Eagles Win Preseason Opener

Posted: August 10th, 2024 | Author: | Filed under: Philadelphia Eagles | Comments Off on Eagles Win Preseason Opener

Preseason games can be sloppy. I thought we might see that kind of performance from the Eagles. Playing on the road isn’t easy. Playing the Ravens isn’t easy. Playing in messy conditions isn’t easy.

The weather turned out to be a non-factor and the Eagles had a pretty crisp performance as they out-played the Ravens and won 16-13. There were sloppy moments to be sure, but I came away mostly impressed. The blocking and tackling were good. There weren’t a lot of missed assignments and dumb mistakes.

The biggest takeaway for me was the Eagles being the more physical team and running the ball for 146 yards. That didn’t include long runs. The Eagles methodically ran for 4 to 5 yards over and over. The OL got good push and five different RBs helped move the ball. I was especially impressed by Tyrion Davis-Price. He finished 6-34.

The ending to the game was wild. With the score tied at 13-13, the Eagles drove down into FG range. Jake Elliott attempted a 50-yard FG that drifted right and hit the upright. The Ravens sideline went nuts. You would have thought they won the Super Bowl. There were just 16 seconds left. John Harbaugh decided to get aggressive and had his #4 QB drop back. LB Patrick Johnson flew off the edge and stripped the ball. The Eagles recovered. They ran a QB sneak to move a yard closer and then Elliott kicked the game-winning FG. The Miracle at M&T Stadium! Doesn’t quite have the same ring as the Meadowlands. Still, it made for a fun way to end a preseason game.

Here are some quick thoughts on players.

QB – Just going off the naked eye, I thought Tanner McKee looked more in command. His numbers weren’t good, but he played with the 3’s and those receivers weren’t good. Kenny Pickett was up and down. He did have some good moments, but there were times when he looked hesitant. He can now watch tape of himself in this offense against a different team. That might help him to improve.

RB – I was genuinely impressed by all the RBs. Rookie Will Shipley ran for 23 yards, caught a TD pass and showed up on STs. Good start for him.

WR – I was not impressed with the passing game overall. It didn’t seem like guys were getting open. None of the receivers made plays that did much to impress me. Only 2 completions covered 10 or more yards. Give the Ravens D some credit, but the Eagles must throw the ball better.

OL – I need time to study these guys. Darian Kinnard played a lot of RT. He was okay. Tyler Steen played a lot of RG. Some reporters mentioned him still looking as if his ankle was bothering him. Fred Johnson played LT and had some good run blocks. I’m looking forward to studying the OL. There were a couple of breakdowns in pass protection, but overall it was a good showing by the guys up front.

Edge – Jalyx Hunt looked fast and active on both defense and STs. Nolan Smith had a sack. He lined up as if he were going to cover and then rushed at the snap. Patrick Johnson had a terrific rush at the end of the game. I was hoping for more from the rushers, but they did have good moments.

ILB – I need to watch the tape to see who did what. Trotter led the team with 5 tackles and looked pretty good. There were multiple plays where an ILB did something, but I couldn’t always tell what happened. I was stuck watching the Ravens broadcast and they showed almost no replays. Very frustrating.

CB – Quinyon Mitchell had a nice PBU. Should have picked off the pass. Kelee Ringo broke up a couple of passes. Good showing for him.

More important than anything…no major injuries.

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