Biggest overreactions to the Eagles' Week 1 preseason game

One game is in our rearview mirror. Two more sit on the horizon. The Philadelphia Eagles have a win in their back pocket, one that won't count on the regular-season tally. Some of the same rules still apply though. It's always more fun to correct mistakes after wins than after losses.

The Birds impressed in many areas during their 16-13 win over the Baltimore Ravens. They proved they aren't quite ready for primetime in a few others. They will improve, but they represent Philly, one of our great nation's most critical sports towns. That's another way of saying everyone has an opinion about how things went in the first preseason game.

Some guys climbed the depth chart's ladder. Others slipped a fell down a few of the rungs. Meanwhile , as expected, overreaction has come to visit.

We could talk about this for hours but will, instead, visit a few of the more talked-about narratives we have been hearing. Buckle up. This doesn't figure to take long.

Nolan Smith now qualifies for the 'bust' category.

No one is happy with what they're seeing from Nolan Smith. Let's make that abundantly clear. That sack came after lining him up several yards out at damn near the slot corner position.

Is he where we'd like him to be? No... No, he is not, but it isn't quite time to label him as a bust yet.

We may be headed that way. Something needs to happen quickly to change our minds, but he most certainly hasn't drifted into bust territory yet.

Tyler Steen seems to be headed in the wrong direction.

Tyler Steen, as you know, suffered a recent ankle injury during a Saturday afternoon practice. Mekhi Becton may have lapped him on the depth chart since then. Steen didn't offer a top-tier showing versus the Ravens, but that doesn't mean that it's quite time to give up on the youngster.

Might we be seeing the effects of an injury he isn't totally healed from? Time will tell, but here's what we know. His ceiling is one for a very good NFL starter, and there's nothing wrong with having a few of those on your team.

Tanner McKee deserves to be named as Jalen Hurts backup (this one might be true eventually).

Here are the stat lines from Week 1's preseason game for Kenny Pickett and Tanner McKee:

Pickett: 22 attempts, 14 completions, 89 yards passing, one TD pass, zero interceptions, 87.14 QB rating, two sacks, 15 yards lost, three rushing attempts for four yards

McKee: 16 attempts, six completions, 39 yards passing, zero TD passes, zero interceptions, 45.8 QB rating, zero sacks, two rushing attempts for two yards

Sure, other factors influence this type of thing. Yes, Tanner outplayed Kenny during various stages of camp, but seeing those numbers flip might not be totally dependent on giving McKee snaps with the second-team offense. Then again, that might be exactly what the doctor ordered.

There's only one way to find out. Yes, Tanner should get the bulk of the second-team snaps in Week 2. Yes, he might actually be a better backup than Kenny Pickett, but let's be honest here. We only have last year's preseason to judge him on.

He was good. He went 10 for 20 and racked up 148 yards versus the Ravens in the first preseason game before notching a 10-for-18, 147-yard, one-TD performance versus the Browns in Week 2.

He went 19 for 34 with 158 passing yards in the finale, and while all of that is good, that was also last season. He'll have to earn the QB2 role, and frankly neither he or Kenny Pickett have done that.

Jalyx Hunt and Jeremiah Trotter are ready for primetime (again, this might turn out to be true).

Let's make something abundantly clear. We have looked in our crystal ball, and we have seen a bright future for Jermiah Trotter Jr and Jalyx Hunt, but one preseason game hasn't transformed them into Clyde Simmons and Seth Joyner.

They're going to be fine. All we ask is that you be patient and let both develop. You'll be satisfied with the result, but we have to understand these are rookies who are going to take their lumps AND learn from them.

Jake Elliott missed a PAT and a potential game-winner.

Preseason isn't just for backup quarterbacks and guys trying to catapult themselves onto the roster. Kickers need some action too. That includes kickers who are as good as Jake Elliott.

We know... We know... He missed a PAT and a potential game-winner. Yes, we know that equals four points. We know... There's probably no shot of Patrick Johnson getting a chance to register a game-altering sack one play later if we were playing a preseason game, but it's the preseason.

Patrick Johnson did notch that strip-sack. That gave Jake another chance, one he made good on.

Jake Elliott will be fine come the regular season. We can't prove this, but we have seen enough to trust him. Jake will be fine by the next preseason game... We hope.

Let's end this on a high note. This is the preseason, and it is so for everyone. Elliott is one of the game's best at his position. Look around. How many guys can you find who are better?