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Birdfeed: Vol. 24.1; Saquon’s Debut, Hurts’ Dud

There was a lot to like Thursday night from the 2024 Philadelphia Eagles and still some lingering issues from that disastrous 2023 closing stretch.

Let’s get to the negatives first, because after all, this is Philadelphia and negative is just more fun.

Though Jalen Hurts showed flashes, he looked more like the 2023 model, not the 2022 star the Eagles paid and desperately need. I know it’s only one week into the season, but are we sure 2022 wasn’t the fluke and 2023 is the real Hurts? He still looks slow in the run game. Remember when he used to churn out 10 yard runs with ease? Now just beating a linebacker to the edge is a herculean task. Every NFL quarterback not named Patrick Mahomes is overpaid, so Hurts isn’t alone here, but that contract gets tougher to swallow every week dating back to late November. Also, stop defending the end zone interception. Just stop. Yes, AJ Brown was wide open. Unfortunately, in football, open doesn’t mean open forever. Hurts waited a full two seconds before unleashing the football. You can see in the clip below Jaire Alexander catches Hurts’ eyes and goes to fill the void. If Hurts lets it fly right when he sees the opportunity it’s a touchdown. Every NFL quarterback knows you shouldn’t throw back across the middle, and every NFL quarterback knows you absolutely CANNOT be LATE throwing back across the middle. I get it, Brown slipped, but the throw was so late that the best case scenario was Brown breaking up the interception.

The Eagles pass rush generated pressure at times but never with any consistency or potency. To be fair, I agreed with their decision not to pay Haason Reddick, so I can’t be too hard on the Eagles here. However, their solution to the Reddick departure played only 40% of the snaps and Vic Fangio does not seem too pleased with Bryce Huff’s play thus far. Fangio is direct, there’s no doubt. He said if Huff wants to play more he needs to separate himself. Not really want you want to hear in regards to your prized defensive free agent acquisition.

Speaking of defensive free agent acquisitions… Chauncey Gardner-Johnson had some misses, to say the least. I kept thinking to myself, “maybe this is why he was one-and-done in Detroit.” I can only imagine how hard it is to tackle an NFL running back in the open field. On the other hand, you are a safety, it’s kind of your job. So coming out and telling fans that none of us could do it either isn’t a great look. No duh we can’t do it. That’s why we’re watching you miss. Again, it’s only one game, but the return of Sydney Brown in the next month or so may relegate Gardner-Johnson to spot duty.

Avonte Maddox… it’s been a great ride. You were always an overachiever and filled in throughout the secondary nicely. I think the ride is over, though. I would love to see Cooper DeJean in that role this week.

The Eagles won and scored 30+ points, so this is way down on the problem scale, but did we not just trade for a legitmate third receiver? Are we really going to do this again for the 3rd straight season? Can we please get Jahan Dotson the football.

Now for the good stuff…

Saquon Barkley… for one week at least… was everything we hoped and more. The explosiveness through the holes was there and the power was evident down at the goal line. In fact, I’m pretty sure he would have scored on that one big run in the 3rd quarter had he not exploded out of the 2nd level so fast and ran straight into the defensive back. The Eagles haven’t had a downfield passing threat at running back since Brian Westbrook, to see Barkley haul in that touchdown was refreshing. If I may complain here… do the Eagles know screen passes exist? Westbrook and LeSean McCoy made a killing off of them. Barkley is a terror on a screen pass. Get him the ball in space and let him work.

How about that other rookie defensive back? Quinyon Mitchell looked legit Friday night. Though the Green Bay Packers lack that one elite receiver, they have a plethora of speed and talent and Mitchell handled it all incredibly well for any cornerback, let alone a rookie in his first game. Perhaps what I loved most about Mitchell was his bravado. He. Was. Not. Scared. Not at all. I can’t remember the last time the Eagles had a young corner like that. Al Harris? (Lito Sheppard wasn’t that brash.)

The Eagles top two receivers are really, really good. In fact, I would argue they saved the game for the Eagles. Late in that 4th quarter when the Packers were stacking the box and daring the Eagles to throw, it was AJ Brown and DeVonta Smith that delivered and sealed the victory. Smith is an incredible runner with the football given his size and there are few better after the catch than Brown. Brown even prevented an interception deep inside the Eagles own end on another errant Hurts throw. Barkley was the star Friday night but the offense will go where Brown and Smith go. Let’s all just hope Hurts is up to the task of getting them the ball. On time.

*****

Thursday Night Pick; Bills +2.5
I know the Dolphins are probably the right pick but it’s not fun to go against Josh Allen. Allen is 11-2 in his career against Miami (4-2 in Miami). His production against Miami in just 13 games (12 regular season, 1 postseason) is equivalent to an all-pro season for many quarterbacks; 3,715 yards, 36 TD, 9 INT, 658 rush yards, 5 rush TD. Add in the Miami injuries at running back and the Tyreek Hill saga and I’m just going to go with what I know for certain: It’s not easy beating Josh Allen.

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