Eagles vs. Saints Preview
The Eagles travel down to New Orleans on Sunday afternoon for a pivotal Week Three matchup. For Philadelphia, this game will be a crucial opportunity to silence heavy criticism after Week Two’s brutal loss to the Falcons. The Saints have scored 91 points in the first two games of the season, leading the league by a substantial margin. The most important aspect of this week surrounds wide receiver A.J. Brown’s availability, which is still in question at the time of this publication. There are a handful of factors the Eagles must execute in order to win Sunday.
Fix the Pass Rush
Over the first two games, the defensive line has recorded just three sacks and minimal pressure on the quarterback throughout the game. These numbers must flip in order for the Eagles to have success this season. Defensive end Bryce Huff has been severely criticized for his lack of production thus far, and this game is an opportunity for him to show up. The front seven will have their hands full with Saints star running back Alvin Kamara as well, so it looks to be an extensive afternoon for the defense. Defensive tackles Jordan Davis and Jalen Carter will also be heavily looked upon, as they have started the season relatively slow as well.
Gain Momentum Within the Offense
The Eagles are yet to show the juggernaut this offense was thought to be through the first two outings of the season. They have shown flashes with running back Saquon Barkley having big plays, but there is yet to be a full package shown of the offense. Tight end Dallas Goedert is yet to have much production and wide receiver Jahan Dotson has less than 10 receiving yards so far. Getting these two weapons off to better starts will certainly produce greater numbers. Wide receiver DeVonta Smith will also be heavily relied on if A.J. Brown is sidelined again due to his hamstring.
Better Coaching/Time Management
As previously stressed upon, some of the play calling through Week One and Two were extremely reminiscent of the 2023 season. Non-creative bubble screens and quarterback draws in questionable downs, were seen far too often against Green Bay and Atlanta. In Week Three, it is time to have urgency for faster starts on offense, and opening the playbook more. For quarterback Jalen Hurts to exceed his potential this season, they must put him in the best play sets to succeed. Growing Jalen’s comfortability as a pocket presence rather than scrambling will be monumental in this game. Smarter time management and neglecting chances of leaving points on the board should also be a priority this week, as mishaps on the sideline cost the Eagles a home victory last week.
