The Philadelphia Eagles escaped São Paulo with a win over the Green Bay Packers, however it was anything but convincing. Here are 5 winners and 3 losers from the opening week victory.
Eagles winners
Zack Baun
In an offseason dominated by big-name additions, the signing of Zack Baun flew under the radar, but that’s no longer the case after an explosive debut in midnight green. The former Saints linebacker led the team in tackles and registered 2 sacks against the Packers, flying around the field and emerging as one of the most important players on the entire field.
Whether this is a flash in the pan or a sign of hinges to come remains to be seen, but one glance at his limited defensive exposure last year should fill fans with confidence that Howie Roseman has found yet another hidden gem to add to his eclectic record.
Saquon Barkley
I think it’s safe to say that without Saquon Barkley, the Eagles would not have won this game. A hat-trick of touchdowns and 109 rushing yards do not do Barkley’s Philadelphia debut justice. The former Giants running back was simply dominant, bursting through holes and trucking opposing defenders for fun. I can’t remember a time we’ve seen a running back play with such a dazzling mix of finesse and physicality.
We knew that Barkley would be right at home behind such a proficient run-blocking unit, but to fly out of the gates the way he did and turn the tide of battle on numerous occasions is a testament to just how special he really is. The Eagles finally have a running back they can hang their hat on, and he just so happens to be one of the best in all of football.
Quinyon Mitchell
With Isaiah Rodgers Jr. sidelined, rookie CB Quinyon Mitchell was thrown into the deep end and didn’t take long for him to start experimenting with exotic swimming stokes. Mitchell was excellent in coverage, played with a real swagger, and played a vital role in helping the pass-rush create consistent pressure on Jordan Love.
It wasn’t perfect, but as far as cornerback performances go, that was as good as any in the league. Mitchell flaunted all the traits a fan could want to see when looking for a future CB1. The secondary shined bright and Mitchell was nothing short of brilliant given the situation he was thrown into.
DeVonta Smith
A.J Brown might have led the team in receiving yards, but DeVonta Smith might have been the most impactful receiver on the field for the Eagles. He constantly executed when called upon, catching 7 of 8 passes and generating a whopping 51 yards after the catch. Smitty constantly found ways to turn short passes into first downs, with 5 of those catches moving the chains. His ability to make people miss with the ball in his hands was unparalleled and he started to prove why he was worth all of the money he earned this offseason and more.
Mekhi Becton
Embedding a new right guard as well as a new offensive scheme can be difficult, but Mekhi Becton was a monster out there in São Paulo. The guard played a huge role in Saquon Barkley’s sensational day at the office and was manhandling opposing linemen for fun. While there were plenty of miscues throughout the night, Becton was one of the few constants against both the pass and the run. Another low-risk, high-reward signing paying early dividends for Howie Roseman.
Eagles Losers
Jalen Hurts
The franchise QB looked shaky to say the least. He was holding onto the ball for far too long, looked skittish in the pocket, and struggled to spread the ball around in the ways we’ve become used to seeing. Poor decisions resulted in crucial turnovers and the Eagles were often hampered by poor throws, often bailed out by their receivers.
Whether it was a lack of preseason snaps or simply a case of getting used to a new-look o-line and scheme, Hurts did not look like one of the best quarterbacks in the NFL on Friday night, something we all know he has the potential to be.
Bryce Huff
The Eagles paid Bryce Huff a substantial sum of money this past offseason to replace the departing Haason Reddick. There were concerns about whether or not he would be ready for a full-time role given that he made most of his 10-sack paydirt as a rotational rusher, and he was nearly invisible through most of the opening game.
Huff played in 45% of snaps, but you wouldn’t have thought that was the case. The Eagles will need to see more from the highly-touted EDGE rusher against the Falcons.
Jahan Dotson
The Eagles made a surprising move to go out and trade for the services of Washington wideout Jahan Dotson towards the end of the offseason, but just like Huff, he was invisible for a huge chunk of the game despite playing in over 40% of snaps.
Jalen Hurts only found two wideouts during the win over Green Bay, and I don’t know how sustainable that is, no matter how good the duo of Smitty and Brown might be. It might take some time for Dotson to settle in, but it was discouraging to see a lack of attention despite some favorable chances for some big gains, and even a touchdown in week 1.
REUTERS/Carla Carniel
