The Wide World of Dirt

I am unfortunately no longer 100% correct on my Eagles predictions for the year. While my 100% accuracy was over pretty quick, embarrassingly fast even, I am excited to say I am so happy to have been wrong.

I also want to preface this by saying that if the Eagles play like that the entire year, oh boy do the Eagles have the chance of having a special season. I knew this team would be good, but they truly have the chance to be great. Be excited, Eagles fans!

Hurts, Don’t It?

This was without a doubt, Jalen Hurts’ best game at the NFL level.

He went 26/31 for 333 yards with 1 TD and an INT while also rushing 11 times for 57 yards and 2 TDs. That’s 390 yards of offense produced by your QB. That’s really good, elite even.

He completed 84% of his passes while using the entire field! That is what stood out the most to me. Last year, Hurts tended to throw to the sideline than between the hash marks.

Through two weeks you see how he has opted to trust himself more and throw the ball over the field. His accuracy was also on display.

His best throw was squeezing the ball to Dallas Goedert in between three Vikings defenders. While Goedert dropped the ball, it was perfectly placed by Hurts.

I said this last week and it remains true this week: it is a long season. There very well could be games that are a let down by Hurts, but the improvement he has shown in training camp and now the regular season is clearly noticeable.

It’s important to note that this is his first time EVER going into the same offensive system in back-to-back seasons, both in college and pro ball. That speaks volumes about what good, consistent coaching can do.

*Also a bit off topic, but my next jersey purchase is HEAVILY leaning towards a black Hurts jersey that the Eagles wear as alternates.

Big Play Slay

Man do I love Darius Slay.

Ever since he was in Detroit, I felt like Slay was super underrated, and I feel like his name is never mentioned amongst the NFL’s elite CBs.

After his Monday Night Football performance, that is going to change.

Slay has been consistently great since last season. In his first season as an Eagle in 2020, he looked good, but not like the true number 1 CB we knew him to be.

But man, ever since his second season in midnight green, he has been shut down.

His performance against the Vikings is pretty easily the best he has had with the Eagles. He went up against Justin Jefferson, a top 5 WR (maybe higher) and absolutely shut him down.

According to NFL Next Gen Stats, Kirk Cousins targeted Jefferson only five (5) times when he lined up against Slay. Of those five targets, Jefferson only had 1 catch for five yards.

Slay had 2 interceptions. That is crazy.

Jefferson followed up his huge week 1 performance with a meek primetime showing of 6 receptions for 48 yards. I love Jefferson as much as the next guy, but I have to admit it was special seeing Slay making him look silly.

The Defense that was promised

Finally a defense under Jonathan Gannon looked elite.

The Vikings have weapons, elite weapons rather, yet they were no match for the Eagles’ defense. Now, it never looked like the Vikings planned on using the ground game since they played catch up the entire time, but you have Dalvin Cook. You should at least try.

He only had 6 carries for 17 yards while adding 4 catches for 19 yards. To contain one of the best RBs in the NFL to 36 total yards from scrimmage is no easy feat.

I already talked about how pedestrian Justin Jefferson looked, but the rest of the receivers fared no better. Adam Thielen led all Vikings with 52 yards on 4 catches.

And Kirk Cousins, oh man Kirk Cousins. Cousins looked dreadful.

His record on primetime was severely overlooked on my part, but never again. Cousins went 27/46 for 221 yards 1 TD and 3 INTs. He was also sacked twice.

The former Commanders’ field general looked uncomfortable and off-page with his receivers all night. Simply put, the defense was what everyone thought it would be.

While I would have liked more sacks, it was enjoyable to watch this unit feast on a good offense. Here’s to hoping this is a weekly occurrence!

The Vikings have a familiar problem

Simply put, Kirk Cousins single-handedly caps the Vikings’ ceiling and floor. He is a perfectly fine QB, perhaps even a “good” one.

But, he will not be able to carry a team to a Lombardi trophy.

Everything around him has to be perfect and with a scheme that shows his strengths and hides his weaknesses. The Vikings have a pretty talented roster. Problem is their O-line still isn’t the greatest, and their defense is suspect.

These are all things that will hurt a Kirk Cousins-led team. Sure, they are able to make the playoffs with him, but they won’t make any noise. They could maybe win a game, but to expect them in the NFC championship game is way too rich.

What stings even more is that his contract is fully guaranteed with a no-trade clause. You’re on the hook for another year Minnesota. Have fun! 

Well well well look who we have here

I fully expect Sunday’s game at Washington to be a bonafide home game.

Eagles fans travel extremely well especially since Washington is just a quick trip down I-95, and the Commanders fanbase is…lacking.

There is an extra layer to this game that makes me believe this. That, of course, is Commanders QB Carson Wentz.

The once-franchise QB of the Eagles finds himself on his third team in just as many years, so here’s a quick recap of how we got to this point.

He played so poorly his last year in Philadelphia he got benched. He then proceeded to complain and whine about being benched and demanded a trade.

He then gets his wish and is traded to the Indianapolis Colts where his former offensive coordinator is now the head coach.

After starting off bad, Wentz does typical Wentz things and plays well enough to spark hope that he has “reverted back to 2017” form. He then crashes and burns and has the owner run him out of town. He is then traded to a dumpster fire organization.

Yeah, I no longer have any sympathy for Number 11. The QB I saw in 2017, and even 2019, is no longer there. He is a loser, and I can’t wait to boo him from my couch every time I see him on my screen.

While I will always be happy for his play in 2017, the way he never took accountability for his poor play and blamed everything on everyone else during that dreadful 2020 season completely ruined any sort of support I had for him.

I expect the Eagles to win big. Go Birds.