The Eagles enter halftime with a 16-14 lead over the Redskins, but the game has been anything but smooth so far. Here are the things you need to know heading into the second half.
Nelson Agholor’s resurgence:
It didn’t take the USC product long to settle into his new role in the slot. Agholor has 83 receiving yards at halftime along with a touchdown after breaking off for a huge score early in the first quarter. The third-year wideout would later bobble a hugely overthrown pass by Carson Wentz, but then rebounded with some big catches to move the chains.
Kryptonite:
In the absence of Lane Johnson last year, Big V was terrorized by Ryan Kerrigan. Johnson is back in the team now, but that pesky Redskins pass-rusher is again causing problems. A pick six and 0.5 sacks saw Kerrigan wreak havoc yet again in the Eagles backfield. Kerrigan simply seems to be the one formula that the Eagles can’t work out at this stage.
Alshon’s quiet, don’t panic:
Jeffery may only have one reception so far, but it’s not the end of the world. The entire point of his presence is to open up the offense and give Wentz some much needed optionality. The team had no problem moving the chains to begin with, and that’s all due to the threat Jeffery provides.
Darby’s injury:
The Eagles lost a HUGE cog in their Defense during the second quarter, and it has arguably swung the momentum of the game. It was a non-contact injury for Ronald Darby, with the former Buffalo Bill appearing to lose his footing and see his ankle snap away from him when covering a Redskins receiver. The cart came out and the game ended abruptly for one of the team’s most promising players.
The Eagles only kept three cornerbacks active on gameday, meaning that Robinson moved outside to begin with to fill that role. The Secondary struggled to contain Pryor, who seemed to be the only one stopping himself from changing the entire landscape of the game. It will be interesting to see how the Defense bounces back in the second half.
Wentz shines…but dims:
Wentz exploded into the game just as he did in his rookie debut one year ago, but also like that game, he began to struggle. Wentz is still 15/22 for two touchdowns and a pick and his stunning touchdown to Agholor will be remembered for months to come. Some sailed passes continued to haunt the quarterback however, who came away with some lucky escapes too. It’s all part of a learning process…but Wentz looks strong in his first game as a sophomore.
Mandatory Credit: Brad Mills-USA TODAY Sports
