Category: Eagles

Falcons stagger Eagles on late Kirk Cousins touchdown pass

The Falcons stunned the Eagles on a late touchdown pass

In a battle of the birds, the Philadelphia Eagles had their wings full on Monday against a gritty Atlanta Falcons team.

A drop by Saquon Barkley on a third-down play that would have sealed the victory for the Eagles led to a Jake Elliott field goal.

Kirk Cousins then directed a six-play, 70-yard drive that ended with a seven-yard touchdown pass to Drake London to tie the game with 34 seconds left. The Falcons’ march came despite having no timeouts.

On the touchdown, London was called for a 15-yard unsportsmanlike penalty pushing the PAT back to about 48 yards. Younghoe Koo delivered the winning kick and the Falcons left Philly with a shocking 22-21 victory.

The key to the Barkley drop was the incompletion stopped the clock rather than the Eagles running the ball and allowing another 40 seconds to tick away.

That said, Barkley was open and just had to secure the reception for a game-sealing first down. He dropped the Jalen Hurts pass and the Falcons capitalized.

The Eagles’ last drive ended when Hurts threw a pass that was intercepted by Jessie Bates III.

The Eagles had taken an 18-15 lead on a 17-play drive that devoured 9:34.

The Falcons led in the third quarter when Cousins found Darnell Mooney for a 41-yard touchdown pass.

The Eagles’ drive was a maestro effort by Hurts, who concluded it with a one-yard tush push touchdown.

Philly went for two points and got it on a strong run by Barkley.

The Eagles got a huge defensive play from C.J. Gardner-Johnson on the ensuing Atlanta drive to force the football to be turned over on downs.

Both teams have 1-1 records heading into Week 3.

Jason Kelce is a one-man dance party before Falcons-Eagles

Jason Kelce knows how to enjoy himself

Jason Kelce warmed up for his stint in the Monday Night Football booth with Joe Buck and Troy Aikman as only the former Philadelphia Eagle can.

Check out the dance moves the retired center put on in his Eagles green sweatsuit.

Since he works for ESPN and ABC, how long before he lands on “Dancing with the Stars?”

Eagles missing Jason Kelce at center already

Cam Jurgens snapped the football before Jalen Hurts expected it

Cam Jurgens has the task of following Jason Kelce as center for the Philadelphia Eagles.

Jurgens’ first game was off to an inauspicious start. After Jalen Hurts threw an interception, the Eagles got the ball back and Jurgens snapped the ball to his quarterback, who was not ready or expecting it.

The Packers recovered the fumbled snap and wound up with another field goal to take a 6-0 lead in Brazil.

Jurgens got an earful from his QB on the sidelines.

Saquon Barkley TD reception gives Eagles lead in Brazil

A Jalen Hurts TD pass to Saquon Barkley gave the Eagles the lead

The Philadelphia Eagles overcame a rough start in Sao Paulo, Brazil, on Friday and grabbed the lead over the Green Bay Packers thanks to a key free-agent signing.

Saquon Barkley, who came over from the New York Giants, caught a TD pass from Jalen Hurts. The PAT gave the Eagles a 7-6 lead in the second quarter of the first NFL game played on a Friday night since 1970.

Hurts had thrown an interception to Barkley’s former teammate in New York, Xavier McKinney, and then lost a fumble when Cam Jurgens snapped the football to the quarterback who was not ready for it.

Patriots QB Joe Milton III destroys Eagles safety Tristin McCollum

Patriots rookie QB Joe Milton III introduced himself to Eagles safety Tristin McCollum

New England Patriots quarterback Joe Milton III is trying to impress in training camp. The former Tennessee start definitely left an impression on Philadelphia Eagles safety Tristin McCollum in their game on Thursday at Gillette Stadium.

Milton felt pressure in the pocket and took off up the middle. The 6-foot-5, 246-pounder ran into McCollum and sent him backward.

Milton had three carries for nine yards in the Patriots’ 14-13 preseason loss to Philadelphia. The sixth-round pick also completed 2-of-7 passes for 20 yards. He was sacked twice.

 

Jake Elliott overcomes ‘doink’ to give Eagles win over Ravens

Jake Elliott gave the Eagles a win over the Ravens when he got a second chance

It is the sound no kicker wants to hear: Doink.

Jake Elliott of the Philadelphia Eagles hit an upright in the final half-minute Friday against the Baltimore Ravens. Given a second chance after a fumble recovery by Philly, the Eagles’ kicker was true from 49 and the NFC East squad had a 16-13 win in the preseason opener for both teams.

The play-by-play:

  • 4th & 6 at BAL 32

(0:21 – 4th) J.Elliott 50 yard field goal is No Good, Hit Right Upright, Center-R.Lovato, Holder-B.Mann.

  • 1st & 10 at BAL 40

(0:16 – 4th) (Shotgun) E.Jones sacked at BLT 32 for -8 yards (P.Johnson). FUMBLES (P.Johnson), RECOVERED by PHI-P.Johnson at BLT 32.

  • 1st & 10 at BAL 32

    (0:10 – 4th) T.McKee up the middle to BLT 31 for 1 yard (D.Jennings; Y.Rigby).

  • 2nd & 9 at BAL 31

    (0:04 – 4th) Timeout #2 by PHI at 00:04.

  • 2nd & 9 at BAL 31

    (0:00 – 4th) J.Elliott 49 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-R.Lovato, Holder-B.Mann.

 

Philadelphia Eagles’ most underrated player: EDGE Josh Sweat

The Eagles’ defensive line is in a state of transition, and Josh Sweat has been a necessary bastion of stability.

The Eagles are going through some transitions along their defensive line, but Josh Sweat has been a much-needed bastion of reliability.

The 2018 fourth-round pick out of Florida State had a career year in total pressures last season with 73, one year after putting up his career high in sacks with 15. At 6-foot-5 and 253 pounds, Sweat brings impressive speed and quickness, as well as bend around the edge and gap-jumping ability, to his position.

And if you’re of a mind to try a trick play in Sweat’s kitchen… well, as the Dolphins discovered, it might not be a bad idea. Coming into his age 27 season and contracted through 2028, Sweat can be the guy who ties the Eagles’ fronts together as changes around him continue. 

The Xs and Os with Greg Cosell: Inside the NFL’s press coverage revolution

In this week’s “Xs and Os with Greg Cosell and Doug Farrar,” the guys get deep into a new press coverage revolution in today’s NFL.

Over the last few seasons in the NFL, a lot of coaches and executives have tailored their defensive schemes in one specific fashion — an increase in press coverage from their cornerbacks. Not only the old-school aggressive press-man coverage we all know, but also mirror-match press man coverage, where a cornerback trails the receiver through his route as the route is declared.

Why? Because NFL offenses have found all kinds of ways to beat the old Seattle Cover-3 stuff from a decade ago with 3×1 and 2×2 receiver sets, and the route concepts inherent in those deployments. Now, if you’re rolling out that “Country Cover-3,” your defense is going to be in trouble.

There’s also the element of quick game in the league, which has increased in recent years. When the quarterback is throwing out of zero- to three-step drops, there are times when edge defenders simply don’t have time to get to the quarterback before the ball comes out. So, logic dictates that if you can’t disrupt the quarterback in the timing of the down, you need to disrupt the timing of the receivers’ routes, forcing the quarterback to delay his reads and throws, and giving those pass-rushers that extra split millisecond to get home.

In this week’s edition of “The Xs and Os,” Greg Cosell of NFL Films and ESPN’s NFL Matchup, and Doug Farrar of Touchdown Wire and the USA Today Sports Media Group, investigate the NFL’s changes in press coverage, and the players who do it the best, including...

  • L’Jarius Sneed of the Titans;
  • A.J. Terrell of the Falcons;
  • Martin Emerson Jr. of the Browns;
  • Patrick Surtain Jr. of the Broncos;
  • Ahmad “Sauce” Gardner of the Jets; and
  • Joey Porter Jr. of the Steelers.

You can watch this week’s “Xs and Os with Greg Cosell” right here:

You can also listen and subscribe to the “Xs and Os” podcast on Spotify…

…and on Apple Podcasts.

2024 NFL Schedule: League announces slate of five international games

The NFL has announced its five international games for the 2024 season, and here they all are.

The NFL is planning five different games for the 2024 regular season in its international slate, and the league announced all five on Wednesday morning. The entire schedule will be announced at 8:00 p.m. ET Wednesday evening.

This season’s slate of International Games will begin in São Paulo, Brazil on Friday night of Week 1 of the regular season. The Green Bay Packers will take on the Philadelphia Eagles on Friday, Sept. 6 at 8:15 PM ET.

The Minnesota Vikings will kick off the league’s return to Europe on Sunday, Oct. 6, as they play the New York Jets at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium — the only purpose-built NFL stadium outside of the U.S.

The following Sunday, Oct. 13, also at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, the Chicago Bears will play the Jacksonville Jaguars.

The London focus then shifts to Wembley Stadium as the Jaguars take on the New England Patriots on Sunday, Oct. 20.  This is the second time Jacksonville will play back-to-back games in the U.K., marking the team’s 12th and 13th regular season games in London.

The Carolina Panthers will play the New York Giants in Munich at Allianz Arena — Home of FC Bayern Munich on Sunday, Nov. 10 as part of the NFL’s commitment to playing regular season games in Germany.

“We are delighted to announce these exciting matchups across London and Munich, in addition to the historic first game in São Paulo, Brazil, to complete the 2024 International Games slate,” said NFL Executive Vice President, Club Business, Major Events & International Peter O’Reilly. “As the league and its 32 teams continue to prioritize international growth, we look forward to building on the incredible fan experiences seen in Europe while taking the game to new fans in South America.”

The Xs and Os with Greg Cosell: Best defensive scheme fits from the 2024 NFL draft

From the Cardinals’ new secondary to cornerback talent for the Eagles and Lions, Greg Cosell and Doug Farrar get into the best scheme fits from the 2024 NFL draft.

When teams select players in the draft, they’re not just basing those picks on the prospects’ athletic attributes — they’re also looking at how those prospects fit in the structures of their schemes.

In this week’s “Xs and Os with Greg Cosell and Doug Farrar,” Greg (of NFL Films and ESPN’s NFL Matchup) and Doug (of Touchdown Wire and the USA Today Sports Media Group) discuss their favorite defensive scheme firs from the 2024 NFL draft. Greg and Doug already discussed their favorite offensive scheme fits in this draft, and you can find that right here.

  • The Arizona Cardinals’ secondary with cornerbacks Elijah Jones and Max Melton, and safety Dadrian Taylor-Demerson;
  • The Detroit Lions’ cornerback group with Terrion Arnold and Ennis Rakestraw Jr.;
  • The Philadelphia Eagles’ secondary with cornerback Quinyon Mitchell and defensive back Cooper DeJean;
  • The Dallas Cowboys’ defensive line with DL Marshawn Kneeland;
  • The Buffalo Bills’ secondary with safety Cole Bishop;
  • The Green Bay Packers’ safeties with Javon Bullard and Kitan Oladapo;
  • The San Francisco 49ers’ secondary with Renardo Green and Malik Mustapha.

You can watch this week’s “Xs and Os” right here:

You can also listen and subscribe to the “Xs and Os” podcast on Spotify…

…and on Apple Podcasts.