What's behind the Eagles' terrible 1st quarters?

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We know the Eagles are terrible in the first quarter. We all watch the games. We see them struggling week after week to get anything going in the first quarter.

So far this year, the Eagles have had 26 drives that have started and ended in the first quarter, and they've scored three times.

Nobody in the league is close to that bad.

Here's how those 26 drives have ended:

16 punts
3 touchdowns
2 missed field goals
3 interceptions
2 fumbles 

Where exactly have the Eagles gone wrong early in games? Let's take a detailed look:

Fewest yards per play in 21 years
The Eagles are averaging 3.54 yards per play in the first quarter. That’s not only the worst in the NFL this year and more than a yard below the NFL average of 4.81, it’s the worst by any NFL team in the first quarter since the 1997 Bills averaged just 3.42 yards play in the first quarter.

Subpar QB play
Carson Wentz’s 71.2 passer rating is second-worst of 35 quarterbacks who have thrown at least 20 passes in the first quarter. He’s ahead of only Sam Darnold (57.6). His 60.9 completion percentage is 31st out of those 35 quarterbacks. After the first quarter, Wentz has a 107.7 passer rating and has completed 71.8 percent of his passes.

The most turnovers
Wentz and Darnold are the only regular NFL QBs with more interceptions than TDs in the first quarter. Wentz has three INTs and two TDs. 
 
Lame passing attack
The Eagles are averaging just 5.0 yards per first-quarter pass attempt, 30th-best in the league and two yards below the NFL average of 7.0. They’ve allowed 10 first-quarter sacks, one behind NFL leaders Houston and San Francisco.

Can't run the ball
The Eagles are averaging just 3.26 yards per rushing attempt in the first quarter, second-worst in the league, ahead of only the Titans (3.03). 

No first downs
The Eagles have an NFL-low 34 first downs in the first quarter, 15 fewer than the average NFL team. They have just 10 rushing first downs, also the fewest in the league. 

Terrible on third down
The Eagles are 27-for-104 for 26.0 percent in the first quarter on third down, third-lowest in the league behind only the Dolphins (25.0) and Raiders (23.1).

Too many turnovers
The Eagles have committed five first-quarter turnovers, tied the most in the league. That includes three Wentz interceptions, a Nick Foles fumble and a Wentz fumble.

Keep getting shut out
The Eagles are the only team in the NFL that’s been shut out in at least nine first quarters. The Bills, Jets and Steelers have been blanked four times. Since 1950, only six teams have been shut out in the first quarter more often through 11 games. 

21 points all year
The average NFL team has scored 52 first-quarter points. The Eagles have scored 21, fewest in the league. The Jaguars (30), Jets (31) and Dolphins (31) are next.  

Historic pace
The Eagles are on pace to score 30 first-quarter points, which would be the sixth-fewest in franchise history, the fewest ever in a 16-game season and the fewest since the 2-12 last-place 1968 team scored 27 in 14 games.

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