For the second straight week, the Eagles have put forth an uninspiring effort in the first half, trailing the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, 20-7. Outside of an interception and Corey Clement's touchdown run, there wasn't much to be excited about during the first 30 minutes of today's game:
What Worked
- Fletcher Cox, still a monster. Cox absolutely destroyed Tampa Bay right guard Caleb Bennenoch with a power move that would've made Reggie White proud. Cox's sack led to a much-needed defensive stop after a terrible start to the game.
- Thunder from Down Under. It's hard to make punting exciting, but Cam Johnston is doing his best to make it fun. The Australian boomed a pair of punts on the Eagles first two drives that pinned the Bucs deep in their own zone. For the second straight week, punting is one of the biggest positives to takeaway from the first half. That's not a good thing.
What Didn't
- Not a great start. Desean Jackson beat the Eagles on a deep post, when Malcolm Jenkins bit a playfake and left the middle of the field wide open. Jackson has tortured the Eagles since leaving prior to the 2014 season and despite suffering a concussion last week, the veteran proved he still has the Birds' number. A three-and-out on the next drive and injuries to Jay Ajayi and Jason Peters only compounded the issues.
- Lot of laundry. The Eagles seemed to have things moving in the right direction on their second drive after a 14-yard screen pass to Corey Clement, but penalties on Nelson Agholor, Peters and Clement put the Birds in a second-and-40 situation. In all, those penalties added up to 35 yards and cost the Eagles a pair of first downs.
- Downfield Defense. After tying the game on Clement's touchdown run, a 75-yard touchdown pass to OJ Howard put the Bucs back ahead. For all the frustration directed at the Eagles offense, the defense giving up two 75-yard touchdowns in a half is deflating for the team and the midnight green-friendly crowd. Outside of Ronald Darby's interception, the Eagles secondary has been eaten alive by Ryan Fitzpatrick. Even with a bend-but-don't-break philosophy, allowing 271 passing yards in a half is terrible.
Halftime Adjustment
With Wallace out for the second half with an ankle injury, the Eagles have just four available wide receivers: Agholor, Kamar Aiken, Shelton Gibson and DeAndre Carter. Doug Pederson needs to get Zach Ertz and Dallas Goedert heavily involved in the passing game. The Buccaneers are having a lot of success blitzing linebackers against the interior of the Eagles' offensive line, so if Foles can find his tight ends on short routes, it will nullify Tampa Bay's aggressive defensive front.
Second Half X-Factor: Corey Clement
Clement has found himself in an enviable position following the injuries to Ajayi and Darren Sproles. Even if Ajayi returns in the second half, Clement will be the lead back in the rotation and have an opportunity to assert himself one week after being an afterthought to the two veterans in the backfield.
