It was the offensive line and secondary that did the Eagles in again as they lost 23-21 to the Vikings. The Birds All-Pro right tackle Lane Johnson was beaten again for a strip-sack by Stephen Weatherly, which was recovered and returned for a touchdown, as Vikings defensive tackle, Linval Joseph picked the ball up and took it into the end zone.
“There’s no question that the sack Johnson allowed by Weatherly and the subsequent touchdown return by Joseph was a major reason the Birds lost to the Vikings as well.”
After the game Johnson said he needed to play better. Wow that’s great to hear that he thinks he needs to play better. Two games in a row he’s been beaten, so quickly that Carson Wentz can’t even throw a short pass before somebody hits his arm. Johnson’s missed block on Harold Landry caused a key turnover against Tennessee and a major reason the Birds lost to the Titans. There’s no question that the sack Johnson allowed by Weatherly and the subsequent touchdown return by Joseph was a major reason the Birds lost to the Vikings as well. He supposed to be the Eagles number one offensive lineman, but he’s not playing like it right now.
There were other lapses by the offensive line, where Carson was sacked and he was pressured throughout the contest by the Minnesota Vikings, who were playing without their best defensive pass rusher, Everson Griffin.
If Griffin had played, he would have been able to take advantage of hobbled Eagles left tackle Jason Peters, who is still having problems with his thigh. He had to come out of the game and was unable to play effectively because of the injury. It looks like that injury is probably going to bother him the rest of the season. Peters is not the player he was when he was putting together year after year of Pro Bowl level play. He will definitely go into the Hall of Fame, but it’s not because of the way he’s playing now. Unfortunately, it looks like it’s that time for Peters and running back Darren Sproles.
“I thought Doug Pederson and his offensive staff got away from the running game again.”
I will give Peters credit for giving right tackle Johnson some good advice, “Stay off Twitter and the internet.”
Eagles made a change at left guard yesterday by benching Stefon Wisniewski and starting Isaac Seumalo. Vikings defensive tackle Joseph, who scored a touchdown in the game, greeted Seumalo with an outside move and a sack of Wentz.
The Vikings finished the game with three sacks on Wentz and eight times they were able to pound him to the ground. I thought Doug Pederson and his offensive staff got away from the running game again. The running backs were averaging only about five yards a carry. The fact that the Birds were behind for most of the game made it tough to utilize the running game as much as I would have liked to see yesterday.
We’ve seen for a few games in a row, that this offensive line can’t protect Wentz if the Birds don’t focus on running the football. Pederson only called 12 running plays in the game. Wentz scrambled five times and threw the ball 35 times, so in reality Pederson called 40 pass plays and 12 running plays.
This Eagles offensive line needs help. They may have most of the same players who helped the Birds win a Super Bowl last year, but they’re not playing like they did a year ago.
Follow me on Twitter
Like GCobb.com on Facebook
Follow me on Instagram
