Apparently, my jinxing powers aren’t strong enough to throw off the Eagles. Not this week, at least. Don’t look now, but our free agent backup QB just beat the Jets’ third overall pick. If I thought wins were a QB stat, I’d make more fun of Wilson for this faux pas. Instead, it’s more productive to focus on the good aspects of today’s Eagles win.
Group Play
1-12:08 Dallas Goedert 16-yard Screen
“Nick Sirianni’s players caught him playing Retro Bowl during a meeting.” Who else loves running tight end screens in RB? Somehow, this was only Goedert’s third best play of the day (at best). Partially because a couple of Eagles players threw blocks at the second level, but also because he had a pair of touchdowns.
Individual Plays
4-6:58 Javon Hargrave Sack
Well, this game was all but over at this point. The lead was 15 with six minutes left, so everything would have to go right for the Jets to even tie it. For anyone who watched the rest of the game, you know everything went right… for the Eagles, at least. This is similar to the Josh Sweat sack since it took a while to develop, but just like with the Sweaty sack, I’ll take the loss of yardage.
4-12:22 Sanders 34-Yard Run
Sanders is one of my favorite players on offense. He’s so much fun to watch and can rip off a big play at any time. To go more into the play, Sanders did a good job of finding and hitting the open hole. Equally crucial, however, was the offensive line’s talent for opening up those gaps. This mixed withSanders’ mix of speed and hard downfield running is just a pleasure to watch. I’ve said since 2019 that the Eagles should be a run-centric team. For as long as Sanders is here, that’s the way I see it staying.
On the downside, this took a LONG time to develop. Wilson held the ball for 4-5 seconds, which is what led to the sack, and Sweat’s play was a right-place-right-time deal. On the upside, however, who cares? The sack happened and got the Eagles off the field! Take what you can and run. You never know when you’ll get another stop, let alone another big play.
2-3:08 Josh Sweat Sack
2-1:07 Quez Watkins Catch
A big play from our second-best receiver. Not only was this a clutch catch, but Watkins somehow managed to convert with nobody around him for five yards. The catch was so good, even Watkins wasn’t ready for it. He had to stumble and catch himself before getting the third and forever conversion. I’m not going to say that Elliot wasn’t going to make this kick regardless, but the conversion sure made the kick easier.
2-9:22 Anthony Harris End Zone Breakup
This wasn’t a touchdown breakup, per se, but rather a 2-point no-good. Preventing points on defense is just as important as scoring points on offense. That sounds like a Booger-esque sound bite, but it’s nevertheless true. Not a great deal of offseason acquisitions have worked out this year, but Anthony Harris had a good play here. Crowder was being crowded by Harris from the line to the pylon.
4-13:10 Epps Island
Epps really didn’t even need to do anything. Zach Wilson sailed the ball over the head of his receiver by a country mile. Heck, lest my eyes deceive me, Epps was standing dead-still in the middle of the field. If Wilson was practicing in a cornfield, the ball would’ve been intercepted by a scarecrow.
2-4:36 Kenneth Gainwell TD
Well, I thought Jordan Howard wasn’t going to be available this week! I kid, but not really. Hard running isn’t really Gainwell’s game. He’s more of a pass-catching back, so color me surprised when I see Gainwell shake his way through two Jets players and Marshawn Lynches it into the end zone.
1-9:30 Dallas Goedert TD #1
Jalen Hurts is out for the game. The defense/special teams gave up an 81-yards punt return before the first drive. The Jets score on that opening drive. How do the Birds respond? Go down the field and score a touchdown! It can’t be stressed enough how important this touchdown was, either. Early in the game starting a backup QB after just giving up an 81-yard punt return. This was their chance to regain momentum, and momentum they regained.
2-14:20 Dallas Goedert TD #2
Goedert is one of the best drafting decisions that Howie Roseman ever made. All possible respect to Boston Scott, who had a little-guy block that sprung Goedert to get downfield and score, but there’s something oh so satisfying about a high draft pick panning out. Just another reminder that football is a team sport. In real time, it looked like Goedert did his best Devonta Smith impression. In reality, he took advantage of a nice pick play and a pretty pass to take the ball in for six.
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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.
