There are issues right here that would turn out to be bigger. The Eagles are 1-1 and are hemorrhaging yards dashing. It’s solely Week 3 of the NFL season and there are obvious points defensively with this group should handle, or this 2024 Eagles’ season could possibly be over by November.
Stretching again to the ultimate seven video games of final season, together with the playoff loss to Tampa Bay, and the opening two video games this season, the Eagles are 2-7. Of their earlier 9 video games, they’ve given up 1,278 yards dashing, over 252 makes an attempt, which averages out to five.07 yards a carry. Of their first two video games alone this season, they’re giving up an NFL-high 6.4 yards a carry (315 yards dashing/49 carries). What’s worse is that they haven’t any cross rush, both.
Dealing with Alvin Kamara and the potent New Orleans Saints this Sunday at 1 p.m. within the noisy Caesars Superdome might be tough.
Behind Kamara, a great offensive line and a reliable Derek Carr, New Orleans is third within the NFL in offense, producing 811 yards in 47-10 victories over the Carolina Panthers and the stunning 44-19 win at Dallas, averaging 405.5 yards a sport, which is No. 3 within the NFL behind Baltimore (417.5) and Detroit (413). The Saints are No. 1 in scoring, averaging 45.5 factors a sport, averaging 11 extra factors than the closest group, Arizona (34.5).
Many of the Saints’ offense is approaching the bottom. New Orleans is averaging 185 yards a sport dashing, which can also be No. 3 within the NFL, and as a group, 4.9 yards a carry.
The Saints appeared like a wrecking machine in Week 2, scoring on their first six possessions in opposition to Dallas, which, on paper, has a much better protection than the Eagles.
Security C.J. Gardner-Johnson was supposed so as to add stability within the again. He has not. Gardner-Johnson, not precisely a dependable tackling machine, made what appeared just like the play of the sport within the Eagles’ heartbreaking 22-21 loss to Atlanta, coming as much as cease Bijan Robinson for no achieve on the Falcons’ 39 on a fourth-and-one with 5:38 to play. Earlier in the identical sport, Gardner-Johnson did get caught taking a look at Kirk Cousins as Darnell Mooney ran proper by him for a 41-yard landing cross with 1:21 left within the third quarter. In Week 1 in opposition to Inexperienced Bay, Gardner-Johnson turned his physique the fallacious means, and was burned when Jayden Reed ran proper by him unchecked for a straightforward 70-yard TD toss, Jordan Love’s longest TD cross in his younger NFL profession.
On Thursday and Friday, Gardner-Johnson sat out observe with a foot harm and is questionable to play in opposition to the Saints.
Towards Atlanta, $51-million edge rusher Bryce Huff continued to have his issues (which turn out to be larger when Britain Covey has extra tackles in the identical sport—1). On the Falcons’ opening drive of the second half, the Falcons ran proper at Huff on Robinson’s 19-yard carry to the Eagles’ 44. Huff was nowhere close to the stat sheet. Did anybody discover he was even on the sphere? The Falcons actually did when No. 0 was on the sting. They knew precisely the place to run. Huff was getting thrown round and appeared unsure what he was imagined to do.
Count on Kamara and the Saints to proceed working at Huff, particularly with two formidable tackles in Taliese Fuaga (left) and Trevor Penning (proper) creating area. Kamara, chosen NFC Offensive Participant of the Week in Week 2 after dashing for 115 yards and three touchdowns in opposition to Dallas, has 198 dashing yards and 4 scores dashing this season. He’s sixth within the NFL in dashing behind Saquon Barkley and is averaging 5.7 yards a carry. Operating stretch behind Fuaga and Penning has labored effectively. Count on extra of the identical in opposition to the Eagles.
“Yeah, the Saints positively have that run of their repertoire,” stated Eagles’ defensive coordinator Vic Fangio, who nonetheless plans on beginning Huff. “They’ve run it just a few instances this yr. And possibly after watching our sport, they could wish to run it some extra.”
When requested if he would make any wholesale modifications, Fangio stated, “You understand, not wholesale modifications, no. We have to do a greater job, with me on the lead, of making ready the fellows to play with higher method and higher self-discipline.”
Because the Eagles’ 10-1 begin final yr and the 42-10 loss to San Francisco in Week 13, they haven’t been close to the identical group as 2022.
