What Happened?
That is what many Philadelphia Eagle fans are wondering after a strong first half performance by Philadelphia Eagles Quarterback Carson Wentz and the Eagles offense. After gaining a 17-0 lead with less than one minute left in the first half, The Washington Football Team scored 27 unanswered points to win 27-17. How did that happen? For starters, Washington’s strong pass rush took advantage of an offensive line that was without three starters and as such, were able to get to Wentz eight times and only allowed 57 yards rushing. They forced Wentz to throw two interceptions and fumble while clearly making him feel uncomfortable the entire game.
Positives: Philadelphia Eagles
Defensive Line:
The defensive line came to play. Many people may ask how a defense who allowed an offense to score 27 unanswered points can be considered a positive? Quite simply, the defense was unable to get much rest during the second half. By the beginning of the fourth quarter, they clearly appeared exhausted, and they did not look like the same defense that gave up only 239 total yards. In the first half, many believed that this defense was going to be a force to be reckoned with.
Dallas Goedert:
Another positive would be the play of third-year Tight End Dallas Goedert. One may think he was the only player on offense that showed up for the Eagles on Sunday. Goedert, who recorded 8 catches for 101 yards and a touchdown showed why many fans in the City of Brotherly Love believe he can be the next great tight end for the Philadelphia Eagles.
Negatives: Philadelphia Eagles
Carson Wentz:
Some will argue that the Offensive Line was to blame for Wentz’s struggles and although that can be the case, Wentz has consistently struggled with holding onto the ball too long. He must continue to develop, learn to throw the ball away as necessary, and try not to be Superman on every play. Wentz started hot in the beginning, throwing two touchdowns to Tight End’s Zach Ertz and Goedert as well as a perfectly placed 55-yard strike to rookie wide receiver Jalen Reagor. Wentz’s second half performance left many fans comparing his performance to that of a rookie.
Offensive Line:
After a strong opening drive, the offensive line struggled for the remainder of the game allowing 8 sacks. Starting Right Tackle Lane Johnson being inactive was a big blow, but Eagles General Manager Howie Roseman shoulders much responsibility as he did not successfully address the injuries of starting Right Guard Brandon Brooks and starting Left Tackle Andre Dillard in the offseason. Offensive Line does not have the type of positions where a team can just patch things up and move players around and expect them to flourish. Look for Howie Roseman to make attempts to shore up the offensive line through trade or free agency.
Positives: Washington Football Team
Defensive Line:
There was a lot of hype coming into the season about Washington’s pass rush and for good reason. After drafting Defensive End Chase Young out of Ohio State to pair up with pass rushers Montez Sweat and Ryan Kerrigan there was a reason to be excited. On Sunday, they lived up to their preseason hype, recording 8 sacks and a forced fumble on Carson Wentz, while only allowing 57 rushing yards. Ryan Kerrigan led the way with 2 sacks while rookie phenom Chase Young had 1.5 sacks. This Defensive line could prove to be one of the best in the league this year.
Ron Rivera:
Many questioned the Carolina Panthers firing of Ron Rivera last year. On Sunday, he proved why he is still one of the most respected head coaches in the league, leading his team to a 17 point comeback in his first game as head coach of Washington. In addition, Coach Rivera is battling cancer, had to receive intravenous fluids during halftime, yet coached his team to an impressive comeback victory. This should remind people why he is a former 2x Associated Press Coach of the Year.
Negatives: Washington Football Team
Offense:
Yesterday’s victory for Washington was definitely one for the books, but one thing that must be addressed is how underwhelming Washington’s offense was. While Washington managed to score 27 points, they could only muster 239 yards of total offense, one must wonder if and when Haskins can prove that he can be a franchise QB. Yesterday he showed growth, but most of the credit truly goes to the aggressive defense in the second half for giving him a short field. The offense was shut out for most of the first half until a Wentz interception made by cornerback Fabian Moreau at the Eagles 45 gave them light that resulted in a Haskins touchdown pass to tight end Logan Thomas.
What’s Next
LA Rams (1-0) vs. Philadelphia Eagles (0-1)
Philadelphia, PA
TV: Fox 1:00 PM ET
Washington Football Team (1-0) vs Arizona Cardinals (1-0)
Glendale, AZ
TV: Fox 4:05 PM ET
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