The last time we were here, when it was real six months ago, this should have been titled: “The Bad, the Terrible, and the Worst,” after the Eagles’ 32-9 Wild Card round playoff debacle in Tampa Bay on January 15.
With 10:44 left to play, ESPN color analyst and NFL Hall of Famer Troy Aikman brazenly—and accurately—announced to the nation that the Eagles were a … “a defeated team and they were when they came in. And there’s been no life to this group really throughout the entire ball game.”
That is what the Eagles—and Nick Sirianni—must get over this season when it becomes real.
This dress rehearsal on Friday night in Baltimore did not mean much. This was a lot of Kenny Pickett, Brett Toth, Fred Johnson, Darian Kinnard, John Ross, Johnny Wilson and Britain Covey. The Eagles lined up, left-to-right, with Johnson, Trevor Keegan, Brett Toth, Mekhi Becton and Darian Kinnard.
In other words, who cares?
Defensively, it was interesting the way the Eagles came out, with newly acquired Bryce Huff as one edge rusher, Nolan Smith as the other edge, and on the interior, Jalen Carter, Jordan Davis and Milton Williams. The linebackers were Zack Baun, playing inside as a linebacker for the first time, paired with Devin White, while the corners were Isaiah Rodgers and Kelee Ringo, and the safeties were Reed Blankenship and James Bradberry.
It bodes well to find some gems going against different colored jerseys. Jeremiah Trotter Jr. looked good, making a team-high five tackles by halftime, and Pickett moved well in the pocket, completing 13 of 21 for 90 yards and a touchdown in the first half. He finished 14 of 22, taking two sacks. Keegan looks solid right now and the defense was stubborn against the Baltimore backups running basic stuff.
There was a good amount of good, some sloppy bad and a few ugly moments in the Eagles’ 16-13 walk-off win over the Baltimore Ravens.
The Good
Edge rusher Patrick Johnson both stripping and recovering a fumble with 10 seconds left, giving Jake Elliott a second chance at redemption for a missed extra point and missed field goal try. Elliott’s 49-yard field goal gave the Eagles the walk-off victory, after he clanged a 50-yard field goal attempt off the right upright with 16 seconds left.
Left tackle Fred Johnson and left guard Trevor Keegan opening up a gaping hole for Kenneth Gainwell to roar through for a nine-yard gain on the Eagles’ third play of the game. Keegan was the Eagles’ fifth-round pick and has some promise. On this play, Johnson sealed well, and Keegan shoved his guy to the right, creating the space Gainwell needed. Keegan looked sharp—and made to order for being even better under Eagles’ legendary offensive line coach Jeff Stoutland.
Linebacker Devin White showed some flashes of his former self on the first drive, stuffing the run.
Rookie first-round draft pick Quinyon Mitchell did a nice job breaking up a pass on the Ravens’ first possession, on a third-and-10 at the Eagles’ 29. Mitchell should have intercepted the pass, but his pass break-up did force Baltimore into a field goal.
The Eagles’ second drive. They drove 75 yards, they chewed up 8:50 over 15 plays. Will Shipley picked up a blitz, and picked up 27 yards from scrimmage on the drive, including a 7-yard touchdown catch from Pickett.
Pickett showed he is a viable NFL quarterback and a very credible back-up to Jalen Hurts on the second drive. He was 5-for-5 for 39 yards, including a TD pass to Shipley. Pickett finished the half completing 13 of 21 for 90 yards and a touchdown. He moved well in the pocket and showed NFL poise. He will be a reliable backup that will be good for a couple of games, if needed.
Jeremiah Trotter Jr. coming up with a nice hit on special teams with 5:43 left in the half, then following up with two more stops on the Ravens’ possession. Trotter is not as large as his father, but he is faster than his all-time Eagles’ great dad and more athletic (and Trot Sr. has admitted that numerous times). Trotter Jr. is good enough to make this team and possibly be an impact player by midseason. He was a leading tackler at Clemson. Trotter led the Eagles in tackles at halftime, making five stops, four solos and one sack. He made a team high six tackles overall.
Covey’s 26-yard punt return in the last four minutes of the half. The pint-sized punt returner must have been hit five times, and maintained his balance to get the ball to the Eagles’ 37.
Cornerback Ringo broke up three passes in the first half and was one of a few bright spots late last season for the Eagles.
Right guard Matt Hennessy and right tackle Kinnard did a great job pulling and kicking out for Lew Nichols’ 2-yard score with 2:16 left to play in the third quarter. If this can translate into the regular season, the Eagles may have a healthy amount of offensive line depth.
It was encouraging to see edge Nolan Smith get a 9-yard sack late in the third quarter on a first-and-10 at the Ravens’ 28.
The Bad
Johnson going offsides on the Eagles’ opening drive a few plays after opening a big hole for Kenneth Gainwell. It is the pre-snap penalties that kills drives, and Johnson’s jump placed the Eagles in a first-and-15, which led to the drive stalling.
Okay, okay, it’s preseason. It’s always good to make extra points. Elliott missed a rare one when it chipped the left upright after the Eagles’ first score. Anyway you want to look at it, it is bad.
Steen being flagged for holding on a first-and-10 at the Eagles’ 36 with 7:46 left in the half. That came after Pickett had scrambled free for five yards.
The Ugly
Elliott, normally Mr. Clutch, hit the right upright on a 50-yard possible game-winner with 16 seconds left.
The Ravens’ Owen Wright ripping through the middle of the Eagles’ defense for 12 yards on Baltimore’s first offensive play—against the Eagles’ starting interior. It was a very impressive way to get on new defensive coordinator Vic Fangio’s good side. And where was linebacker Zack Baun?
The Ravens’ second play, which went for 17 yards, on a short pass left. Rookie first-round draft pick Quinyon Mitchell was nowhere to be found. Avonte Maddox had to make the play down the field.
Drops early in the fourth quarter by Jacob Harris and E.J. Jenkins on consecutive passes are a good way not to make an NFL team when every target counts.
