Philadelphia is no longer playing like the top team in the NFL and the Eagles’ bid for the top seed in the NFC just got pressurized with a 20-10 loss to the Saints on Sunday.
Pro Bowl quarterback Jalen Hurts missed a second straight game with a sprained right shoulder, and the loss puts Philadelphia (13-3) in the position of needing just one win to clinch the NFC East and the conference’s top seed.
If Hurts doesn’t return and the Eagles lose, they could tumble all the way down to the fifth seed in the NFC.
Here are ten other takeaways from Sunday’s disastrous loss.
1. Eagles can't play man to man?
Philadelphia has two of the highest-graded cornerbacks in the NFL and yet because Avonte Maddox and C.J. Gardner-Johnson are out of the lineup, they’ve completely abandoned playing man coverage against even average quarterbacks.
Per NextGen stats:
The Eagles are playing a lot of zone and the Saints quarterbacks are nearly perfect. Saints quarterbacks are a combined 11-12 for 153 yards against the Eagles zone defense.
— Tim McManus (@Tim_McManus) January 1, 2023
2. Saints record setting first half
Per ESPN Stats and Info: The Saints sacked Gardner Minshew 5 times in the 1st half, their most in a 1st half since Week 12 of 2001 against the Panthers (also 5).
— Katherine Terrell (@Kat_Terrell) January 1, 2023
3. Blown call negates red zone opportunity
🤷♂️ How is this Landon Dickerson pancake a penalty? pic.twitter.com/zpEy0uO26F
— Jeff Skversky (@JeffSkversky) January 1, 2023
4. Fletcher Cox bounce back
Cox is no longer a top-five defensive tackle, but he’s had a really solid season and recorded his seventh sack of the season.
.@fcoxx_91 gets his 7th sack of the year!#NOvsPHI | #FlyEaglesFly pic.twitter.com/VO2hl0SSyE
— Philadelphia Eagles (@Eagles) January 1, 2023
5. Eagles closing in on Bears defense
The Eagles are up to 68 sacks on the season. They need 4 to tie the single-season NFL record of 72, set by the Bears in 1984.
6. Eagles maddeningly inefficient
11 1st downs for #Eagles is their fewest since 12/7/14 vs. Seattle when they had 9.
— Drew Porche (@TalentStats) January 1, 2023
7. Brandon Graham
The veteran wants to return in 2023 and he’s making a good case.
Brandon Graham has 5.5 sacks over the last 4 games pic.twitter.com/KP4VGNMEny
— John Clark (@JClarkNBCS) January 1, 2023
8. Haason Reddick
It is hard playing up to the standard of your salary, but that’s exactly what Reddick has done as a pass rusher and WEAPON for the Eagles in 2022.
Haason Reddick sack No. 16! #dawg
pic.twitter.com/X2KZumVG9Z— Barstool Philly (@BarstoolPhilly) January 1, 2023
9. How important is home-field advantage?
Philadelphia is banged up and badly in need of rest, but a once efficient team looks sloppy and has the feel of a team that may have peaked too early.
If the Eagles defeat the Giants they’ll win the NFC East and No. 1 overall seed, but a loss and Cowboys win could drop this team down to the fifth seed depending on how the weekend turns out.
There are decisions to be made and the Giants could help alleviate some of the stress if they choose to rest key starters with a playoff berth wrapped up.
10. Pay Jalen Hurts
The Eagles can begin negotiations on a contract extension any day now, and Jalen Hurts proved his worth to the league and his employer during the two-game absence.
Hurts seemingly solidified his MVP credentials by holding a clipboard. He most likely won’t win the award now, but the Eagles are significantly worse without the QB who tied a franchise record with 35 total touchdowns.
