 Cleveland Browns, who suffered their fourth-straight defeat.
For these in search of an Eagles’ “style-points” win, they didn’t get it. Selecting by the breadcrumbs, the Eagles didn’t flip the ball over for the primary time in 10 video games; and Jalen Hurts regarded sharp, finishing 16 of 25 for 264 yards and two touchdowns—and, for the second-straight sport, didn’t throw an interception.
And hey, Bryce “simply name him Reggie White” Huff had a season-high two tackles, and on extra critical notes, tight finish Grant Calcaterra had a season-high 4 catches for 67 yards after Dallas Goedert was misplaced within the first quarter attributable to an harm, whereas rookie security Cooper DeJean confirmed flashes he may be excellent, making six tackles.
The Browns entered the sport averaging an NFL-low 239.4 yards a sport and gained 244 in opposition to the Birds. Deshaun Watson, who appears to be like like a shot fighter, accomplished his first two third-down conversions of the season—after going 0-for-25. Cleveland’s makeshift offensive line entered the sport giving up an NFL-high 26 sacks, which the Eagles helped attain 31 after a five-sack efficiency.
Cleveland botched a potential game-tying rating when the Browns dedicated two false begin penalties with 3:54 to play contained in the Eagles’ 10.
That slim line is commonly the distinction within the NFL between a profitable staff and a shedding staff hemorrhaging minor errors.
The Eagles gained, although will that siphon off the “Fireplace Nick” chants that broke out at halftime because the Eagles left the sphere after a blocked discipline purpose resulted in a 50-yard tying landing?
In all probability not.
That is nonetheless Sirianni’s offense. It’s simply Kellen Moore’s interpretation of it. Hurts is barely below heart for the “tush push” play. There may be hardly any movement, and extra a reliability on A.J. Brown and DeVonta Smith to make performs, somewhat than schemes during which to get them open (aside from that shallow crossing route Smith ran for the profitable rating, which opposing defensive coordinators will decipher in time).
On the floor, it could seem Sirianni is a “CEO coach.” Behind the curtains, what’s blatantly on the sphere is one other story. Sirianni continues to be very a lot, it seems, the puppet grasp of this clunky, inconsistent offense.
The Eagles one way or the other forgot about Saquon Barkley, who with 9:30 to play had solely three touches within the second half.
We’ll add this: For the primary time within the 91-year historical past of the Philadelphia Eagles, they’ve failed to attain a degree within the first quarter of their first 5 video games. They continue to be the one NFL staff to be shutout within the first quarter this season. Even the 1972 Eagles (of the nightmare white helmet period), arguably the worst staff in franchise historical past (2-11-1), scored no less than six factors of their first 5 video games.
There was a wholesome dose of fine, a sprinkling of unhealthy, and a few laughable ugliness in a 20-16 victory over the doubtful Cleveland Browns.
The Good
A.J. Brown’s 40-yard over-the-shoulder catch in opposition to Greg Newsome II on a second-and-11 to the Browns’ 12 with 1:49 to play. The brand new set of downs pressured the Browns to name their remaining timeout, with the completion sealing the Eagles’ third victory. Brown completed with six catches for 116 yards and a landing.
Free security C.J. Gardner-Johnson coming as much as deflect a Watson go supposed for David Njoku on a third-and-goal on the Eagles’ eight with 4:00 to play. CJGJ didn’t get burned on this sport, though earlier, he really obtained extra in the way in which of teammate Quinyon Mitchell making an interception than he did doing something to cease the Browns.
DeVonta Smith, making the most of a shallow crossing route, going 45 yards for the game-winning 20-13 landing with 7:54 to play. It was a pure decide play, very similar to Dallas Goedert’s shallow cross in opposition to New Orleans within the fourth quarter of that sport that rolled for 61 yards. Cleveland’s Greg Newsome II couldn’t sustain with Smith throughout the sphere, after which bumped into teammate D’Anthony Bell attempting to cowl Jack Stoll crossing in the other way.
Sirianni lastly permitting Jake Elliott to kick discipline targets. Elliott booted a 49- and 44-yard discipline targets for a 13-10 Eagles’ lead when the Browns’ protection started clamping down on Sirianni’s offense.
Kenneth Gainwell’s 19-yard run on second-and-12 on the Cleveland 42 on the third play of the Eagles’ second drive within the second half.
Milton Williams’ four-yard sack (the Eagles’ fourth of the sport) on Watson on the Browns’ 3 on Cleveland’s second possession of the second half.
Security Cooper DeJean confirmed flashes he may be excellent, making six tackles and the way he could match into Vic Fangio’s protection, blitzing the shaky Watson and forcing him into speeding his progressions.
Outdated man Brandon Graham, the one Eagle to play in 200 video games, with consecutive performs on the Browns’ opening drive of the second half. On a second-and-four on the Eagles’ 32, Graham got here as much as take down D’Onta Foreman, then adopted that by taking down Cedric Tillman for a five-yard loss on a third-and-one on the Eagles’ 34.
Hurts was stable within the first half. He accomplished 9 of 16 for 137 yards and a landing. He rolled out and threw with accuracy, had an honest Browns’ protection scrambling attempting to take him down and moved the offense after a sluggish begin to 200 yards of whole offense. He completed finishing 16 of 25 for 264 yards and two touchdowns—and, for the second-straight sport, didn’t throw an interception.
Jalen Carter’s four-yard sack on third-and-11 on the Eagles’ 25 with 2:50 left within the first half.
The Eagles’ protection by the primary half held an anemic Browns’ offense to anemic numbers: With 7:24 left within the first half, the Eagles had outgained the Browns, 141-31. For the half, Cleveland had simply 71 yards of whole offense for a median of three.0 yards a play. The Browns had six first downs within the half—one by penalty. They solely allowed Cleveland a discipline purpose. Watson was 5 of 11 for 46 yards and sacked thrice.
A.J. Brown’s leaping 22-yard second quarter landing over the Browns’ Martin Emerson Jr. on a third-and-seven with 7:17 left within the half. It gave the Eagles a 10-0 lead.
Tight finish Grant Calcaterra’s 34-yard reception on the primary play of the Eagles’ fourth drive, taking the ball from the Eagles’ 16 to midfield. It leap began the collection that resulted within the Brown TD.
The Eagles’ third drive. They scored. Sirianni determined—lastly—to permit Jake Elliott to kick a discipline purpose, as an alternative of opting to go for it. Elliott didn’t fail, booting a 49-yard discipline purpose with 13:02 left within the half. It capped a 14-play, 58-yard drive during which the Eagles ate 6:48 off the clock. Previous to that, the Eagles-Browns sport was turning into the “Punt Bowl.”
Barkley’s powerful eight-yard run on the primary play of the Eagles’ third drive to the Eagles’ 19. Barkley regarded trapped behind the road of scrimmage, however his energy bulled by about six Browns’ tacklers.
Defensive finish Moro Ojomo’s 15-yard sack on the Browns’ second-and-nine on the Eagles’ 49 on Cleveland’s second drive. It was a pleasant enhance to a protection that was exhibiting indicators of bending.
A Nolan Smith sighting. The linebacker sacking Watson for no acquire on the Browns’ first play of their second drive on the Browns’ 16. One other uncommon constructive in what was one other dismal first quarter for the Eagles.
The tush push first down on the Eagles’ 40 on their second possession. Hurts’ three-yard acquire was the primary good factor that occurred to the Eagles, aside from Amari Cooper’s drop on third down on the Browns’ opening collection.
The Dangerous
Left sort out Jordan Mailata happening with 9:25 left to play, changed by Fred Johnson. As soon as in, in equity to Johnson, he really did an honest with Browns’ all-world defensive finish Myles Garrett.
Two false begins in three performs on the Eagles’ second drive of the second half. The second false begin, in opposition to Mailata, pushed the Eagles again to the 26 and compelled them right into a third-and-13 on the Browns’ 26 with 3:02 left within the third quarter. Thankfully, Elliott bailed them out with a 44-yard discipline purpose with 2:50 left within the quarter and a 13-10 Eagles’ lead.
The Eagles’ three-and-out on their first drive of the second half.
Barkley working into left guard Landon Dickerson on first-and-10 on the Eagles’ 43, simply after getting a primary down on the earlier play. Barkley could have taken it for greater than 4 yards, however Dickerson was in the way in which, doing a greater job taking down Barkley than the Browns did.
Hurts throwing behind A.J. Brown on the second play of the sport on a second-and-five on the Eagles’ 31. It was not even within the neighborhood of Brown. Hurts clearly recovered to a have very productive sport.
The Ugly
Jerry Jeudy’s 35-yard reception in response to DeVonta Smith’s fourth-quarter rating on a first-and-10 on the Browns’ 30. The play put the ball on the Eagles’ 35 with 7:23 to play. What makes it ugly is that in a vital second of the sport, Jeudy was fully vast open with nobody round him.
The Eagles permitting Watson to finish his first third-down completion this season, after beforehand going 0-for-25, when Watson lobbed a brief go to Pierre Sturdy for a 21-yard acquire to the Eagles’ 49 on a third-and-10 with 1:04 left in third quarter. It was the Browns’ first third-down conversion, after Cleveland went 0-for-7. Later, inside of 5 minutes to play, Watson accomplished his second third-down completion to Amari Cooper for 13 yards to the Eagles’ eight.
The Eagles permitting Myles Garrett to leap by the center of the road and block an Elliott 50-yard discipline purpose try with 14 seconds left within the first half, which was returned by former Eagle Rodney McLeod for a 50-yard landing and a 10-10 halftime tie. It regarded like Garrett leaped by the center-guard hole.
Gardner-Johnson has not solely been permitting opposing groups lengthy completions and touchdowns, he’s now deterring the Eagles from getting interceptions. Rookie cornerback Quinyon Mitchell continues to impress. He was all lined up within the second quarter for his first profession interception when CJGJ thwarted that by working into him on a first-and-10 on the Eagles’ 4 with 6:06 left within the half. Watson was taking a look at Jerry Jeudy deep left. Mitchell honed in on the ball, when CJGJ bumped into him, knocking the ball free for an incompletion. CJGJ doesn’t appear to know the place he’s on the sphere. Mitchell was clearly indignant. A couple of performs later, Watson discovered David Njoku on a fourth-and-four on the Eagles’ 34. Who was masking Njoku? You guessed it, CJGJ. He picked up Njoku, then bounced off, leaving Mitchell and Reed Blankenship to take him down.
Linebacker Zack Baun’s roughing the passer name on the Browns’ second-and-seven from the Cleveland 45. It gave a no-hope offense some room to breathe on the Browns’ fourth possession. They gained a complete of 31 yards of offense on their first three drives. Baun helped Cleveland acquire practically half of that on the roughing name with 6:12 left within the half.
The 2024 Eagles failure to attain within the first quarter. They continue to be the one staff within the NFL not rating a degree within the first quarter. It marks the primary time in Eagles’ historical past that they haven’t scored a degree within the opening quarter of their first 5 video games. They’ve been outscored 23-0 within the first quarter this season, and outgained, 369 yards to 224, with the gaping first-quarter discrepancy coming within the Eagles’ 33-16 debacle in opposition to Tampa Bay, the place the Eagles had been outgained 191 to minus-5 yards by the Bucs within the first quarter.
Middle Cam Jurgens excessive snap on the primary play of the Eagles’ second collection on the Eagles’ 31. Thankfully, Hurts was capable of salvage one thing from it and throw the ball away.
The Eagles’ opening drive. Once more, the Eagles proceed to not generate something on their opening drives. Over their first 5 video games, that is what the Eagles opening drives have amounted to:
Packers: 3 performs, minus-5 yards — INT
Falcons: 4 performs, 31 yards — Punt (crossed midfield)
Saints: 3 performs, minus-9 yards — Punt
Bucs: 3 performs, 2 yards — Punt
Browns: 3 performs, 5 yards— Punt
Complete: 16 performs, 24 yards, 4 Punts, 1 INT
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