EAGLES OFFENSE GETS MUCH NEEDED BOOST AFTER 31-0 WIN OVER RAIDERS
- Al Thompson
- 13 minutes ago
- 5 min read
After the Philadelphia Eagles mistake-plagued overtime loss to the Los Angeles Chargers, it would have been appropriate to run the “Wanna get away?” slogan across the TV screen.
Sunday afternoon, the Las Vegas Raiders played the role of the Snickers bar the Birds (9-5) desperately needed to end its three-game losing streak.
The final score was 31-0.
The Eagles emptied its bench early in the fourth quarter after Jalen Hurts hit A.J. Brown down the middle of the field for a 27-yard touchdown pass to make the score 31-0.
Hurts finished 12 of 15 for 175 yards, three touchdown passes, no turnovers and a near perfect QB rating of 154.9. He was sacked just once.
Linebacker Nakobe Dean, who led the Eagles with eight tackles (five solo) including two tackles for loss was asked if the Eagles could have made a Snickers commercial after the Chargers game did the Raiders provide the candy bar for the Birds?
“You right, you right,” Dean said with a laugh at his locker after the game. “Of course, it was a get-back-on-track game. It felt good to get out there and just play our style of football. Now we just got to keep it up...go in (on Monday) and get back to work.”
Dean was asked to comment on a basketball reference.
When a shooter is in a slump, to get back on track, he or she may take easier shots in an effort to see the ball go through the hoop and build confidence back up.
Was this good for the Eagles to see the ball go thought the hoop?
At first Dean pushed back on calling the last three weeks a slump.
“Ah no,” he said. “It's more....we haven't lost any confidence. We aren't feeling down about ourselves. We know what we've got to do. We know we've got to work, we've got to put in the work to get better each weekend. We're going to continue to do that. Ewe know what it takes. It's a long season. We know if we want to be the best, we've got to be physical.”
Dean was asked about how it felt for the offense to feel good...didn't it feel good to see so many plays work?
“Of course,” Dean said. “You've got to keep shooting. Yeah it felt good for us to execute the way we know how to execute for all levels of the game. We've just got to keep it up.”
The Eagles registered a shutout for the first time since December 30, 2018 at Washington (W, 24-0). It was the largest margin of victory by the Eagles in a shutout since December 16, 1990 at Green Bay (W, 31-0).
Dean was asked about the defense getting a shutout.
“A goose egg is always great,” Dean said. “Not letting them score, hold them to under a hundred yards, that's our style of football. As long as we're playing to our standards, like I felt we did on our side of the ball, we're going to be happy with that.”
The Eagles offense was efficient from the opening drive to the end of the game.
Left guard Landon Dickerson on the scoring on the opening drive.
“It's a good feeling,” said Dickerson who has played with various injuries throughout the season. “You put a drive together, things start clicking.”
Dickerson was asked about the basketball reference...the offense getting to see the ball going through the hoop this time after struggling for a few weeks.
“I think we executed at a good level,” Dickerson said at his locker. “There's still some things we've got to clean up, but we're headed in the right direction.”
The Birds are on the road next game, at the Washington Commanders on Saturday late afternoon, a day earlier.
Dickerson was asked if getting the fourth quarter off with a short week in front of them.
“It's good anytime you can get guys some rest and also get guys that maybe haven't had snaps this year some playing time, get them some experience.”
There was a lot of joy in the Eagles locker room. Tight end Dallas Goetert talked about Jalen Hurts and the offense.
“Yeah, only three in-completions, I had a drop, so he really only had two,” said Goedert, who finished with six catches for 70 yards and a paid of touchdowns. “He played really well. He was efficient. He pulled some ball coming off the backside...little things like that. It was fun to see him just playing football.”
The Eagles as a team rushed 47 times, grinding for 183 yards and a touchdown. The longest run was 17 yards.
Hurts had an impressive 39 yards on seven carries. Barkley rushed 22 times for 78 yards. Tank Bigsby rushed 17 times for 57 yards.
Quarterback Kenny Pickett, who played the final few minutes of the Eagles Super Bowl win over the Kansas City Chiefs last year, was 15 of 25 for 64 yards, an interception and a QB rating of 47.9. He was sacked four times.
Pickett started in place of injured starter Geno Smith.
The Eagles held the Raiders to 46 yards rushing on 13 carries.
The Eagles defense was led by Nakobe Dean who recorded eight tackles (five solo), Cooper DeJean with four solo tackles and Brandon Graham, who registered two of the Birds four sacks.
Cornerback Adoree' Jackson, who recorded three tackles (two solo) and a defended a pass, laughed at the Snickers bar reference, gave a serious answer about how important it was for the offense to have a big day and see that their plays work.
“I think it was a great reminder of just being persistent, and not riding a wave of emotions,” Jackson said at his locker after the game. “Remember who you are...remember the 'Lion King'? It said 'remember who you are.' I think for them to just always – even though we had just lost three in a row – remember who they actually are.
“We know it's possible (to win). We just came down with penalties or lack of execution recently...on both sides...when we didn't execute and win those games...so for us to have the game that we had, offensively, defensively and special teams together.
"It's is just a reminder to understand …'don't fret....keep pushing and be persistent at working your craft. The tide is going to turn and you want to make sure you are on the right side.”
Jackson also like the basketball reference about the importance of seeing the basket go through the net.
“It's like Steph Curry,” Jackson said, warming to the question. “The best three-point shooter of all time. He might go two for 15...you think he's going to his house and saying 'I'm Steph Curry, I can't shoot the laces?” You know what I mean? He's still going to shoot that pill...you just have to remember who you are and keep going.” *
Email Al Thompson at al.thompson@footballstories.com
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