Lack of Discipline Responsible for Eagles’ Disappointing Loss
The Eagles entered the year with Super Bowl aspirations, but now have to come to grips with the sobering reality that became of their 2019 season.
Even after a two-game losing streak, the Eagles spent Thanksgiving break convincing themselves that they could go on a run in the final 5 games to claim the NFC East title. Instead, they suffered their worst loss in the Doug Pederson era- losing to the previously 2-9 Dolphins who had the worst point differential in the NFL heading into the week.
While they still technically control their own destiny in the division race, losing to the lowly Dolphins makes running the table to finish 4-0 look farfetched. They had a chance to avoid the upset, but penalties, drops, and an overall lack of discipline doomed the Eagles.
Overall, while their defense was downright atrocious, the Eagles offense actually played well. In scoring 31 points they certainly aren’t to blame for the loss, but the truth is in the details. 31 points is a good output, but a closer look shows the Eagles benefited from a short field on 3 of their scoring drives (two touchdowns and a field goal) and they had a chance to score even more if they didn’t shoot themselves in the foot with missed opportunities.
The Eagles first drive started at the Miami 18 after an interception on the games first play by Ronald Darby. They scored 3 plays later to take the 7-0 lead. The Eagles second drive started at the Miami 49 after a bad Miami punt and the Eagles drive stalled after gaining 18 yards and they had to settle for a field goal. That’s two drive that netted only 36 yards total, but 10 points due to the short field position.
The Eagles also had good field position to start the 2nd half after Miami tried an onside kick to start the half. The Eagles recovered at the Dolphins 47 and drove the ensuing 47 yards which ended on a 10 yard TD pass to Jeffery. While it certainly isn’t the offense’s fault that they only had to drive short distances to score, it does highlight the inflated scoring total was not a representation of them driving up and down the field.
In regards to shooting themselves in the foot- the biggest example of this came on the Eagles second drive of the 3rd quarter. Up 28-20, they had a nice drive getting all the way to the Miami 20 yard line before the drive stalled. On 2nd and 7, Wentz threw a strike to Ertz that would have gotten the Eagles inside the 3-yard line or so, but the pass was dropped. On the next play, Wentz was sacked for a 10-yard loss, making it 4th and 17 from the Dolphins 30. So, instead of the Eagles having first and goal from the 3 they had to settle for a 49-yard field goal. This, because of course, ended up being Jake Elliott’s first missed FG in 2019. The Dolphins proceeded to immediately drive down the field and score a touchdown.
While this was the most egregious example, penalties and drops were directly responsible for an additional 3 drives that stalled out. Up 10-0 midway through the first quarter, the Eagles had a 1st and 10 at their own 41.
This is the play-by-play of what happened next.
1st & 10 at PHI 41: J.Ajayi up the middle to PHI 49 for 8 yards. PENALTY on PHI-I.Seumalo, Offensive Holding, 10 yards, enforced at PHI 49.
1st & 12 at PHI 39: C.Wentz pass incomplete short right to N.Agholor.
2nd & 12 at PHI 39: C.Wentz pass short left to N.Agholor to 50 for 11 yards. PENALTY on PHI-M.Hollins, Illegal Block Above the Waist, 10 yards, enforced at 50.
2nd & 11 at PHI 40: C.Wentz pass short middle to M.Sanders to PHI 44 for 4 yards.
3rd & 7 at PHI 44: C.Wentz pass incomplete deep right to J.Arcega-Whiteside.
The Eagles had two productive plays called back due to penalties and had to punt it away after only gaining 3 yards after having the 1st and 10. The following Dolphins drive resulted in their first of 5 touchdown drives in a row, making the score 10-7.
The very next drive the Eagles had the ball down to the Dolphins 20 and were facing a 4th and 2. Pederson made the obvious choice to go for it in this situation. The Eagles ran a play and converted on a well-designed rollout by Wentz, but the play was nullified due to a false start by LT Jason Peters. The Eagles had to settle for a field goal on 4th and 7, which at least Elliott converted.
Fast forward to the Eagles second to last drive of the game, down 37-28 and in need of a quick score to have any chance of coming back. They had the ball all the way down to the Miami 13 with 2:39 left. With only 1 timeout left and the 2-minute warning on their side, a quick touchdown here would have been huge for the Eagles. Wentz threw a perfectly placed pass to Ertz in the end-zone that Ertz had in his hands, but the ball was knocked out by the defender and fell incomplete.
In a game where DeVante Parker won what seemed like 10 50/50 balls against the Eagles CBs, it was frustrating to see Ertz not be able to complete the catch through contact, especially after his drop inside the 5. The next play Wentz was sacked for an 8-yard loss and all hopes of a score before the two-minute warning were erased. Again, they had to settle for a field goal.
In a game where the defense completely embarrassed themselves, the Eagles needed the offense to carry the load. They had a chance, but in the end, they could not get out of their own way and left points on the board.
This is not to excuse the defense, who had played well the past 6 weeks or so, but in a season where the offense has been a disappointment, the 31 points are more misleading than the stats may show.
A cleaner offensive performance would have been enough to squeak out a victory, but alas, Pederson and company were not up to the task.
Featured Photo: Rich Schultz/Getty Images
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Categorized:Eagles