From The Morning Call: https://tinyurl.com/336wxenf
PHILADELPHIA — Kevin Patullo is a really nice and likable guy. The Eagles’ first-year offensive coordinator, who has been integral to the organization’s success since arriving here with coach Nick Sirianni in 2021, is always friendly, genuine and upbeat.
But now he’s the man in the arena.
He has always been involved with quarterback Jalen Hurts’ development. But with the OC position comes both criticism and praise. Sunday’s comeback victory over the Los Angeles Rams epitomized that reality. It was a tale of two halves.
Everyone saw it: The first half was horrendous, with negative passing yardage and not much else happening; the second half was magical and refreshing, finally opening up the passing game and involving playmakers A.J. Brown, DeVonta Smith and Dallas Goedert.
“It was a tale of two halves for sure,” Patullo said Tuesday. “We were able to make the adjustments we needed to get it going in the second half. The guys were awesome at taking in everything, sequencing plays together, making plays and executing.”
Down 26–7 early in the third quarter, the Birds reeled off 26 unanswered points to stun Los Angeles 33–26 at Lincoln Financial Field. It was the biggest comeback since the stadium opened in 2003 and marked the Eagles’ 12th straight home victory.
Hurts finished 21 of 32 for 226 yards and three passing scores, adding 40 yards and a touchdown on the ground. He threw for 204 yards after halftime.
Patullo stressed that the offense always wants to be in “attack mode,” even when early drives stall.
“By nature, if you look around the league, when you start to have those kinds of games, you’ve got to do things a little bit differently to get yourself back into it and steal extra possessions,” he said. “We wanted to be the aggressor. The word I gave the offense going in was ‘attack.’”
Smith’s 4-yard touchdown on fourth down capped a 79-yard drive that put the Eagles ahead. Brown, who had been vocal about wanting more involvement, hauled in a 9-yard TD and a 38-yard catch that ignited the turnaround.
The Eagles managed just 33 first-half yards but produced 255 after the break. They went 3-for-3 in the red zone.
Big men, bigger blocks
In addition to offensive adjustments, it was a pair of defensive tackles playing special teams who changed the outcome.
Jalen Carter blocked a 36-yard field goal in the second quarter and Jordan Davis sealed the game with a 44-yard block return touchdown on the final play. Next Gen Stats clocked the 330-pound Davis — slimmed down at 6-foot-6 — at 18.59 mph on his 61-yard sprint to the end zone.
Special teams coordinator Michael Clay said the duo’s buy-in has elevated the unit.
“It’s just a credit to them and who they are as team players,” Clay said. “Jalen Carter studies field goal protection very well. Same with JD. We always say, if you can get three yards of penetration and get your hands up before the ball hits its apex, you’ve got a chance.”
Defensive coordinator Vic Fangio said last week that Carter needs to be in better shape. Davis said he has been discussing his own weight journey with Carter, whose locker at NovaCare Complex is right near his.
Red-zone grit
For all the Rams’ yardage, they failed to cash in when it mattered.
Los Angeles finished just 1 for 4 in the red zone. Twice in the third quarter, the Rams settled for field goals that could have buried the Birds.
Fangio called the stops “huge.”
“Every trip down there is an adventure in and of itself,” Fangio said. “The game changes when you’re in the red zone. It’s not a good thing to be down there on defense, but it is a defensive advantage with that end line right there.
“Just add four more points to when it was 26-7 and it’s probably a different outcome.”
Through three games, the Eagles’ defense has allowed touchdowns on approximately 40% of red-zone trips, ranking in the top five among the best in the NFL.
CJGJ and the waiver rule
The Houston Texans (0-3) released safety C.J. Gardner-Johnson on Tuesday after reported friction behind the scenes, instantly prompting speculation about a reunion in Philadelphia.
But there’s a catch. Under NFL rules, a team cannot claim a player it previously traded away if he is waived within four games of joining a new club. The Eagles dealt Gardner-Johnson to Houston for guard Kenyon Green in the offseason to clear cap space, making him ineligible to be claimed by them.
The league rule is ostensibly designed to prevent roster manipulation and protect compensatory-pick integrity.
In short, even if Gardner-Johnson wants to return, the Eagles can’t just swoop in. But rookie Drew Mukuba is performing well at the free safety spot in a rotation with Sydney Brown. The question is whether general manager Howie Roseman will acquire an outside cornerback to replace CB2 Adoree’ Jackson.
Quick hits
• Saquon Barkley carried 18 times for 46 yards, with 13 yards coming in the first half.
• Quinyon Mitchell shadowed Davante Adams most of the day. Adams finished with six catches for 86 yards and a 44-yard TD. In zone coverage, Mitchell handed off Adams to safety Reed Blankenship on the big touchdown, and refs missed an offensive pass interference call on Adams.
• Puka Nacua led the Rams with 11 catches for 112 yards.
Florida trip
The Eagles travel to Tampa Bay (3-0) for a 1 p.m. game Sunday. They took a 33-16 drubbing there in Week 4 last year (after the Bucs knocked them out of the playoffs the season before). The Birds regrouped during a bye the following week and launched their run to the Super Bowl championship.
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Follow Christiaan DeFranco on X at @the_defranc.