Philadelphia’s Run Game Dominates
The biggest story for the Eagles offense was their running game. When the Eagles passing attack proved stagnant well into the second quarter, Brian Johnson shifted his play-calling towards the running game. It paid off. The Eagles finished with 259 total yards on the ground, while De’andre Swift went for 175 yards on 28 carries. The Eagles offensive line proved once again why they are the best in the NFL. It’s great to know that the Eagles can run the ball at will whenever their pass game struggles.
A New Look Eagles Defense
The Eagles defense is an entirely different unit from what it was last year. This is mainly due to injuries in the secondary. Mario Goodrich, Justin Evans, Terell Edmunds, and Josh Jobe all played significant snaps for the Eagles. None of these players started a game for the Eagles’ in 2022. Additionally, multiple key contributors for the Eagles, such as James Bradberry and Hasson Reddick, have made little impact two weeks into the season. Bradberry has been injured and Reddick has been quiet. The Eagles’ defense also looks like a different unit against the run. They only allowed 28 rushing yards today, while still playing the majority of their snaps from two-high safety looks. Sean Desai is working magic to revamp the Eagles’ run defense.
Positive Turnover Variance
Minnesota had four turnovers in the first half. All of them were fumbles. In the first quarter against the Patriots, the Eagles had a pick-six and recovered a fumble well into enemy territory. Philadelphia has been turnover-lucky, especially in the beginning of games. This is why the Eagles have been able to escape with consecutive wins, despite not performing well. This trend is not going to continue in future weeks.
Not Their Best Football
The Eagles are not playing their best football to start the 2023 season. Brian Johnson hasn’t gotten into a play calling rhythm and Jalen Hurts is yet to have a complete performance. The Eagles secondary is also banged-up, which has prevented elite defensive play from occurring. If the Eagles want to contend for a Super Bowl this year, their passing offense and defense has to be better. However, the Eagles’ early season struggles are not a big deal. They’re still 2-0 and haven’t even come close to reaching their potential. That speaks to the talent on this team.