Eagles Report Card: Grading the win vs. Buccaneers by position
Special teams and a special first half lift Birds
From Delaware County Daily Times: https://tinyurl.com/2jfa4e9z
The Eagles held off a furious Tampa Bay rally for a 31-25 road victory Sunday to stay unbeaten. Behind a hot first half from Jalen Hurts, a momentum-swinging special teams touchdown and timely defensive takeaways, the Eagles improved to 4-0 on the season.
Here’s how each unit graded out in Week 4.
Quarterback: B-
Jalen Hurts looked like an MVP candidate in the first half, completing 15 of 16 passes for 130 yards and two touchdowns to tight end Dallas Goedert. But he completed zero passes in the second half to finish 15 for 24. He again avoided turnovers but didn’t deliver much explosiveness through the air. Several throws were off target in the second half. He ran nine times for 62 yards, including a 29-yarder.
The early efficiency boosts his grade, but the inability to adjust and sustain offense after the break drags it down.
Running Backs: C+
Saquon Barkley delivered one of the game’s biggest plays with a 6-yard touchdown run on a fake tush push in the third quarter, extending the Birds’ lead to 31-13. But he rushed for just 43 yards on 19 carries, though he did catch four balls for 31 yards. A.J. Dillon ran three times for 17 yards.
Tight Ends: A
Goedert was the offensive star, hauling in both of Hurts’ touchdown throws in the first half. His chemistry with Hurts was evident, and his production was key while wide receivers were kept relatively quiet. Even Grant Calcaterra had a 16-yard reception.
Wide Receivers: C-
The Eagles’ wideouts were mostly footnotes in Tampa. A.J. Brown and DeVonta Smith combined for modest yardage, and neither broke free for a score. Their lack of separation in the second half contributed to the offense’s stagnation. Against elite opponents, more will be needed from this unit.
Brown had two catches for seven yards on nine targets. He seemed checked-out on several plays. Later, he posted on social media: “If you’re not welcomed, not listened to, quietly withdraw. Don’t make a scene. Shrug your shoulders and be on your way.”
Offensive Line: C+
Philadelphia’s offensive line provided a clean pocket in the first half, helping Hurts settle into rhythm. In the second half, Tampa Bay’s pressure generated more disruption, and the Eagles had fewer answers. Run blocking wasn’t great. The unit kept Hurts upright and avoided catastrophic breakdowns, but it wasn’t a vintage dominant performance from a line that has set high standards.
Defensive Line: B+
The Eagles’ pass rush only had two sacks, but it generated enough pressure to hurry Baker Mayfield on key downs. Run defense was solid, despite some early breakouts by Bucky Irving, forcing the Buccaneers to lean on chunk passing plays. Jalen Carter was disruptive at times but not consistently overwhelming. Moro Ojomo had a big sack late and Jalyx Hunt forced a fumble. Za’Darius Smith, who was unsigned until Sept. 5 and is still ramping up his reps, struggled in place of the injured Nolan Smith.
Linebackers: A-
Rookie Jihaad Campbell had an interception and forced a fumble. He also got burned on a 72-yard touchdown pass to Irving. Zack Baun was all over the field with eight tackles (five solo and one for a loss) and a sack.
Cornerbacks: A-
This group was tested, but Quinyon Mitchell performed well shadowing Bucs receiver Emeka Egbuka, coming up with five pass deflections. The rest of the unit adjusted accordingly. Cooper DeJean got beat on a big gainer by Egbuka, but he led the team with nine tackles (eight solo) to go with a pair of pass deflections. Kelee Ringo, in for the injured Adoree’ Jackson, recovered a fumble and was mostly adequate on the outside, opposite Mitchell.
Safeties: B-
Drew Mukuba got turned around when Mayfield threaded the needle between him and Reed Blankenship on a 77-yard TD strike to Egbuka. It wasn’t a vintage game for Blankenship, with a couple of missed tackles, but he and Mukuba were generally solid. Sydney Brown saw limited time on defense.
Special Teams: A-
The turning point of the afternoon came on the Buccaneers’ opening series. Cameron Latu blocked a punt and Sydney Brown scooped it up for a 35-yard touchdown return. Jake Elliott and Braden Mann were excellent on their kicks and punts, but coverage teams were shaky. In a game where the offense vanished after halftime, special teams’ contributions loomed large. Will Shipley and Tank Bigsby did well returning kicks.
Coaching: B-
Nick Sirianni’s staff deserves credit for scripting a sharp first half, prepping players for the heat and dialing up aggressive special teams looks. But the second-half offensive stall reflected a failure to adjust to Tampa’s defensive tweaks. On the plus side, the defense generated timely turnovers and the Eagles showed composure late to close out a tricky road win.
Still, the Eagles haven’t gotten Barkley going and somehow can’t figure out how to consistently involve A.J. Brown and DeVonta Smith. All of this is a major problem. Brown has never been a locker-room disrupter, but he’s clearly nearing a breaking point. These are three elite players; it shouldn’t be difficult.
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Follow Christiaan DeFranco on X at @the_defranc.