When the team has lost four of its last five, it can be challenging to unearth some positive stats. But we found a few and mixed them in with the inevitable fascinating yet depressing stats that we just couldn’t avoid.
So here is this week’s Roob’s Eagles Stats, and it’s definitely a mixed bag.
A RUNNING GAME RARITY: The Eagles are averaging 5.2 yards per rushing attempt but only 22 rushing attempts per game. How rare is it to be that productive running the ball but do it that rarely? Extremely rare. The Eagles are only the 3rd team since 1948 with a 5.2 rushing average on 22 or fewer carries per game through Week 6. The 1999 Panthers did it (19.8 carries per game, 5.3 average) and so did the 2015 Dolphins (22, 5.3). And that’s it.
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MOST TOUCHDOWNS: Jalen Hurts has 21 total touchdowns in his first 10 starts, the most in franchise history. Hurts has thrown 13 TD passes and rushed for eight more. Next-most by an Eagles QB in his first 10 starts are Nick Foles’ 20 on 18 passing and two rushing. He’s followed by Sonny Jurgensen (17), Ty Detmer (16) and Donovan McNabb and Mike Boryla (14 each). Hurts’ eight rushing TDs are 2nd-most in NFL history by a quarterback in his first 10 games. Cam Newton ran for nine.
BIG-TIME 4TH QUARTERS: The Eagles have scored 55 points in the fourth quarter, their most through six games since they scored 64 in their first six games in 1993 and 4th-most in the NFL this year. The Chargers lead the league in 4th-quarter scoring with 59 points.
FACING ELITE QBS: Going into the Cowboys game, eight QBs in history had completed 80 percent of their passes in a game against the Eagles [minimum 20 attempts]. In the last four weeks, three QBs have done it: Patrick Mahomes (80 percent), Dak Prescott (80.8 percent) and Tom Brady [81.0 percent]. Overall, the Eagles are allowing quarterbacks to complete 71.5 percent of their passes. The previous franchise high after six games was 68.8 percent last year.
DEVONTA PILING UP THE NUMBERS: DeVonta Smith’s 345 yards are 2nd-most in Eagles history by a player in his first six games. DeSean Jackson had 433. His 27 receptions are 3rd-most in Eagles history through six games behind Keith Jackson [38 in 1988] and DeSean Jackson [29 in 2008].
NFL
QUEZ CLIMBING THE CHARTS: Quez Watkins has 311 receiving yards this year, already the most in any season by an Eagle who was drafted by the Eagles in the 6th round or later since running back James Joseph had 344 back in 1994. It’s the most by an Eagles WR in any season since Tony Woodruff had 484 in 1984. The only WR drafted as late as Watkins with more yards this year than Watkins is Antonio Brown of the Bucs, a 6th-round pick of the Steelers in 2010. He has 418 yards. The last Eagle drafted in the 6th round or later with more yards through six games was TE John Spagnola [348 in 1985] and the last WR with more yards through six games was Hall of Famer Harold Carmichael [432 in 1982].
LAST IN FIRST DOWNS: The Eagles had just 16 first downs Thursday night, their fewest in a home game since they had 15 in a 20-6 win over the Falcons in 2002 and the 12th-fewest in franchise history. It was only the 6th time they’ve allowed 16 or fewer in a home game and only the 3rd time in the last 60 years.
AN ALARMING TREND: Opposing teams have converted 46.2 percent of their 3rd downs against the Eagles this year, the highest in franchise history through six games. The previous high was 43.5 percent last year. But that’s not even the highest in the NFC East. The Washington Football Team is at a staggering 57.8 percent, 2nd-highest in NFL history after six games. The 2020 Titans allowed a 61.0 conversion clip through six games.
WHERE ARE THE SACKS? Eagles edge rushers have just 1 ½ sacks through six games, all by Josh Sweat. That’s the 3rd-fewest after six games since sacks became an official stat in 1982. In 1997, Jon Harris had the Eagles’ only sack by a defensive end after six games – his first of two career sacks. And in 2003, Eagles defensive ends also had 1.0 sack after six games – that was by Ndukwe Kalu. They finished with 12 ½ in 1997 (Richard Dent 4 ½, Mike Mamula 4.0, Greg Jefferson 3.0, Harris 1.0) and 8.0 in 2003 (Kalu 5 ½, Brandon Whiting 2.0,. Marco Coleman ½).
A NEW STREAK LEADER: Zach Ertz leaves the Eagles having caught a pass in 101 consecutive games, the 2nd-longest streak in Eagles history behind Harold Carmichael’s 130-game streak from 1972 through 1980. With Ertz gone, the longest current streak on the Eagles belongs to Dallas Goedert, who’s caught a pass in 30 straight games going back to early in 2019. Next-longest? Watkins at 10 straight.
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