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The Eagles’ run game is already something scary! Just … not in a good way at the moment. Philadelphia ranks tied for 18th in yards per carry (3.9). Will it get significantly better than this? Maybe. Perhaps Cam Jurgens and Drew Kendall get more comfortable in their new roles. Instead of merely banking on that, it could be good for the Eagles to try to pass more often to set up the running game as opposed to the other
way around. What’s your confidence in this running game finding their groove?
Let’s get to the Philadelphia Eagles news and links …
‘Going to be a beautiful thing:’ Saquon Barkley believes running game is close – NBCSP
“It’s not a finished product and we don’t want it to be a finished product in week two, week three,” Barkley said. “You want to continue to go like this (motions upward), just got to buy in, continue to buy in. It’s all relatively new to all of us in the run game. We’re still learning and trying to continue to buy into something new. We’re going out there and we’re seeing some funky looks and weird looks. It’s a sign that the defense (is) still respecting the run game, which has opened up other things, but it’s going to be a beautiful thing when we’re all firing at the same page. You know, and talking to (Jalen) and the guys about it and talking to the o-line, it’s not like a sense of any panic. Everybody wants the big numbers, but I’m in a good spot of knowing that the work that’s being put in and just continue to focus on our process and the results will come. I wish I could tell you that they were going to come in Week One. I wish I could guarantee it’s going to come in Week Three. You just never know, but I know that the results will come and when we get this thing rolling, it’s going to be something scary.”
Eagles mailbag: Riq Woolen is good, offensive scheme issues, and more – PhillyVoice
First, the run game has to work. If the Eagles fail to get that going throughout the season, they’re already dead in the water. Big picture, the Eagles have had their special seasons when the run game is dominant. When it’s not, they’re an easy out in the playoffs. But then also, the run game has to work for the scheme to run the way it’s intended. A huge feature of this scheme is that at the snap, run plays and pass plays look alike. The marriage of the run and pass keeps defenses off balance and guessing, and that’s when the play action game can really start humming. Absent an efficient run game, the scheme is simply not going to operate at a high level. Over the course of the season, the offensive line is going to have to figure it out and gel together, and the only way to do that is to continue to run it. So, spoiler: They’re going to continue to run it, a lot. That said, in the short term, it does make sense to lean on Hurts while he is balling and the run game is struggling. Also, running into brick walls for two or fewer yards on every first down play, and then converting on long third downs is not going to be sustainable. So there’s a balance. They can’t just quit on the run game, but at the same time they can’t let their crappy run game kill their offense. Tough situation.
Eagles-Bears burning questions: What can Zach Ertz offer? Will the run game finally click? – The Athletic
Berman: I expect Barkley to be unaffected by the injury, aside from the cowboy collar and a return to his college stance. Whether that invigorates the rushing attack is a bigger question. The Eagles simply aren’t getting the easy yards. They entered the week 25th in yards before contact and 23rd in rushes for zero or negative yards. That’s not a problem a healthy running back solves; that’s on the offensive line to play better. I’d be confident that if the line can create yards, Barkley can explode for big runs. He doesn’t have space to navigate at this point.
Eagles will reportedly face Case Keenum as the Bears’ starting quarterback – BGN
After a lot uncertainty leading up to the Eagles’ Week 3 Monday Night Football game against the Bears, NFL insider Jay Glazer reported on Sunday that Chicago plans to give third-string QB Case Keenum the start, and Tyson Bagent will serve as the backup. This will be Keenum’s first regular season action since 2023. Caleb Williams was confirmed to have a grade 2 hamstring injury which will sideline him for several weeks, and while Bagent is typically the Bears QB2, he was in the concussion protocol for the majority of the week and unable to prepare much heading into Monday night’s game. Bagent was cleared to play over the weekend, so he’ll at least be available, but putting him in to lead an offense with little to no starting reps, apparently wasn’t the ideal move in Ben Johnson’s mind.
Chicago Bears vs. Philadelphia Eagles Game Picks and Predictions – Windy City Gridiron
Lester: Bears win a close one, 23-21. Chicago gets back to its ground-and-pound identity, and they establish the run, while the quarterbacking, whoever it may be, is under 200 yards but efficient with several schemed-up short completions. The Eagles try to pick on rookie Malik Muhammad, but he rises to the moment with an interception. Tory Taylor has his banana ball floating around, and he keeps Philly’s returners off balance.
Eagles vs. Bears: Predictions, odds, injury updates, and why people are talking about kickoffs again – Inquirer
Once again, the way the Eagles interpret a rule and how they use it to their advantage, is under the microscope. NFL insider Jordan Schultz reported Friday that special teams coordinators were meeting Friday to clarify a rule “that some teams are believed to have misunderstood — or found a loophole in — through the first two weeks of the season.” Did you notice Braden Mann on the field holding for Jake Elliott on kickoffs in Week 2? It was really hot in Nashville, but it wasn’t windy. Special teams coordinator Michael Clay watches every snap of special teams play on Monday mornings. He noticed the Atlanta Falcons using a holder in Week 1 and decided to have the Eagles work on it. Mann angled the ball a certain way, and Elliott liked the way it looked in practice enough to use it in the game. The Eagles allowed 30.8 yards per kick return on five attempts in Week 1 and 25.3 on four returns in Week 2. “I’m sure it’s different for every kicker, but just the way I was able to make the ball move in the air, I liked what I was able to accomplish with that,” Elliott said Friday. Now, apparently, there’s an effort to make sure the 12th player on the field acting as the holder puts the ball on a tee and not the ground. Elliott said he didn’t think adding a tee to the equation would impact Mann’s ability to angle the ball for him to kick.
Young Eagles defender was picked apart. Now, things are different: ‘Ain’t no telling with Vic’ – NJ.com
Andrew Mukuba played through a knee injury, but he claims that it did not affect his performance. “It ain’t no telling with Vic,” Mukuba said about Fangio’s positive review of his Week 2 performance. “So he might be proud, he might be happy, he might be not so happy. So it ain’t no telling with Vic. But I’m always holding the standard high for myself. But it’s always good to hear your DC saying you’re doing what you’re supposed to do. But I got a higher standard for myself, though.” Mukuba finished with six tackles against the Titans, but he could have made more. “With me, I’m always leaning on being hard on myself,” Mukuba said. “I could have done a lot of things better. Vic going to say that, but for me personally, I feel I could have played a better game, to be honest. Not that I played a bad game, but the expectation that I have for myself, I know I could have played better.”
Brian Burns injury: NY Giants’ star suffered season-ending torn ACL, per report – Big Blue View
New York Giants star pass rusher Brian Burns suffered a torn right ACL on Sunday against the Tennessee Titans, per a report from Ian Rapoport. The injury didn’t look good in the moment, with Burns holding his knee on the ground in obvious pain and pounding the turf in frustration. Despite that, Giants’ head coach John Harbaugh said after the game that there was “some hope” regarding Burns’ injury. That hope, it appears, was in vain as Burns’ season is over. This is the Giants’ second season-ending knee injury to a star player in as many weeks, with quarterback Jaxson Dart suffering a knee injury against the Los Angeles Rams.
Cowboys lose to Ravens in Brazil thanks to last-second, costly mistake – Blogging The Boys
You have to play through the final whistle. The Dallas Cowboys fought back against the Baltimore Ravens on Sunday in Brazil, and it looked like they earned overtime to try and snatch away a win after being huge underdogs. It was the Ravens who snatched things away, though. The Cowboys got caught not ready for the final 7 seconds of the game and the Ravens proved to be the better team. There really is no other way to say it. The Cowboys are now 1-2 on the season and have to get ready to take on a winless Houston Texans team next week. For now though… everything hurts.
The Cowboys’ baffling special teams decision helped Ravens eke out a miracle win – SB Nation
The Cowboys were driving with a chance to win the game, but their playcalling got conservative inside the red zone to end a nine-play, 60-yard drive with a game-tying field goal. There were seven seconds left on the clock when the Cowboys kicked off to Baltimore, and for some reason Dallas opted for a touchback instead of letting a few seconds run off the clock during the return. That meant the ball was spotted at the Ravens’ 35-yard-line. On the next play, Lamar Jackson found Zay Flowers for a 27-yard pass. It appeared the time ran out, but the officials put one more second on the clock because they said Jackson got off a timeout in time. Loop kicked the game-winning field goal on the next play.
Commanders injury update: Leo Chenal to have season-ending surgery – Hogs Haven
Commanders linebacker Leo Chenal suffered a scary neck injury during Sunday’s win over Seattle that will end his season. He incurred a neck fracture that will be surgically repaired on Monday, according to multiple reports.
Raiders-Saints: 17 things we learned – Silver And Black Pride
Turnover machine: The Raiders forced four turnovers and have nine this season. They have had multiple turnovers in all three games. Nakobe Dean, who has been a great free-agent addition, sealed the game with a forced fumble for the second straight game.
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