Recap
I had predicted that the Eagles would lose against the Dolphins, but they proved me wrong; the Eagles beat the Dolphins on Sunday night by a score of 31-17. The Eagles defense showed up to play, allowing only 45 rushing yards to the NFL’s most electric offense. The Eagles offense dominated the time of possession battle, possessing the ball for almost 37 minutes to Miami’s 23 minutes. Overall, this was a great response to the loss last week to the Jets; Philadelphia is back in the win column and looks to keep the momentum rolling entering into a rough stretch in their schedule.
Positive Observations
1.) Nolan Smith
Smith had his first big game as a Philadelphia Eagle, while only playing 4 (!) snaps. He recorded 2 tackles, 1 sack, 1 TFL, and 1 QB hit. Smith has been buried behind Sweat, Reddick, Graham, and Barnett; his performance against Miami should warrant more playing time.
2.) Jalen Hurts
Although Hurts fumbled in the pocket and threw an INT that was tipped at the line, he had a good game on Sunday. Hurts seemed to be more confident and decisive with his passes and consistently made big plays throughout the game. Hurts threw for 279 yards, 2 TD’s, rushed for another TD, and completed 74% of his passes. Additionally, Hurts tied Randall Cunningham’s franchise record of 32 rushing TD’s.
3.) Defense
The defense played an outstanding game on Sunday; Miami was considered by many as the NFL’s top offense, and the Eagles held them to 10 offensive points. The Dolphins came into Sunday’s game averaging over 37 points per game, and the Eagles held them to 1 touchdown on 8 drives. Big Play Slay had a great game, tallying 4 solo tackles, 1 TFL, 2 passes defended, and an interception.
4.) AJ Brown
Brown continued his historic streak of games with his performance on Sunday night; he had 10 receptions for 137 yards and a TD. He joins Calvin Johnson as the only two players to ever record 5 straight games of 125+ receiving yards in NFL history. Brown has proven that he is a top receiver in the NFL, and Sunday’s game was another testament to his greatness.
5.) Eli Ricks
The undrafted rookie played well when he was called upon; he had 14 coverage snaps and was targeted 3 times, all against the Dolphins top receiver, Tyreek Hill. Ricks allowed 0 catches with a PBU; Howie may have found a diamond in the rough.
6.) Kelly Green
The day that many Eagles fans have been waiting for finally arrived on Sunday; the Eagles wore their iconic Kelly Green uniforms for the first time since 2010. The uniforms were absolutely beautiful, and I cannot wait until the Eagles wear them again in week 12 against Buffalo.
Negative Observations
1.) Red zone offense
The Eagles looked great on Sunday, but there are still some things that need to be cleaned up. The offense received the opening kickoff and marched down the field, only to be stopped in the red zone. What makes matters worse, is that once the Eagles got to the red zone, Brian Johnson called 3 straight run plays that combined for 2 yards.
Upcoming Opponent
The Eagles (6-1) travel to FedEx Field to face the Washington Commanders (3-4) for the second time this season. The first game was close, as the Eagles narrowly won in an overtime victory. I expect this game to be much different; the defense is finding their footing and have reinforcements coming, as newly acquired S Kevin Byard is expected to make his first start. As long as the Eagles defensive line can pressure Sam Howell, I think that the Eagles will win handily.
Final Prediction: PHI- 31, WAS- 14
NFC East Standings
The Eagles are sitting at the top of the NFC East after week 7, boasting an impressive record of 6-1. The Giants beat the Commanders in a close game, while Dallas was on a BYE week. The updated NFC East standings are as follows:
- Philadelphia Eagles: 6-1
- Dallas Cowboys: 4-2
- Washington Commanders: 3-4
- New York Giants: 2-5
Final Thoughts
The Eagles played exceptionally well on Sunday; the defense was stifling and the offense seemed to start to find their rhythm. Although Hurts has had an uncharacteristic year in regard to turnovers, I think that he will clean that up as the season continues. The Eagles showed that they are a force to be reckoned with on Sunday; this Eagles team is a good team, and have the ability to make a deep run into the playoffs. This upcoming stretch of games will be difficult, but the Eagles have the ability to go toe to toe with each team on their schedule. As always, Go Birds!
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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.
