By Tucker Bagley
The struggling Eagles are in New Orleans today, playing the 9-1 Saints. Things haven’t gone well for the Birds, as they trail the Saints, 24-7, after the first half. Here’s a rundown of what happened in the first 30 minutes:
What Worked
- Corey Clement had a nice kick return for 48 yards in the first quarter. Unfortunately, it did not spark the Eagles offense, as they went three-and-out on the possession.
- Josh Adams showed some explosiveness on his 28-yard touchdown in the second quarter. The undrafted rookie from Notre Dame has clearly become the lead running back and his TD capped off a much-needed six-play, 75-yard drive.
What Didn’t
- Nigel Bradham played a huge part in the Eagles Super Bowl run last year, but his play in 2018 has been less than stellar. Bradham struggled to get off a block on a screen pass that ended up going for a 16-yard gain. The Eagles’ defensive line and secondary have been ravaged by injuries, but the linebacker position has remained healthy. Still, both Bradham and Jordan Hicks have been very disappointing this season.
- Carson Wentz’s interception in the first quarter was just a sign of frustration from the young quarterback. Things haven’t gone as-planned for the Eagles this year and Wentz trying to thread a pass through a double team 50 yards down the field. The Birds’ struggles aren’t Wentz’s fault, but he can’t have mental lapses if they want to save this season.
Halftime Adjustment
It’s hard to adjust when your team is simply out-gunned and out-manned. Doug Pederson needs to find a way to push the ball down the field and make big plays to get the Eagles back into this game.
Second Half X-Factor: Jim Schwartz
Injuries continue to mount in the Eagles secondary and it’s up to Schwartz to figure out how to stop Drew Brees and company without his top two corners and free safety. The Eagles defense has struggled to contain the Saints’ high-powered offense, but did show some signs of life late in the half. If Schwartz can find a way to force Brees into a mistake or two, the Eagles may just have a shot.
