Eagles vs. Chargers Top Plays (Week 9, 2021)

Well, the Eagles sadly didn’t manage to win this week. The L next to Philadelphia’s name is something that has sadly become an all-too-familiar sight. Fortunately, this team has shown growth over the past two weeks, and even nearly beat a respectable opponent without falling too deep into garbage time.

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Group Plays

Goal Line Stand

Few things in this league are more important than early momentum. Think back to the Super Bowl year. Many people credited Jake Elliot’s 61-yard field goal as the catalyst of the magical run. At least, to a degree. In the NFL, games come down to moments like this, standing up tall while backed up against the end zone. The defense was unfortunately not good for most of the day, but it’s nice to see that the team hasn’t surrendered despite a rocky start and questionable coaching.

Great Wall of Green

The Eagles were clearly a team the Los Angeles did not respect, going for it on 4th and goal, as well as 4th down at the Eagles 27 while the game was still tied. It could have easily been 13-7 at this point if Brandon Staley just took the point. Instead, the Chargers wanted to be disrespectful, break Philadelphia’s will, and show they can do whatever they please. Eagles fans saw plenty of this in 2020, and the Chargers were burned for their hubris twice (even though Philadelphia sadly ended up losing). Marcus Epps had two big stops beforehand and T.J. Edwards capped off the series with a 4th down stop.

Running the Ball

Using running backs to take pressure off of Hurts, who is essentially rookie QB, what a novel concept! Okay, despite my sarcasm, I’m happy to see the play calling evolve. Anyone who’s seen Devonta Smith over the season knows that he wants this team to run the ball more. Towards the end of the second quarter, 22 of the last 24 plays (!) were runs. I love that, instead of throwing for 40+ times per game, the Eagles are playing to the strengths of their team, which also happen to correlate with the weaknesses of their opponent.

Individual Plays

Boston Scott Angry Run

Good Morning Football has an “angry run” award that is handed out every Monday, and with how Scott shook off defenders for a 10 yard run, I’d throw his name into the hat for this week. Scott fought through contact and managed to pass through two blockers at the line of scrimmage as well as a tackler in the middle of the field. Scott was so hot on this run that he had to be taken down by a defender he never even saw.

Dallas Goedert Early Catch

Speaking of early momentum, Goedert got a big catch on the first pass of the day. In a perfect world, the first drive would have been most, if not all, runs against a bottom run d in the league. Nevertheless, if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it, and I’ll 100% take a chunk play 11 times out of 10.

Slim Reaper Takes Souls

As the number six pick in the draft, every big game is not just celebrated, but expected. On a day where Smith had five catches, 116 yards, and a touchdown, his best drive was undoubtedly halfway into the third quarter when the Birds were down 16-10. Smith had two big catches that led to a Kenneth Gainwell touchdown. To the Eagles’ credit, there was no point where they were down by more than seven points, so it can’t be said that Hurts padded his stats in garbage time.

Davion Taylor TFLs

Consistency is a beautiful thing. Taylor had a tackle for loss early in the game, but easily my personal favorite is where he absolutely blew up a checkdown in the backfield. Forward momentum dictated that he would only lose a couple of yards, but the way Taylor went to tackle him, it looked like he was picking him up for a Spinebuster.

Jordan Howard TD

Howard was one of my favorite pickups of 2019. The Birds needed a power rusher, and he fit the bill. Howard sadly struggled to produce in 2020, however, but has found a resurgence in recent weeks. In addition to a 16-yard run, Howard punched it in for a touchdown to tie up the game in the second quarter. Appropriately, he had to fight through some bodies in order to get into the end zone.

Kenny Gainwell TD

This whole drive was fun. Starting in the Eagles’ own 10, two deep balls to Smith, a long reception by Goedert, an electric first down run by Hurts, and all of it was capped off by a Gainwell touchdown. For once, it feels like the positive trends of previous weeks are being built upon, Running backs have six touchdowns in the past two weeks. 

Devonta Smith TD

DEVONTA SMITH IS AN EAGLE. Surprisingly, this is only his second touchdown of the year. Before this catch, however, Smith was having a heck of a day: 4 catches, 88 yards, and some catches that were critical for extending plays. The catch was reminiscent of Reagor’s TD catch against the Raiders. Smith only broke past one defender instead of three, but it was nice to see the rookie finally get in the end zone after having a big day (he was open for a TD earlier but Hurts missed him).