Well, at least the Eagles were able to score a couple of touchdowns before the game got out of hand, because most of the game, once the starters went out, was a slog. Dallas ran the score up and acted like it was a Super Bowl. We’ll see how far that gets them, especially against a team that sees fit to start most of its starters. Side note: there were two highlights that I couldn’t find. Both were big runs– one by Jason Huntley and one by Kenneth Gainwell. Thankfully, both of them had another big play during the game, so the loss isn’t too big, but it would have been nice to round it out to ten.
Almost Plays
JJAW Drop
Oh, JJ (PHI WR, #19). I don’t know how this was supposed to be a jump-ball specialist when he can’t even make the simple catches. On one hand, Arcega-Whiteside is a guy you almost want to root for, as he was not only drafted in front of DK Metcalf (SEA WR, #14), who is averaging 1,000 yards per year, but was also arguably drafted a couple of rounds too high. In situations like this, the kudos goes more to the QB for putting the receiver in position to make a play, and to Minshew’s kudos, he put the ball where the receiver could catch it. Alas, in the words of Rob Base and DJ E-Z Rock, “it takes two to make a thing go right.”
Individual Plays
Devonta Smith Catch #1
This play was somewhat weird. Despite hitting the hands of Kelvin Joseph (DAL CB, #24), the ball somehow found its way to Devonta Smith (PHI WR, #6). I have to dock points for Minshew almost turning this into a turnover. In fact, as I rewatch this play, I think Minshew was trying to hit Greg Ward (PHI WR, #84). on a crossing route but badly overthrew him. Minshew was fortunate Smith was at the right place at the right time, or else this play likely has a very different result.
Jason Huntley Kick Return
Praise isn’t exclusive to plays that are phenomenal on their own. Top plays also exist to highlight a paradigm shift of sorts, a celebration of when a player improves an area that was originally an area of deficiencies. After watching Boston Scott (PHI RB, #35), Jalen Reagor (PHI WR, #18), and Greg Ward Jr. return punts all season, seeing Jason Huntley (PHI RB, #32) return kicks gave me a little bit of optimism for our special teams. I’m probably getting caught up in the moment, similar to how I convinced myself Reagor would be a good punt returner after Green Bay 2020. For now, I’ll just admire how Huntley handled himself with limited snaps.
Milton Williams Deflection
I never thought I’d say this after the past couple years he’s had, but Howie has been taking nothing but wins for the past few months. Every trade he’s made has worked out in the Eagles’ favor, every significant draft pick has bore fruit, there have even been some picks from last year, such as Davion Taylor (PHI LB, #52) and Jalen Hurts (PHI QB, #1), that have either shown leaps and bounds or have shown they can succeed when put in position by their coaches. In line with the ones who’ve been a pleasant surprise was Milton Williams, who got his hands up and had the athleticism to block a Dak Prescott (DAL QB, #4) pass. That’s what happens when you lock into a receiver, but that’s also what happens when you draft an athletic freak in the third round.
Milton Williams Tackle For Loss
Keeping with the trend of praising Williams, he proved that he can play both the pass and the run. Williams didn’t just stuff Ezekiel Elliott (DAL RB, #21) on a run like vintage Fletcher Cox (PHI DT, #91), he body slammed him to the ground. If a run stopping play is going to make the list, it has to be either flashy or a fourth down stop. Williams on this play stopped just short of picking up Elliot and hitting him with a spinebuster.
Quez Watkins TD
I hate to call a score “meaningless,” but given the context of when this score came, I don’t know what else to call this. The touchdown run was admittedly really fun to watch, as Watkins (PHI WR, #16) dashed through multiple defenders, but it’s hard to comprehend how much this TD meant in the grand scheme of things. However, I can think of one or two plays that had quite a bit more significance to it.
Devonta Smith Catch #2
This catch is significant because it broke DeSean Jackson’s rookie record for yards by an Eagles receiver. This was actually a sequence of catches, as the one that broke it was on its own nothing grandiose. The announcer pointed out that Smith was actually one yard short on this catch, but there was sadly no footage apart from what was available live, so just enjoy this beautiful route and a slightly misleading tweet.
Kenneth Gainwell TD
I love it when a player on my side keeps the game close. Somehow, the Eagles managed to keep the game within reach while playing their backups. I wasn’t holding too close to the idea that the Eagles would win, especially with the Cowboys going try-hard and playing all their starters, but I certainly wasn’t expecting it to be 17-17 going into the half. Apart from the points it put on the board, the play was nothing too grandiose except for a cut and a fun front roll.
Tyree Jackson TD
Jackson channeled his inner Jason Croom and took his first catch in for a touchdown. Even better, this catch was not only the first of the day, not only the first of the season, but the first score of the day for either team. It’s a good sign when a play confuses me before the snap (not that doing so is even difficult to do), but Jackson motioning to the left immediately before the snap was what allowed this play to happen. Also, the play came on a shovel pass on third down. Insert joke about Carson Wentz here.
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Dylan Patrowicz is a featured writer at The Birds Blitz. For more from Dylan, check out his archive and read through our Eagles articles for the latest news about the Birds.
