It wasn’t all bad, but don’t expect to find any A’s on the Eagles’ report card following a 27-21 loss to the Buccaneers in Tampa Bay on Sunday.
Quarterback
Nick Foles: 35/48, 334 YDS, 1 TD, 98.8 RAT
Didn’t play as well as the numbers suggest. For the second week in a row, Foles looked reluctant to push the ball downfield, this time against a Bucs secondary missing both its starting cornerbacks. He avoided turnovers and gave the Eagles a chance to win in the end, but obviously his performance wasn’t enough.
Grade: C
Running backs
Corey Clement: 6 ATT, 30 YDS, 1 TD, 5 REC, 55 YDS
NFL
Forced to do it all after an injury limited Jay Ajayi, Clement showed he has feature back written all over him. He was silky smooth gliding into the end zone for a 15-yard touchdown, but able to pick up the hard yards when the Eagles needed them. Ajayi also scored, while Wendell Smallwood posted a serviceable 4.0 yards per carry.
Grade: B+
Wide receivers/tight ends
Nelson Agholor: 8 REC, 88 YDS, 1 TD
Agholor was responsible for the Eagles’ longest play, taking a shallow cross 50 yards. He made tough catches all day, including his two-yard score. The rest of the receivers didn’t scare anybody. Zach Ertz pitched in 11 receptions for 94, and rookie tight end Josh Perkins was a surprise with four catches for 57 — but two drops.
Grade: B-
Offensive line
Out of sync at the start, then settled in as the game wore on. Foles took a beating, sacked three times and hit 12, some of that resulting from the quarterback holding the ball too long. The Eagles also deployed Isaac Seumalo a bunch as an extra protector when Halapoulivaati Vaitai replaced Jason Peters, which is not ideal.
Grade: B
Defensive line
Fletcher Cox: 5 TKL, 1 TFL, 3 QBH, 1.0 SK
Easily the Eagles’ most disruptive player up front, Cox looks better than ever this season. Derek Barnett made a couple nice run stops, finishing with three tackles and one for a loss. Tampa Bay managed just 43 yards rushing on 1.9 yards per attempt. Pass rush was lacking overall, though, with only seven quarterback hits as a group.
Grade: C
Linebackers
Jordan Hicks: 9 TKL, 1 FR
Hicks was everywhere, again, but O.J. Howard did leave him gasping for air on a 75-yard catch-and-run — though it never should’ve gone for six. Nigel Bradham registered eight tackles, one for loss and one sack in his return from suspension. Biggest knock is linebackers didn’t appear to be in concert in zone coverage.
Grade: B
Defensive backs
Ronald Darby: 8 TKL, 1 INT
Darby led Eagles defensive backs in tackles, but the one he missed was the most memorable. His whiff on Howard’s score turned a big play into a backbreaker. Jalen Mills and Malcolm Jenkins both appeared to have a hand in DeSean Jackson’s 75-yard touchdown. Jenkins (FF) and Rodney McLeod (Darby’s INT) each forced turnovers.
Grade: D
Special teams
Cameron Johnston: 5 PUNTS, 56.0 AVG, 3 IN20, 1 TB
The final score might’ve been worse were it not for Johnston constantly pinning the Bucs' offense in its own end. Just a stellar day for the first-year punter. Tough to say whether Jake Elliott’s missed field goal from 42 yards was consequential. Return game was quiet, with a 43-yard Clement punt return nullified by a penalty.
Grade: B
Coaching
Eagles’ record: 1-1
Jim Schwartz should’ve had his defense ready for a bomb to Jackson on the first play. Otherwise, tough to kill the coaches here, especially Pederson. No Carson Wentz, no Alshon Jeffery, no Darren Sproles, and Peters and Mike Wallace both exited mid-game. The offense made adjustments, but ran out of time, on the road against a hot opponent. It happens.
Grade: B-