Going Deep
Is it finally time to be optimistic? The Philadelphia Eagles have the best record in the NFL and are coming off their best offensive performance since Chip Kelly and company hanged 50 points on the Bears in 2013.
But this year is different. Not only is Carson Wentz leading the MVP conversation, but the Eagles defense is playing at a high level. The Birds are finally built for a deep run in the postseason.
The first thing a team needs to win in the postseason is a decent run game. The Eagles entered 2017 with a huge question mark in the backfield. LeGarrette Blount was supposed to be an over-the-hill veteran, while Wendell Smallwood and Corey Clement seemed like a couple of never-will-bes.
But now, things have changed dramatically. Blount looks reborn and carried the running game on his broad shoulder for the first half of the season, while Clement is emerging into a solid contributor and Howie Roseman added Jay Ajayi into the fold this week. Ajayi has more talent than any of the Eagles other backs and it showed on Sunday.
Less than a week after joining the team, Ajayi finished as the Eagles' leading rusher on Sunday, racking up 77 yards on eight carries, including a 46-yard touchdown. The Eagles now have a stable of bruising running backs who can pick up tough yards and close out games.
On the defensive side of the ball, things are still going smoothly. Jim Schwartz has once again proved to be a master coordinator, scheming around the Eagles deficiencies at cornerback and linebacker. Think about it; the Eagles are 8-1 despite playing without their top cornerback and having their best linebacker lost for the rest of the season.
And of course, the most important ingredient is Carson Wentz, the franchise quarterback who gives the Eagles a chance to win every time he steps on to a football field. Wentz has continued to dazzle each and every week of his second season, improving at a lightning-quick rate.
It has been 10 years since the Philadelphia Eagles won a postseason game. Andy Reid was patrolling the sidelines and LeSean McCoy was still three months away from being drafted. It has been even longer since the Eagles won a playoff game at Lincoln Financial Field.
As 2017 has progressed, this Eagles team has proved to be different than all of the false hopes we've had before. Roseman has built a solid roster, filled with talent and depth, and with seven games remaining in 2017, the Eagles are positioning themselves to turn some heads when the calendar turns to January, 2018.
Injury Report
Did Not Play: Ronald Darby (ankle), Zach Ertz (hamstring)
Lane Johnson: Johnson left the game in the third quarter with an apparent back injury and headed into the locker room for testing. Johnson quickly returned to the game and seemed to play without any inhibitions. After the game, it was reported Johnson suffered a tailbone injury, which should heal up in plenty of time for next week's game against the Cowboys.
Measurables
0: The Denver Broncos had allowed zero rushing touchdowns in 2017 heading into yesterday's contest. The Eagles ran for 197 yards and three touchdowns on the League's second-best rushing defense.
25: Only 25 players in NFL history have thrown for more touchdowns in their first or second season than Wentz has in 2017. Wentz's 23 touchdown passes in nine games has him on pace for 41, which would fall short of Dan Marino's record and even with Kurt Warner's mark of 41.
39: The Broncos did not register a legal quarterback hit for the first 39 minutes of the game. Wentz was hit earlier, but it was ruled roughing the passer by the referees. The Eagles struggled to keep Wentz upright last week, so it is good to the offensive line protecting the franchise quarterback.
Turning Point
This game got out of hand early, so we have to travel all the way back to the Eagles first drive of the game to find when momentum swung firmly into the Eagles favor. The Broncos opened the game with a field goal and the Eagles were facing a third and long on their first series:
Trey Burton runs a simple skinny post and Wentz hits him for a 14-yard gain and a first down. The Eagles drove down the field and scored on their first three drives, opening up a 17-3 lead before the end of the first quarter. This third down conversion demoralized the Broncos defense, who were one play away from turning the ball back over to their offense, who hadn't looked inept yet.
Up-Down Drill
Up: Alshon Jeffery
Jeffery has now strung together two good performances and looks to be getting on the same page as Wentz. With a bye week coming up, the Eagles should take a look at their offense and find ways to feature Jeffery more prominently in their downfield passing game, especially with Torrey Smith now struggling to get open.
Down: Wendell Smallwood
The Eagles dressed five running backs on Sunday and it seems like Smallwood is the odd man out in the rotation. The second-year back didn't register a carry until the second-team offense got on the field. The writing seems to be on the wall with the addition of Ajayi and emergence of Clement. I wouldn't be surprised if Smallwood isn't even dressing by the end of the year.
Up: Vinny Curry
Curry's resurgence continued yesterday as the veteran racked up a pair of quarterback hits, a sack and two tackles for loss. Curry may not be worth his price tag next year, but he has been a huge contributor this season. His ability to create pressure, both on the edge and from the interior, has been a vital part of Schwartz's defense.
Down: Joe Walker
This is getting pretty picky, but Walker continues to be a weak link in pass coverage. As the season progresses, I would expect teams to try to keep the Eagles base defense on the field and isolate Walker in coverage, however, Schwartz has done a great job of hiding his squad's weaknesses.
Three-Step Drop
1. Lane Johnson was called the "premier right tackle" by Von Miller this week and Johnson shut Miller down all afternoon. Miller had a sack late in the game when Nick Foles was in, but Johnson allowed zero pressure and kept Miller quiet all day. If Johnson wasn't already the top right tackle in the game, this performance sure put the rest of the league on notice
2. Patrick Robinson had an interception yesterday, his third of the year. Robinson has been a revelation this season, going from barely making the roster to being the Eagles top cornerback. The trio of Robinson, Jalen Mills and Rasul Douglas has played lights out these past few weeks and things will get very interesting when Ronald Darby gets back.
3. Jay Ajayi's quick acclimation to the Eagles just shows how strong the chemistry is in this locker room. Ajayi came from a toxic environment in Miami with some baggage, but it seems like all 53 men on the Eagles roster rally together every Sunday. If the Birds were 1-8 instead of 8-1, chemistry could be an issue, but when you're winning, everyone is having fun.
Who's Next
The Eagles will get a much-deserved bye before heading to Dallas to face the Cowboys. The Eagles currently hold a two-game lead over Dallas and a win in Big-D could all but wrap up the division. In Week 11. Crazy.
