Eagles vs. Browns Reaction
At this point of the season, it is evident that the Eagles are mirroring what they looked like in the second half of the 2023 season. After a 10-1 start last season, Philadelphia went on a 1-5 skid, and there looks to be many similarities since that portion of last season. There is poor open-field tackling, and just lousy, uncompetitive play calling specifically in the first half of many games. Yesterday, the team practically squeaked by a bottom-three team in the NFL at home, with few positives and many negatives glaring throughout. Cleveland respectfully was a 1-4 team coming into what was expected to be close to a beatdown from the Eagles. In their second home game, after an underwhelming first four games of the season, the skepticism rose after another average performance. Coach Nick Sirianni has faced even further scrutiny after being caught with a hot camera talking back to fans after the game.
After the victory was sealed as quarterback Jalen Hurts took a knee with time expiring, Sirianni seemed to let his emotions get the best of him. Once again, fans watched a disappointing showing against a bottom team in the league. For Sirianni to seemingly be content with this performance at home, especially coming off a bye week, is a concrete example of why this team has dipped below expectations to this point. To be fair, the Eagles narrowly won this game. They gave Cleveland a chance to win through the fourth quarter, with many inside Lincoln Financial Field growing restless. There is minimal discipline and no evidence of preparation during the first half of games. With that being said, there is plenty to dive into after this weak performance against an underwhelming Browns squad.
One of the more promising aspects of yesterday’s outing was Jalen Hurts. Hurts passed for 264 yards and two touchdowns without a turnover. For perspective, this is Jalen’s first game without a turnover in his last nine, dating back to last season. Overall, this was his best game of 2024 thus far. Wide receiver A.J. Brown had an exceptional return, hauling in 116 yards paired with six receptions and a touchdown. He was sorely missed in a beyond-stagnant offense during his absence. The offense managed to score 20 points, but there was once again still no consistent rhythm throughout. Even from a non-biased view, it would boggle anyone’s mind how often quarterback draws are called. The calls rarely produce reasonable yardage, and it is utilized far too often. This matters because of the risk of injury, and the weapons at Hurts’ disposal.
In many NFL debates, more fans than not say A.J. Brown is a top 10 receiver, Saquon Barkley is a top five running back, and DeVonta Smith is amongst the top wide receiver two’s. Smith had a 46-yard touchdown in the second half of the game in a great play design, opening up a huge gain. The ability of Hurts to keep DeVonta heavily involved will determine the success of the offense deeper into the year. We are yet to see a game where all three are collectively productive. On the other side of the ball, the defense had an overall good game. Removing the special teams block Cleveland returned for a touchdown, they essentially gave up 10 points. They limited Cleveland’s attack for the most part, as the pass rush did get to quarterback Deshaun Watson, recording five sacks collectively. The greatest standout has been cornerback Quinyon Mitchell, as he allowed only one catch for 10 yards yesterday. He’s arguably been the best player on the defense through the first five games of the season. His development should excite Eagles fans during an underwhelming season to this point. Next week, the Eagles will head up the turnpike and take on the Giants in a divisional battle. It is difficult to set expectations for a team that has yet to find an identity. In another road game, it will be another test to find out what this Eagles team stands to be.
