Let’s get to the Philadelphia Eagles news and links …
Rams’ Jared Verse Speaks Out For Eagles QB Jalen Hurts – SI One person who specifically spoke out in Hurts’ favorite this week is Los Angeles Rams star
linebacker Jared Verse, as shared by Gary Klein of the Los Angeles Times. “I know a lot of people go like ‘Oh he can’t throw. He’s only a runner.’ The (explicit) can throw,” Verse said. “He’s a (explicit) quarterback in the National Football League for a reason. Like I don’t know why people are saying that (explicit).” Hurts, and the passing offense in general, can’t seem to catch a break despite the fact that the Eagles are winning games. Philadelphia isn’t anywhere close to its ceiling yet but it’s 3-0 with wins under its belt against three contenders, including the Rams. It’s the NFL and people need to find things to talk about on a daily basis in between games. It seems like Hurts falls victim to that idea. But, there seems to be high perception for him with his peers, at least.
Eagles Opponent Film Room: Scouting the Tampa Bay Buccaneers’ offense – BGN
The Buccaneers’ run game is a strange mix. On paper, they run at one of the higher rates in the league, but half of their explosive gains come from Mayfield scrambling. He’s already ripped off significant gains on 3rd downs, including a 33-yarder to seal a win. When defenses sell out with upfield rush, he punishes them by escaping. He does not want to check it down, so if no one’s open or the defense sends pressure, he will get out of there quickly. The Eagles’ rush lane integrity MUST be better than it was against Patrick Mahomes in week 2, or Mayfield will punish them.
Eagles locker room notebook: Jalen Hurts. vs the Bowles blitz, Zack Baun’s bucket list, and a Birds-Bucs score prediction – PHLY
“He’s got a lot of tools and a lot of things in his system and what he does that are very challenging,” Hurts said. “That’s what makes them such a great team and a great defense. Knowing all of those things that he has available, you just really want to trust the rules and trust the preparation and everything that you have.” So how have the Eagles fared against the blitz this year? Through three games, Hurts has managed to avoid the types of negative plays that defined a 2023 season of struggles against pressure looks, albeit with a more conservative approach in how to respond to the blitz. According to Pro Football Focus, Hurts is completing 60% of his passes and averaging just 5.2 yards per attempt on his 42 dropbacks against extra rushers. The Eagles’ 34.3% offensive success rate against five or more rushers ranks 30th in the league as well, but the five sacks and lone fumble against those looks help explain why the offense might not feel as doomed against pressure looks as it was two seasons ago when Hurts threw eight interceptions in such scenarios. Especially with the stodgy nature of the Eagles’ run game this season, Hurts is going to need answers. Past iterations of the Eagles offense have notably lacked obvious “hot” outlets for Hurts when facing free rushers, but this year has featured a few successful counters against blitz-heavy defenses like Kansas City under Steve Spagnuolo. Even Rams defensive coordinator Chris Shula sent the blitz on 54.1% of Hurts’ dropbacks, which resulted in three of Hurts’ four sacks.
Which teams have the Eagles dominated — and been dominated by — in recent years? – PhillyVoice
In recent years, the Philadelphia Eagles have played some of their worst games against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, their Week 4 opponent. That got me wondering what other teams own them in recent years, and what teams they have dominated.
NFL Week 4 picks, predictions, schedule, odds, fantasy tips – ESPN
Bold prediction: Philadelphia will record a positive pass rate over expectation (per NFL Next Gen Stats) for the first time this season. Tampa Bay ranks first in EPA allowed per opponent designed run, so the Eagles are going to have to rely on Hurts’ dropbacks, perhaps even more than they did last week. The good news for the Eagles: They can win that way, too.
Exploring Eagles’ internal options after placing Nolan Smith on IR – NBCSP
Jihaad Campbell. The first-round pick from Alabama is off to a really good start as an inside linebacker but has shown an ability to get on the line as an outside linebacker too. So far, that has been within the structure of the defense as an inside ‘backer, but there’s a world where the Eagles might need Campbell to get more snaps as a pure edge rusher. And, keep in mind, Nakobe Dean will be eligible to return from the PUP list as early as Week 5. Here’s how Campbell’s snaps have broken down so far this season, per PFF: Box: 124, D-line: 38, Slot: 13. So it’s not like Campbell has been lined up a ton on the line just yet. And we know he’s far from a finished product as an overhang player. But if the Eagles need him to start getting some snaps there, he should be capable.
Attack of the Knuckleball: How the Eagles intend to field them (and strike back) – The Athletic
“It’s harder than it looks.” That quote could be attributed to six Philadelphia Eagles players who watched or experienced their team’s first brutal barrage of knuckleball kickoffs in Sunday’s comeback win over the Los Angeles Rams. Backup offensive linemen Fred Johnson and Brett Toth were among them. Their lockers bracket the stall belonging to Tank Bigsby, who, along with John Metchie III, was tasked with fielding the complicated kicks. A reporter ambled over and saw Bigsby hadn’t yet arrived. Was Bigsby around to revisit his talk last week about knuckleballs? “Knuckleballs…” Johnson repeated. Toth walked over and expressed how the new kicks were changing the game. “They’re so hard to catch,” Toth said. Indeed. Bigsby and Metchie learned what it’s like to feel less like kick returners and more like Charlie Chaplin chasing a hat. Or, as Eagles kicker Jake Elliott put it, an MLB batter facing knuckleball pitcher Tim Wakefield. Elliott said he’s spoken with Bigsby and Metchie “a lot” to refine their approach since Sunday’s game. Asked how much of a percentage there is of helplessness that they just have to account for, Elliott laughed. “Unless you just get a fortunate hop, it’s probably 100 percent helplessness,” he said.
PFF Bets of the Week: NFL Week 4 – PFF
WR A.J. Brown, Philadelphia Eagles: Over 4.5 receptions (-130 FanDuel). After a quiet opener against the Cowboys, A.J. Brown has bounced back by going over this receiving line in each of the past two games. He also eclipsed it the last time he faced the Buccaneers, posting nine catches on 13 targets in Week 3 of the 2023 season. Jalen Hurts leaned on Brown heavily in the second half of last week’s win over the Rams, targeting him nine times after halftime as the Eagles offense found its rhythm. The line opened at +100 earlier this week, but even at a shorter price, it remains a strong play.
NFL Week 4 picks & predictions: Vikings down Steelers in Dublin; Eagles, Ravens suffer upsets? – NFL.com
Why Tom picked the Eagles: It pained me to do so — typically, I will make as many mental leaps as necessary to pick on the side of Baker Mayfield. There is one gaping chasm I can’t bring myself to try jumping, though: the absence of multiple load-bearing members of his supporting cast. Mayfield’s worked some magic in each of the Bucs’ wins so far, but beating Vic Fangio, Jalen Carter and the rest of the Eagles’ defense without Luke Goedeke, Cody Mauch and Mike Evans would be some real CGI-enhanced Now You See Me-type stuff, even with Tristan Wirfs and Chris Godwin potentially coming back and the Emeka Egbuka connection looking like a sure thing. And don’t forget Philly just pulled off its own Baker-esque comeback to shock the Rams. Ahead of this exact same matchup at this exact point last season, I sensibly picked the Eagles’ more talented roster over the potential for Baker razzle-dazzle — and, of course, the Bucs coasted to an easy win. One key difference: In Week 4 of 2024, the Bucs were the healthier team. I will not make the same mistake (downplaying key injuries) again, even as I, uh, potentially make the same mistake (picking Philly to win in Tampa) again.
Baker Mayfield is taking mental reps this week – PFT
Buccaneers quarterback Baker Mayfield has a biceps injury. Per the letter of the injury report, he’s “limited” in practice. It sounds as if the limits include actually practicing. Via Rick Stroud of the Tampa Bay Times, Mayfield is taking “mental reps” in preparation for Sunday’s showdown with the Eagles.
2025 Game Review – PHI 33, LAR 26 – Iggles Blitz
Kevin Patullo had no answers after the first drive. The offense was dreadful. He did a better job in the second half. Eagles players talked about being more aggressive and not just playing to avoid turnovers. Patullo mixed in some QB runs effectively. He ran the offense through AJ Brown in the second half. Patullo once again had some good plays dialed up in the red zone. The Eagles don’t win if they don’t go 3 for 3 in the red zone. Vic Fangio’s defense was also up and down. They held the Rams to 1 for 4 in the red zone and that was a huge part of the team’s win. The defense struggled against the run, allowing 160 yards. The Eagles struggled to set the edge several times and the Rams took advantage of that. Stafford didn’t have his best game. The Eagles affected him with a mixture of good pressure and coverage.
Cooper DeJean & Reed Blankenship Mic’d Up in CRAZY Comeback Win vs. Rams – PE.com
If you thought Sunday’s come-from-behind win over the Rams couldn’t be more exciting, wait until you see who was Mic’d Up for this epic contest – Cooper DeJean and Reed Blankenship!
Confident Commanders fans expect Bill Croskey-Merritt to lead the rushing attack vs Falcons on Sunday – Hogs Haven
While this week’s 89% figure is down from 98% and 99% on our initial two surveys to open the season, it is a marked jump from last week’s 71% confidence figure following the ugly loss in Green Bay on Thursday Night Football in Week 2. With a 2-1 overall record and a 1-0 division record, the Commanders are off to a solid start on the season — one of 9 NFC teams (and 15 teams in the league) to have a winning record at the moment, and solidly ensconced in second place in the NFC East.
Cowboys analytics roundup: Dallas defense is even worse than imagined – Blogging The Boys
It’s been a long week in Cowboys Nation, and we’re not even a month into the season. The road loss to the previously-winless Bears is going to sting for a while, especially if the Cowboys fall to Micah Parsons and the Packers on Sunday night in prime time. Yet Jerry Jones insists this team is still a playoff team. Is he right? The odds surely don’t look good, but let’s take a look at what the hard data says. We’re still waiting on strength of schedule adjustments for all DVOA-related grades, but three weeks is a decent enough sample size to start drawing a few conclusions, so let’s dive in.
NFL Week 4 picks, predictions: A Giant upset vs. Chargers? – Big Blue View
The Chargers have an outstanding, proven head coach who has been successful at a number of stops and has given the Chargers an identity. The Giants … don’t have those things. They have a quarterback making his first NFL start for an offense that scored fewer than 10 points twice in three games. They have a defense that has underperformed. They have a head coach who has gone from Bono to Bozo and might be running out of time. The Chargers expect to win. The Giants think maybe they can win … if they get better quarterback play … if they convert more often on third down and in the red zone … if they stop having malfunctions in the kicking game … if they play defense the way they were expected to play defense … if they create some takeaways … if they stop hurting themselves with penalties. If, in other words, they stop doing the kinds of things bad teams do and start doing the kinds of things good teams do. I expect the Giants to play with energy and effort on Sunday. I don’t expect the outcome to be anything other than what we have become used to. Pick: Chargers.
NFL Expert Picks for Week 4 of 2025 – SB Nation
Now that was a surprising week to come off. We had the Browns beating the Packers, the Panthers shutting out the Falcons, and Caleb Williams putting it all together for a big win against Dallas. We’ve learned through the first month of the season that preconceived notions are out the window, and separating the good from the bad is still damn-near impossible in the NFL with offenses really struggling to find their footing league-wide.
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