NASHVILLE, Tenn. — This was bad. This was bad for a lot of reasons. The Eagles blew a 17-3 lead against the NFL’s 29th-ranked offense and they did it when they had so many chances to win.
This is a really concerning loss. How can the defense not get a stop on 4th-and-15 in overtime? Why can’t the offensive line give Carson Wentz the time he needs in the pocket? Why can’t the defense put together a complete game on the road? What’s up with Nelson Agholor? What’s up with Jalen Mills?
The Titans, averaging just 14 points per game on offense, scored 23 points after the three-minute mark of the third quarter.
This was the kind of collapse that Super Bowl teams don’t make.
So here we go with 10 observations off the Eagles’ 26-23 overtime loss Sunday to the Titans at Nissan Stadium:
1. I was really looking for the defense to make a statement after the Eagles took a 17-3 lead in the third quarter. Step on the Titans and finish them off. But it allowed 17 points on the Titans’ next three drives, it allowed the Titans to convert a 4th-and-15 in overtime when the Eagles were one stop away from a win, it allowed Marcus Mariota to run 17 yards on a 3rd-and-long, then it let the Titans convert two more fourth downs on the way to the game-winning touchdown. The immediate concern is this game, but the Eagles haven’t been a good defense on the road in a while. They need to find a way to play the kind of dominating defense away from the Linc that they’ve been playing inside the Linc. They sure didn’t do that Sunday, especially in overtime.
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2. One thing I think the Eagles are learning is all that talk about getting every team’s best every Sunday is really true. The Eagles are the reigning Super Bowl champs and there aren’t going to be any easy weeks for them. We saw that in Tampa and we saw it again here. They’re going to have to find ways to deal with that bull's-eye on their back because it isn’t going away. Wherever they go, whoever they play, whatever the records, they’re going to be in for a battle.
3. I thought Wentz looked significantly more comfortable Sunday than last week. More decisive, more confident going through his progressions and really locked in slinging the thing up and down the field. Final numbers: 33 for 50 for 348 yards, two TDs and no INTs. I’d love to see what he could do with better protection.
4. Pass protection hasn’t been great all year, but it was really bad Sunday. The breakdowns are across the board, and it’s not so much the sacks as just the lack of time for Wentz in the pocket. It’s hard enough for Wentz being down a bunch of backs and receivers. He can’t do it all himself, especially with poor protection. There were some creative blitzes that got the Eagles at times, but at other times, it was just Tennessee’s D-line beating the Eagles’ O-line up front, especially up the middle. Five sacks last week, four Sunday, one of which caused a costly turnover. This is the first time since the last two weeks of 2010 the Eagles have allowed four or more sacks two weeks in a row. This should be an elite line, but it's not playing anywhere close to that level right now.
5. Alshon Jeffery really didn’t waste any time returning to form, did he? Wow. What a show he put on. Nine targets, eight catches, 105 yards and an acrobatic third-quarter touchdown. Jeffery didn’t make one easy catch Sunday, but the way he uses his body and long wingspan to get in position and corral the ball is remarkable. There was no rust. Just vintage Jeffery.
6. It’ll be forgotten because of the loss, but DeAndre Carter, who was just promoted from the practice squad Saturday, who had never returned punts in the NFL before Sunday, fielded his second-career punt with the Eagles trailing by three and 1:54 left in the fourth quarter. And he jukes one dude and races 42 yards down the left sideline to give the Eagles possession inside the 40-yard line to set up the game-tying field goal. That was a huge play by an inexperienced player thrust into an unfamiliar role in a huge situation.
7. Was really encouraging to see Jordan Matthews make a big impact in his second game back. I was kind of startled how much anti-Matthews sentiment there was when the Eagles brought him back, but it was a really smart signing. He’s always been a solid, productive guy. Great locker room guy, hard worker, consistent performer. That 56-yard touchdown was typical Matthews. Nothing flashy, just a big play when the Eagles needed one. No question Matthews will have a role here moving forward.
8. I’ve been a big defender of Mills, but this was really bad. He was out of position, got saved by a couple drops, gave up a few plays early, then got torched on that huge 51-yarder to Corey Davis with seven minutes left that set up the Titans’ winning touchdown. And he got called for another DPI down near the goal line. I still think he’s a good player, but this was a dreadful performance, and he’s got to find a way to bounce back.
9. Really tough day for Agholor, who had four drops, two of which were very costly on third downs and one in overtime. It’s just really surprising to see that from Agholor, who has been so good since the start of last year.
10. Two Doug Pederson decisions I didn’t like: 1) Running the ball on 3rd-and-3 with 11 seconds left before halftime on the Titans’ 10-yard line with one timeout left. You have to throw into the end zone there. The first down does nothing for you. Even if you get it, you only have time for one more play — a field goal. And 2) The pass-run ratio in regulation was 50 passes and 18 runs. The Eagles ran the ball with authority in overtime (5 for 41). I would have liked to have seen that earlier. Especially with the Titans’ defensive line teeing off on Wentz.