The Eagles make things hard on themselves (as they often do), but they leave MetLife Stadium with a victory.
Well, if you were looking for a well-choreographed masterpiece and a Philadelphia Eagles rout, you were probably ripping your hair out for most of this one and shedding a few tears at the game's conclusion.
Philly lays an egg in Week 6. They suffered their first-ever loss at the hands of the New York Jets. The goal now is to keep one defeat from leading to another. Expect to hear the word 'goat' and not in the complimentary sense.
It feels like we ought to leave well enough alone, but you saw the game. We feel like there's much to talk about. How about an obligatory studs and duds effort?
1. Stud - EDGE/linebacker Haason Reddick
Well, it appears that all we had to do was cut that cast off of Haason Reddick's hand. He's beginning to look like himself again now that it's gone.
On Sunday, he racked up five tackles, 2.5 sacks, and two tackles that resulted in a loss of yardage. He stacked a trio of QB hits. Philly loses this one by a ton without him.
Despite a lackluster affair, a few Eagles served as bright spots.
When your team is struggling, you can only hope that your stars can make big plays when needed. Credit these Eagles for assisting in giving Philly a shot at winning. They'll be needed to shine moving forward as well.
2. Stud - defensive tackle Jordan Davis
The vibes told us that Jordan Davis needed to step up with his buddy Jalen Carter out, and he did exactly that. He was the space-eater that Philly needed him to be, and he even split a sack with Brandon Graham.
3. Stud- linebacker Nicholas Morrow
Some thought Nakobe Dean's return meant the disapperance of Nicholas Morrow would follow, and all he did was lead the Eagles in total tackles. Credit the coaches for sticking with him.
4. Stud - wide receiver A.J. Brown
As far as we are concerned, if Philly's offense is ever in a pinch, A.J. Brown can stand on the sideline and complain about needing more touches whenever he wants. When you get this guy the ball, good things happen.
With seven receptions and 131 yards receiving in this one, he becomes the first Eagle to ever eclipse 125 yards receiving in four straight games. You can't blame this loss on him.
One of the guys turned the clock back a few ticks versus the Jets.
Reed Blankenship, Bradley Roby, and Eli Ricks left with injuries. One of the old guys was forced to step up, and he did.
5. Stud - cornerback James Bradberry,
James Bradberry entered this one without his partner in crime Darius Slay. Many of the young guys were forced out of action because of injury (and the secondary was thin anyway).
James came up big time and time again. He broke up two passes. He tied for the team lead in solo tackles, and he tied for the second highest total tackle tally.
Unfortunately, some of the guys who needed to step up didn't.
It's a week-to-week league, one that lasts for 18 weeks and 17 games. With that being said, guys will have off games.
We would have liked to have seen more from the two guys on the list in Week 6, but we aren't worried about them long-term something tells us that both will come up big several times the rest of the way.
6. Tough love - Cornerback Josh Jobe
What was that? Two penalties? 20 yards? Josh Jobe had a rough day and got flagged for defensive holding AND defensive pass interference during the first half. He also got victimized and Moss'd by Garrett Wilson for 33 on the Jets' first drive of the second half.
He settled in a little later... sort of, but it's beginning to look like, if defenses elect to pick on him, good things will happen for them.
That isn't what you want to see, especially if injuries occur and he's forced to see extended playing time as a result. Hopefully, Darius Slay isn't out for long.
A game that had the potential to be an offensive showcase turned out to be a nightmare for the Eagles skill players.
7. Tough love - running back D'Andre Swift
D'Andre Swift again took center stage again as one of the stars of another impressive offensive effort. He struggled running the ball early (two carries for -2 yards in the first half). Things didn't improve much in the second.
He coughed up a fumble that prevented the Birds from really breaking this one open early. Remember... The score was 14-6. and the Eagles were driving before that happened.
Swift finished with 17 yards on ten carries,
8. Tough love - quarterback Jalen Hurts/WR DeVonta Smith
We show them love when they shine. We have to ask that they step up when they don't, especially seeing as how they're team captains.
Jalen Hurts and DeVonta Smith didn't deliver their best performances in this one despite the Jets being without their best cornerbacks.
QB1 tossed three interceptions and came dangerously close to throwing a fourth. DeVonta didn't look like himself for most of the afternoon.
Both will bounce back. Their best football is ahead of them this season, but this is one they'll stew over for another day or so when they think of the missed opportunities.