You might be thinking all F’s for the Eagles after a 27-20 loss to a bad Cowboys squad on Sunday night – but then you would need to hold the opinion this team was better than that.
The Eagles were a “C” team going in, and played like it from top to bottom.
Quarterback
Carson Wentz: 32/44, 360 YDS, 2 TD, 1 INT
The Eagles scored all of three points in the first half while Wentz completed 10 of 17 of passes for 104 yards with the interception. He was great over the final 30 minutes, but it was too little, too late.
Grade: C
Running backs
NFL
Josh Adams: 7 ATT, 47 YDS
Adams showed some burst on a 29-yard gain, although his agility turning the corner on the next play, a five-yard carry, was even more impressive at 6-foot-2, 225 pounds. Corey Clement, on the other hand, just can’t get going, netting eight yards on six touches with a drop.
Grade: C
Wide receivers & tight ends
Zach Ertz: 14 REC, 145 YDS, 2 TD
Once again, Ertz padded the stats with four receptions for 45 yards in garbage time, but it was a big night regardless, with two pivotal touchdowns. Nelson Agholor set up one Ertz score with a 51-yard bomb, and Jordan Matthews added 40 yards on three catches, all first downs. It was Alshon Jeffery and Golden Tate who disappointed – Jeffery couldn’t come up with the tough grabs the offense sorely needed, while Tate finished with two catches for 19 yards in his Eagles debut.
Grade: C+
Offensive line
Surprisingly not the problem, considering Halapoulivaati Vaitai started in place of an injured Lane Johnson at right tackle. Some of Wentz’s struggles could be traced to pressure, yet the quarterback was only hit six times on 47 dropbacks. Then again, the lack of consistent running lanes is an issue, and the penetration on a 4th-and-1 carry resulting in a turnover on downs was pitiful.
Grade: C
Defensive line
Michael Bennett: 2 TKL, 2.0 SK
So disruptive at the start. Fletcher Cox was in the backfield every snap. Bennett and Brandon Graham combined for 3.5 sacks and seven quarterback hits. Cowboys running back Ezekiel Elliott’s first five carries went for 14 yards. Unfortunately, the unit tired as the night went on, the quarterback got a little more comfortable and Elliott took over.
Grade: C
Linebackers
Nigel Bradham: 10 TKL
Bradham and Jordan Hicks combined for 17 tackles, and somehow zero noteworthy plays – unless you count the times Elliott was in the second level unattended. Kamu Grugier-Hill dropping a sure pick-six was kind of big, too.
Grade: C-
Defensive backs
Granted, the secondary was without four of five starters after Ronald Darby went down, but 26 completions, a 72.2 completion percentage and 270 yards passing were all season highs for Cowboys quarterback Dak Prescott. Rasul Douglas especially left Eagles fans longing for Jalen Mills, with too many negative plays to list – though his matador impression on 3rd-and-15 stands out.
Grade: C-
Special teams
Cameron Johnston: 2 PUNTS, 44.0 AVG, 2 IN20
The Eagles had six cracks at returns in this game – four from Clement, two from Tate – with no remarkable plays to show. As average as it gets.
Grade: C+
Coaching
Eagles’ record: 4-5
Not one of Doug Pederson’s or Jim Schwartz’s best performances. However, at some point you look at personnel. It’s not like this was a horrendously called game from start to finish. Players aren’t making plays, from Wentz on down to the many injury replacements on the field.
Grade: C