Plenty of finger-pointing to go around following the Eagles’ 26-23 overtime loss to the Titans in Tennessee (see Roob's observations). The fact is that they blew this one, with much of the blame falling on two groups.
Quarterback
Carson Wentz: 33/50, 348 YDS, 2 TD, 99.4 RAT
The numbers would look even better were it not for six dropped passes. Yet Wentz also completed just one of five attempts on the Eagles’ final two trips in the red zone, both drives ending with a field goal. A touchdown on either possession wins the game.
Grade: B-
Running backs
Jay Ajayi: 15 ATT, 70 YDS
NFL
Tough running from Ajayi with a broken back and Wendell Smallwood with five carries for 39 yards. The Eagles missed Darren Sproles and Corey Clement in the passing game, though. Ajayi and Smallwood had six for only 26 yards, plus there were issues in protection.
Grade: B-
Wide receivers/tight ends
Alshon Jeffery: 8 REC, 105 YDS, 1 TD
Jeffery caught almost everything thrown his way. The same cannot be said for Nelson Agholor, who reverted back to 2016 form with three drops. Zach Ertz led Eagles receivers with 11 receptions for 112 yards, and Jordan Matthews hauled in a 56-yard touchdown — but each had a key drop as well.
Grade: C+
Offensive line
Eagles backs averaged 5.5 yards per carry. The issues were in protection. Wentz was sacked four times and hit 11 total. They had trouble handling the blitz up front, and they were plain getting beat. One particularly terrible sequence by Lane Johnson culminated with a strip sack resulting in a turnover.
Grade: C
Defensive line
Derek Barnett: 3 TKL, 1 TFL, 2 QBH, 1.0 SK
Barnett, Michael Bennett and Haloti Ngata were credited with sacks, yet the pass rush failed to get home more often than not, registering six hits total on the quarterback. The unit finished with almost as many tackles for loss — five — while limiting Titans ball carriers to a paltry 2.0 yards per carry.
Grade: C-
Linebackers
Jordan Hicks: 7 TKL, 1 TFL
When the quarterback eluded the rush and broke contain, Eagles linebackers were chasing. Ten scrambles went for 46 yards and a touchdown. Hicks and Nigel Bradham combined for 12 tackles, but impactful plays were few and far between.
Grade: C-
Defensive backs
Malcolm Jenkins: 7 TKL, 2 TFL, 1 PD
Jenkins tried to win the game singlehandedly, but his Herculean effort in the fourth quarter and overtime was overshadowed by the failings around him. Jalen Mills was burned repeatedly. Ronald Darby’s tackling was piss poor. And allowing an easy conversion on 4th-and-15 with the game on the line is inexcusable for this or any secondary.
Grade: F
Special teams
Jake Elliott: 3/3 FG, 2/2 XP
Some signs of life, as DeAndre Carter’s 42-yard punt return gave the Eagles a shot to tie the game in regulation. But Cameron Johnston was too strong, with three of his six punts going for touchbacks.
Grade: C
Coaching
Eagles’ record: 2-2
Heavy run-pass imbalance? Check. Baffling management in two-minute situations? Check. When did Andy Reid come back? Questionable game plan by Doug Pederson, exacerbated by questionable situational football. And Jim Schwartz can’t let pass after pass sail over Mills’ head without any adjustment whatsoever.
Grade: D