Should Eagles Be Worried About Their D?
Who would have known that In his first start of his second stint with the Eagles that quarterback ick Foles would be the least of the team’s worries. Eagles fans, still waiting for that elusive Super Bowl title, can never relax. The Eagles are 12-2 and have clinched an all-important first round bye after Sunday’s wild 34-29 win at MetLife Stadium against the New York Giants.
No doubt the talk shows will be focusing on an Eagles defense that was torched by one of the worst offensives in the NFL.
As for Foles?
All he did was complete 24 of 38 for 237 yards, four TDs and no interceptions. It as the play of the offense and special teams that saved the Eagles.
The defense, which has been stellar for most of the season, will now come into question.
Eagles fans simply can’t enjoy a win, and the players probably won’t enjoy this one very much.
That’s because the Giants entered the game averaging 15.3 points and nearly doubled that total, while accumulating 504 total net yards.
The NFL is an unpredictable league. With the Eagles two games against the Giants a classic example.
The Giants are 2-12, have already fired their coach Ben McAdoo, but have twice tested the Eagles to the limit.
The Eagles needed Jake Elliott 61-yard field goal as time expired to earn a 27-24 win over the visiting Giants in the third game of the season. In that game, the Giants staged a wild comeback, scoring all 24 points in the fourth quarter.
As well as Foles and the offense did, the Eagles were also saved by a great day on special teams that included three blocked kicks.
Derek Barnett blocked a PAT attempt on the opening drive. Kamu Grugier-Hill blocked a second quarter punt and Malcolm Jenkins blocked a fourth quarter 48-yard field goal attempt.
According to the Eagles, they became the first team to block a PAT, field goal and punt in the same game since the Buffalo Bills accomplished that feat on Nov. 24, 1991 against New England. (Buffalo actually blocked two field goals, a PAT and a punt).
In short, what the Eagles special teams did, is rare, and without it, they likely wouldn’t have won.
This week all the questions will be about the defense. The Eagles allowed 35 points the previous week in a 43-35 win over the host Los Angeles Rams, but that was an excellent offense.
The week before that, the Eagles lost 24-10 at Seattle. The Seahawks are an inconsistent offense.
The Eagles have two games left, both at home, Christmas evening against Oakland and New Year’s Eve against Dallas.
Their defense will strive for more consistency in those two games, as a team with just two losses, still has its somewhat skeptical fanbase worried.
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Author: Marc Narducci
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