The 2022 NFL season is officially underway, and with that comes a new slate of the State of the Eagles series! I’m thrilled to be writing this series again; without further ado, let’s get into it!
Recap
The Eagles squeaked past the Detroit Lions on Sunday with a final score of 38-35. The Eagles offense was firing on all cylinders for the majority of the game, racking up 455 total yards. The defense, however, struggled against a much improved Detroit Lions offense; they gave up 386 total yards and almost gave the game to the Lions. Ultimately, the Eagles were able to overcome a 0 point 4th quarter and escaped with the victory.
Positive Observations:
1.) Jalen Hurts
Hurts had a rough first drive, but eventually found his rhythm as the game wore on. He accounted for 333 total yards- 243 through the air and 90 on the ground. Although he didn’t have any passing touchdowns, he seemed to be reading the defense quicker than last year and was able to take care of the ball well. The escapability of Hurts was evident throughout the game; Hurts was able to keep a cool head and scramble to extend plays and pick up first downs. I am excited to see how Hurts progresses as the year goes on.
One of Hurts’ biggest criticisms from last season was his inaccuracy and his arm strength, or lack thereof. In the waning moments of the 2nd Quarter, Hurts hit A.J. Brown deep for a huge gain to put the Eagles offense in the Red Zone. Hurts placed the ball perfectly and Brown nearly scored; this was an encouraging game from the third year Quarterback.
2.) A.J. Brown
The newly acquired Brown made his mark early in the first week of this new NFL season; Brown hauled in 10 receptions for a whopping 155 yards, tying his career high and breaking the record for most receiving yards in an Eagles debut. Brown was targeted early and often by Hurts; the chemistry from training camp seemed to roll over into the season. The addition of Brown was huge for both the confidence of Hurts as well as the offense as a whole.
3.) First Half Defense
Although the defense as a whole was shaky to say the least, (more to come on that), the Eagles first half defense was actually pretty solid. The Eagles defense was able to hold Detroit to only two touchdowns at the half and were able to keep Detroit off the field for the most part. The defense was also able to put up some points of their own; LB Kyzir White tipped a pass to CB James Bradberry who then was able to outrun the Detroit offense for the score. Promising play from the two new Eagles.
4.) Offensive Scheme
The biggest issue that Nick Sirianni had last season was his play calling; he seemed to avoid the run at all costs. This could not be further from the truth this season; Sirianni balanced the run and the pass extremely well during Sunday’s game. The Eagles offense racked up 239 yards on the ground and for the first time since 1961, 4 different Eagles rushed for a touchdown.
In addition to the Eagles success on the ground game, the Eagles were also lethal on 3rd down. Jalen Hurts accounted for 148 yards both on the ground and in the air on 3rd down, converting 10 out of 17 opportunities. This is a great improvement from last year; here’s to hoping that the Eagles can continue their offensive success.
Negative Observations
1.) Second Half Defense/Jonathan Gannon
The Eagles defensive unit did a massive 180 degree turn in the second half; they gave up 21 points in the second half and it seemed as if the Lions were moving the ball at will. The defensive front struggled to get pressure against an injured Lions offensive line, this is something to keep an eye on as the season progresses. This defensive line is much too talented and much too expensive to only register one sack.
The Jonathan Gannon experience is back and in full swing; his mind boggling personnel choices left many Eagles fans infuriated. Jordan Davis, the Eagles’ first round pick out of the University of Georgia, only played 22 snaps in the season opener; this simply needs to change if the Eagles want to be competitive this season.
2.) Devonta Smith
The hype surrounding A.J. Brown’s debut as an Eagle has somewhat overshadowed the disappearance of the 2nd year Wide Receiver. Smith was targeted only 4 times and was held without a reception in Sunday’s game; the Eagles need to find ways to get their playmakers the ball. Although Sunday’s game was disappointing in regards to Smith’s production, I do not anticipate this being the status quo.
On the bright side, Devonta Smith and Quez Watkins both did not register a reception, and the Eagles still put up 38 points. This offense can be scary good once everybody gets involved.
3.) Offensive Line
The Eagles have boasted a top tier offensive line in recent years, but Sunday’s game showcased something much different. Hurts was running for his life in the first quarter and was pressured constantly. Hats off to the Lions defensive game plan; they certainly executed well. I do believe that the Eagles’ offensive line unit will get back to what they typically look like, but Sunday’s showing was concerning.
4.) Referees
I think for the most part that the referees officiated the game decently well on Sunday. With that being said, there were a few hits on Hurts as he was sliding that I felt as if should have been called. The NFL preaches about player safety, but it seemed as if Hurts was left out to dry in Sunday’s game. Ultimately, it is what it is, but I would have liked to see the referees protect the Eagles Quarterback a bit more.
Standings
In a twist that not many saw coming, we have a three-way tie for first place in the NFC East. The Eagles, Giants, and Commanders all won on Sunday. The Cowboys lost their game against Tampa Bay, while also losing Prescott for 6-8 weeks due to a hand injury. The updated NFC East standings are as follows:
- Philadelphia Eagles: 1-0
- Washington Commanders: 1-0
- New York Giants: 1-0
- Dallas Cowboys: 0-1
Upcoming Opponent
The Eagles host the Minnesota Vikings this coming Monday night at 8:30pm for the team’s home opener. Minnesota is fresh off of a 23-7 victory against the Green Bay Packers. Justin Jefferson looked incredible during that game, racking up 11 receptions, 184 yards, and 2 touchdowns. If the Eagles don’t figure the defensive side of things out, Eagles fans could be in for a long game. I anticipate this game being close, but there is a very real possibility that Minnesota hands the Eagles their first loss of the season. Time will tell; hopefully, the Eagles end Monday night with a W.
Final Thoughts
Although the game against Detroit was sloppy, I couldn’t be more excited that Eagles football is back. This is an extremely talented roster, and if things click, the Eagles could be a formidable force in the NFL this year. The offense was promising on Sunday, but it was only one game. I’m hoping that the Eagles offense can consistently play the way that they did, and that the Eagles defense can start looking like the squad that we know that they can be. As always, Go Birds!
Subscribe to our posts and bookmark these feeds:
* * *
Nate Eichner is a featured writer at The Birds Blitz. For more from Nate, check out his archive and read through our Eagles articles for the latest news about the Birds.
