The Wide World of Dirt

Well, at least Philadelphia was able to win a football game against Houston.

Alas, my perfect Thursday scenario is naught, as the time of writing this my beloved Philadelphia Phillies were bested by the Houston Asterisks…I mean Astros. 

I will have much more to say in a future article, but back to the subject at-hand.

The Philadelphia Eagles in what was arguably their ugliest game, still were able to get the job done against the Texans with a 29-17 win. Here’s what I noticed. 

Never Apologize for a Win

It’s fair to say that Thursday’s win was the ugliest game of the year for the Birds.

If you look at the box score and the numbers for Eagles skill position players you will probably rebuff that statement, but if you watched the game, you would see.

Thursday Night Games very rarely go off without a hitch. For players, they have to completely change how they get ready for a game on Thursday.

They have less time to ease their bodies after 60 minutes of playing, and their recovery time is cut short.

I would assume practices are vastly different as well, as again they have less days to practice. Add in the fact the Eagles played at Houston, so they have to travel as well.

Point is, everything about a normal week preparing for a game is pretty much rushed and cut in half to prepare for the game on Thursday.

Thankfully the Eagles had their bye week prior to last Sunday’s game against the Steelers, so they were probably able to get tape ready for Houston.

There were a couple drives that stalled Thursday that shouldn’t have.

Hurts took four sacks, which is pretty uncharacteristic of himself and this O-line, and the most glaring thing is that they didn’t really put the Texans away.

Houston got the ball back with 5:58 left down 29-17. They were driving the ball and within striking distance.

The defense, like they have all year, made an excellent play and forced a turnover, but that was with 2:17 left to play. The Eagles defense certainly finished strong, but a better team might have given them trouble. 

Everybody Hurts

Once again, Jalen Hurts looked poised and like a franchise quarterback.

Hurts went 21/27, throwing for 243 yards and 2 TDS while addin9 carries for 23 yards on the ground, but the entire offense was rolling along.

Miles Sanders rushed 17 times for 93 yards and a TD. Dallas Goedert couldn’t be stopped as he had 8 catches for 100 yards and a TD. A.J. Brown did A.J. Brown things with 4 catches for 59 yards and a TD.

This offense is scary good, and that is due in part to Jalen Hurts’ improvement. 

Tackling Woes

Over the past few weeks I wrote how the Eagles’ second half performances were my chief area of concern.

Well, it seems so far, the Eagles have adjusted their second-half woes during their bye. However, I have founded something that does worry me.

This defense has a tackling issue.

Dameon Pierce is an exciting rookie, and I think he will be a very good running back in this league. He absolutely torched the Eagles.

The Houston back had 27 carries for 139 yards. That’s a 5.1 average, as well as having a monster 36-yard gain. A big part of those yards were after contact.

Eagles defenders couldn’t take him down right away, and he made them pay for it. That is very concerning. That can be a gameplan offenses can use to hurt this team.

Looking at the schedule, there is one team I am definitely worried to face because of one special player: Derrick Henry and the Tennessee Titans.

Henry has rounded back to his old self this season after an injury handicapped his production and playing time last season.

If you watched the Titans vs. Chiefs game, you saw how much of a game wrecker Henry can be. I was definitely surprised Henry wasn’t used more.

King Henry is a yards-after-contact machine, and you better pray if you hit him. he doesn’t just absorb it and run you over.

If I am the Eagles coaching staff I definitely am watching tape and starting to plan for the December 4th matchup.

That’s how scary Henry is and how much the Eagles’ tackling needs to be shored up.

When will this team get the respect it deserves?

This is a topic that I was going to hold off to for at least a few weeks, but I feel like it has reached my boiling point:

When are the Philadelphia Eagles going to get the credit they deserve?

Seriously. I acknowledge that the Buffalo Bills and the Kansas City Chiefs are Super Bowl favorites and rightfully so, but I feel like they get a pass every week.

The Bills played a very uninspiring game against the New York Jets and lost. They blew a 14-3 lead to the Jets.

I understand that this Jets team is different than years past, but we all know the Jets are capable of shooting themselves in the foot.

The Kansas City Chiefs barely won against a Titans team that had their rookie quarterback, who is extremely raw as a starter.

They also have loses against the Bills and the INDIANAPOLIS COLTS who just fired their head coach and are a dumpster fire.

Look, I am not trying to belittle these teams or call them fraudulent. They are very good teams with star players, depth, and great coaching. But guess what?

So are the Eagles, and they have yet to lose.

The main argument against the Eagles has been, “well they haven’t played anybody.” Hmm, well in week 2 they beat the Minnesota Vikings, who are currently 7-1 and have the number 2 seed in the NFC.

Yet, all I hear is how good that same Vikings team is. We also have beaten the Dallas Cowboys. The main argument there has been “well you played against Cooper Rush; that doesn’t count for anything.”

Right right right.

So that same Cooper Rush wasn’t getting the media to talk about a quarterback controversy in Dallas? Or the same Cooper Rush that entered that matchup without throwing an interception and then left that game throwing three of them??

Give me a break.

It is time to start acknowledging the fact this Eagles team is very good. We have to start putting them in the same conversation with the Bills and Chiefs.

Will they lose games? Probably, there aren’t many instances of undefeated teams or one-loss teams in the playoffs. The last time there was a one-loss team was 2015.

The last time there was an undefeated team? 2007.

It is hard to win in this league, but the Eagles are winning.

Give them their due; they have earned it halfway through the year.

I expect them to win their ninth game in their ninth try this upcoming Monday against the Commanders.

As always, Go Birds.