Week 3: Eagles' Studs And Duds
PHILADELPHIA (CBS) --- On Sunday, the Eagles became the first team in NFL history to win each of their first three games despite trailing by 10 or more points in each of those games. For the first time since 2004, the Eagles are 3-0 and have won six straight home games. And we all remember that '04-'05 season very well.
The Eagles defeated DeSean Jackson and the Washington Redskin in a dramatic fight on Sunday---fight being the operative word. In a game that had everything from the first ever kick return touchdown by an Eagles player at Lincoln Financial Field, to Jackson jawing and then scoring an 81-yard-touchdown, to a rookie breaking out, to two players being ejected, ultimately the Eagles prevailed to remain unbeaten.
Finding three duds was difficult, but choosing only three studs was even tougher.
Duds
3. LeSean McCoy
Sorry Shady, I gotta call it how it is. Yes, he took a bad hit early and had to get a concussion test before returning, but he did return and he wasn't good at all. In fairness to McCoy, the Redskins front is very good and they clearly prioritized to stop the Eagles' rush attack, but McCoy had 19 carries for 22 yards and no catches. Ew.
2. The Eagles' pass rush
Kirk Cousins and the Redskins torched the Eagles secondary for 427 yards passing. Both Pierre Garcon and DeSean Jackson had over 100 yards receiving and they were having their way with the Eagles' corners all day. And Cousins wasn't touched. He's actually going to wear the same jersey next week.
The Eagles had zero sacks and even if they decided to play two-hand touch yesterday, they still wouldn't have had a sack.
The pass rush has to get better, quick.
1. Cary Williams
He was terrible on the field, but more annoying, was his comments criticizing Chip Kelly's strict practice regiment after the game. Amazingly, as Chip cleverly pointed out on the 94WIP Morning Show, Williams barely practiced this week! Pretty selfish to complain about how tired you are as a player after a huge 37-34 divisional win, in a week where you didn't practice much.
And the game? Williams was smoked by DeSean Jackson for a 81-yard touchdown. He was getting beat all over the field.
Studs
3. Wide Receivers
After criticizing their lack-luster performance against the Colts, the Eagles' wide receivers came to play against a weak Redskins secondary. First off, shout to the rook breaking out! We knew he had it him, and after making him a dud last week, maybe we motivated him? Matthews recorded eight catches for 59 yards and two touchdowns on 46 snaps.
Jeremy Maclin tied Matthews with a team high eight snags. Maclin tallied 154 yards for a touchdown, not including a 80-yard touchdown catch that was called back due to a block-in-the-back. Mac made a late catch along the sideline, originally called incomplete then overruled, that was a thing of beauty.
Riley Cooper had fou---oh never mind. At least he wasn't awful.
2. Jason Peters
The game didn't matter. The score was irrelevant. The implications to follow was not on his mind. Nick Foles was cheap-shotted by Chris Baker and Jason Peters wasn't going to just let that happen. You need to defend you quarterback. No one messes with your quarterback. Peters made that felt and was suspended for his behavior, but we'll take it 100 out of 100 times. It's a marathon, not a sprint.
1. Nick Foles
To question his toughness before Sunday's was unwarranted, but to question his toughness after Sunday's game is flat-out stupid. Foles took a beating, but it didn't matter. 27-41, 375 yards, three touchdowns, no turnovers. Foles now leads the NFL in passing yards with 978 and is the eighth quarterback ever to throw for 300-plus yard in the first three games of a season.
And how about that seam throw to Matthews at the end of the first half, in between two defenders. Wow.
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