• March 29, 2024

Why Did The Eagles’ Offense Stall?

folestallIn the battle for first place supremacy in the NFC East, the Eagles vs Cowboys was not the “perennial” shoot-out it was originally thought to be between two of the highest scoring teams in the NFL, but rather a defensive clash with almost a full half with no score.

The Cowboys were without four-time All-Pro defensive end DeMarcus Ware, who missed the first game in his nine-year career because of a quadriceps injury. Anthony Spencer, the end opposite Ware, is out for the season after knee surgery. Four-time Pro Bowl tackle Jay Ratliff was released during the week after failing a physical.

“Obviously, our defense was outstanding,” Cowboys coach Jason Garrett said. “That offense challenges you in so many ways. They have a really good scheme. Our defense played sound, played together. They were physical and our tackling was outstanding.”

Tony Romo threw for 317 yards and one touchdown in the Eagles’ loss on Sunday at Lincoln Financial Field.  Joseph Randle, replacing the injured DeMarco Murray, rushed 19 times for 65 yards.

Here were some of things to take away from the loss to Dallas:

The Eagles Defense Played Its Best Game of the Season

Billy Davis’s defense is beginning to look like a legitimate threat as it has been making the necessary adjustments and steadily improving from week to week.

“I think the guys are tightening down their coverage in the secondary.  We are getting familiar with our techniques and our calls,” Eagles Defensive Coordinator Davis said.

The first 11 possessions resulted in 11 punts before Dan Bailey kicked a 38-yard field goal to give Dallas a 3-0 lead with 3:17 left in the first half.  DeMeco Ryans intercepted a poor pass by Romo in the third quarter, and returned it 36 yards to the Cowboys 30 to set up Henery’s 31-yard field goal that cut it to 10-3. For the Eagles, the defense, which had allowed an average of 29.83 PPG, held the Cowboys to the lowest points allowed under Bill Davis’s tenure.

“There are a lot of positives, but at the end of the day there is going to be a winner and a loser and we lost and that is not good enough.  You always have to outplay the opponent’s defense and today we didn’t.”

Monte Kiffin beat Chip Kelly

Chip Kelly and the Cowboy’s new defensive coordinator, Monte Kiffin, have a history from their college days in the PAC-12.  And Kiffin’s defense held the Eagles only to a field goal, defense gave up only 278 yards, sacked quarterback Nick Foles three times and intercepted his backup Matt Barkley three times (all in the fourth quarter).

George Selvie had 1½ sacks and combined with Jarius Wynn on the hit that forced Foles out of the game. Wynn was signed last Tuesday after being released by San Diego.

Nick Foles left the game in the fourth quarter, due to a head injury, 11 of 29 for 80 yards.  McCoy carried 18 times for 55 yards and did not have a run longer than 10 yards in the game. Jackson, who was shadowed most of the game by Brandon Carr, caught three passes for 16 yards. Philadelphia converted on only four of 22 third-down tries.

What Happened to Big Balls Chip?

Coming into the season, Chip Kelly had a reputation of being a high stakes gambler, opting for 2-point conversions, going for it on 4th downs, and “beating up little people.”  So far, Kelly has been very conservative.  Dating back to week 2 against the Chargers, Kelly seems to be taking his time with his fast paced offense.

Kelly passed on a 4th-and-1 from the Dallas 42-yard line with 20 seconds remaining in the first half. Instead he called for an Alex Henery 60-yard field goal rather than going for the first down with a timeout remaining.  Henery previously had a 51-yard kick in his three-year career, and who the Eagles didn’t have confidence in to attempt a 54-harder in the thin Mile High air several weeks back. Yet Kelly went with the low percentage 60-yard field-goal attempt, which reached but went wide left.

“If we didn’t get the first down, we’re not going to get the kick,” Kelly said after the 17-3 loss.

The Eagles play at the Linc this Sunday against the New York Giants, who are playing in Minnesota in Josh Freeman’s debut as a Viking.  Does Chip Kelly have the confidence to put Nick Foles back in, barring the diagnosis of a concussion?  Is Michael Vick ready to return from his hamstring injury?  Is the default starting QB Matt Barkley if neither Foles nor Vick can play?  There are a lot of questions going into week 8.

Mohamed Elghawy

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CT
CT
October 21, 2013 10:10 pm

I’m so sick of sicking Alex Henery long neck retarted looking ass walk out to kick for us. He’s a bum, pure and simple. I know he’s made 85% of his kick over the past 3 years, but every single one of his kicks have been under 50 yrds besides ONE. The majority of them have been between 30-39 yards anyways. It shocks me because this kid kicked in Nevada is terrible weather conditions with a loud ass crowd week n and week out. Was’nt he the highest kicker taken since Adam V? (4th round?)

In other words, I do not agree with Chip at all not going for it in that situation, Your defense is playing well, you have a timeout, and your in opponents territory. The chances of us getting a 4th and 1 is highly likely. Jesus TAKE A CHANCE. Other than that, I think he called a nice game. If Nick Foles connects on all his wide open passes and doesn’t check every damn thing down we win the game. This is the 3rd game this season we have beatin ourselves more than the opposing team has beatin us. SD, KC, and now DAL.

E-money
E-money
October 22, 2013 11:00 am
Reply to  CT

That FG attempt was pure boneheadedness. Henery could try that kick 20 times and not hit it once. We were lucky that Dallas didn’t make us pay for the mistake.

I think the jury is still out on Chip Kelly. His offense has put up impressive yardage stats, but scoring is still an issue. Teams have figured out that if they focus on taking McCoy out of the game that the whole offense crumbles. Dallas looked great against both the run and the pass, and Dallas’ defense is nothing special at all.
Of course, if Foles had just thrown the ball a tad more accurately, this would all be a moot point.
What a huge choke by Foles.

DCar
DCar
October 22, 2013 1:33 am

What Happened to Big Balls Chip? They are capers. All hype, all gimmick! Nothing less, nothing more!

DCar
DCar
October 22, 2013 1:37 am

Monte Kiffin beat Chip Kelly. That’s what he gets, for not bringing him here in the off-season, like the rumors were saying. I don’t care how old he is, he’s a great D-coordinator. So far, every decision Chip “Big balls Genius” has made, has been a wet shart! Not impressed a little bit! I don’t care how personable he is. Roster blows, play calling blows, coaching staff hires were horrid!