Philadelphia Eagles: NFL expert only sees one O-line as being better
Recently, an NFL expert shared his thoughts on the best offensive lines in pro football, and he only sees one team as having a better one than the Philadelphia Eagles have.
Maybe the Philadelphia Eagles‘ offensive line got the message. After a loss to the Detroit Lions at home, one of the loudest narratives that came out of that game came thanks to a clip that got run over and over again on social media. It appeared as though Carson Wentz‘s bodyguards gave up on a play, and as a result, QB1 went down.
Everybody knows, if they play at their best, the Eagles have arguably the most talented O-line in the NFL. Jason Peters is hurt, but when healthy, he’s still one of the best in the game. He’s sure to be in Canton one day. His replacement was the Eagles’ first-round selection in 2019 and, quite possibly, the second-best tackle in 2019’s draft class, Andre Dillard.
The guards, Brandon Brooks and Isaac Seumalo, are among the best in the game. We all know how good Jason Kelce is. The other tackle needs no introduction, Lane Johnson. Recently, as a collective, they went au naturale for ESPN’s Body Issue. This is a unit that was named the Built Ford Tough Offensive Line of the Year in 2017 with the same guys present.
Related Story. Eagles scouting reports: Bears ILB Roquan Smith. light
You know they heard the criticism, and they responded. Yes, Wentz has been sacked nine times since Week 3, but that’s more an issue with his receivers’ inability to get open than breakdowns in protection. The running game has flourished when Philly has decided to stick with it.
Recently, Austin Gayle of Pro Football Focus ranked his top offensive lines, and Philly finished second. Only the Indianapolis Colts edged them. Here’s a little of what Gayle had to say.
"Eagles guard Brandon Brooks might be superhuman. After tearing his Achilles in January 2019, Brooks’ status for all of 2019, let alone Week 1 was in doubt, yet, the 30-year-old veteran has managed to bounce back better than ever, earning an NFL-high 90.8 overall grade across 534 offensive snaps to start his eighth year in the league. He’s on pace for a career year and has been the NFL’s best offensive lineman regardless of position. Brooks’ dominance has also overshadowed that of Jason Peters and Lane Johnson. Both tackles rank inside the top-15 among all qualifying offensive linemen in overall grade."
Rounding out the rest of the top five were the New Orleans Saints (3), the Dallas Cowboys (4), and the Baltimore Ravens. Philly will need a Herculean effort from their front line as they host the Chicago Bears in Week 9. We won’t have to wait too much longer for that one.