The morning after the night before is always a lot sweeter when there’s a win involved. The Eagles sit alone at the top of the NFL with a 6-1 record after forcing their way back into the game and past the Washington Redskins on Monday Night. How did the team perform? Let’s take a closer look at each position.
Quarterback:
This is only the second time in the career of Carson Wentz that he’s thrown 25 times or less and his second 4 touchdown showing in three weeks. Whether it was taking command of the offense pre-snap, somehow escaping scenarios where getting away unscathed seemed impossible, or simply slinging it downfield with confidence, the 17/25 game from Wentz may go down as one of his most memorable this season. He wasn’t perfect, but he was very close.
Grade: A+
Running back:
The Eagles rushing attack looked as if it would be thwarted against the Redskins for the second time this year, but not quite. With the help of Carson Wentz, the backfield rushed for 127 yards, making this their sixth consecutive game of at least 100 rushing yards. LeGarrette Blount had a quiet outing until a late barrel through the trenches, while Wendell Smallwood’s tough style of play may have been what injected life into the offense to begin with. Add in a Corey Clement receiving touchdown and it’s hard to fault this unit as they overcome the fourth ranked run defense in the league.
Grade: B
Offensive line:
Considering that the Eagles lost Jason Peters and forced Halapoulivaati Vaitai into action, the line held up well. Paving the way for the run and more importantly keeping Wentz upright for most of the game, Washington only amassed 6 QB hits on Wentz. There were some lapses along the way, but this offensive front was able to keep a hungry pass rush silent for most of the night.
Grade: B-
Tight end:
Zach Ertz led the team in receiving and added yet another touchdown to his season tally, while Brent Celek’s role seemed to increase as he was used in screen looks on several occasions. I say this every week, but this position may be among the most consistent on the roster and it’s all headlined by one of the best receiving tight ends in the league.
Grade: B+
Wide receiver:
A first touchdown for Mack Hollins was followed by another strong outing from Nelson Agholor. It’s safe to say Alshon Jeffery helped open the field and had it not been for some missed PI calls, he may well have been on his way to a big game himself. However both Jeffery and Torrey Smith were largely kept under wraps, forcing Wentz to direct traffic elsewhere. The Eagles were unable to capitalize on the loss of Josh Norman and one has to wonder when Alshon’s first breakout will be.
Grade: C+
Defensive line:
10 QB hits and 4 sacks. Sounds like a good night right? That’s an understatement. Derek Barnett blistered through the Redskins offensive front en-route to a 2 sack game, while Vinny Curry and Fletcher Cox both contributed plentifully. The Eagles were finally healthy at DT for the first time in a while and it paid dividends. They were constantly finding new ways to pressure Kirk Cousins and the amount of blitzes that forced incompletions were a true testament to how talented this unit is.
Grade: B-
Linebacker:
Jordan Hicks was carted off with an Achilles injury and Mychal Kendricks was scratched prior to the game. For Nigel Bradham to take on that leadership role and ensure guys are lined up was impressive, but to see Najee Goode and Joe Walker make their first real defensive impact was even better. It was turbulent early on, but the linebackers did all they could in wake of losing two starters.
Grade: C+
Secondary:
Malcolm Jenkins led the team in tackles after a captivating performance. Patrick Robinson seemed to struggle at times throughout the night with missed tackles, while both Jalen Mills and Rasul Douglas had their own ups and downs. The Safety position played much stronger with a pick from Corey Graham, a huge play from Jaylen Watkins and consistency from Rodney McLeod, but this is the first time the corners have wobbled in a while.
Grade: B-
Special teams:
Jake Elliott was money once again hitting 2/3 field goals last night. Some big tackles from Kamu Grugier-Hill and an onside kick recovery saw Fipp’s unit really thrive under the Monday Night Lights however. Performance as expected for one of the best units in the league.
Grade: A-
Mandatory Credit: Eric Hartline-USA TODAY Sports
