The Philadelphia Eagles desperately needed something to go right on Sunday. Instead, they found another way to make a difficult season even more miserable. A quarterback change didn't provide the offensive spark they needed, and another frustrating afternoon at Lincoln Financial Field ended with a 19-11 loss to the New York Giants.
The defeat extended the Eagles' losing streak to seven games. That leaves plenty of questions to answer as the team heads into its bye week.
A few encouraging developments stood out, including a much-needed pass-rush showing and a special-teams highlight that will be remembered for a long time: an 86-yard punt by Braden Mann. Unfortunately, those moments were overshadowed by another defeat and an offense that still
struggles to find answers. Here's the good, bad, and ugly from Philadelphia's latest loss.
The good we saw from the Eagles in Week 9
- Jonathan Greenard finally gets on the board. How about a Jonathan Greenard sighting? That's what Eagles fans have been waiting for. The defensive end recorded his first sack as an Eagle, bringing down J.J. McCarthy to help stall the Giants' opening drive.
- Zack Baun recorded two sacks in this one, one on the opening Giants drive. New York managed field goals on their first two offensive drives, but the early pressure was an encouraging sign. The Eagles recorded six as a team after entering the afternoon with just 10 through their first eight games.
- Saquon Barkley finds the end zone again. A 30-yard defensive pass interference penalty on Giants cornerback Deonte Banks against Darius Cooper gave Philadelphia first-and-goal on its second offensive possession. Barkley took advantage three plays later, punching in a 3-yard touchdown to put the Eagles on the scoreboard. It marked his third consecutive game with a rushing touchdown.
- Joe Milton gives the crowd a little entertainment. The Giants were flagged for too many men on the field on the extra-point attempt following Barkley's TD, allowing Philadelphia to go for two. Milton took matters into his own hands, powering into the end zone on a quarterback sneak to give the Eagles an 8-6 lead. He then celebrated with a backflip. There hasn't been much to celebrate lately in Philadelphia, so at least the quarterback gave the home crowd a moment worth remembering.
- The defense responds after the touchdown. Too often this season, the Eagles have surrendered points immediately after their offense puts something together. It was encouraging to see the defense force a three-and-out following their touchdown drive. That response helped Philadelphia maintain its early advantage and showed some of the complementary football that has been missing.
The bad news we saw in Philadelphia
- A huge special teams opportunity goes to waste. The Giants made a mess of a punt return, allowing Eagles long snapper Rocco Underwood to recover a muffed fair catch at the New York 47-yard line. It was exactly the kind of unexpected break Philadelphia needed. Unfortunately, the offense couldn't take advantage. Arvell Reese came off the edge untouched on third down, sacking Milton, forcing a fumble, and allowing the Giants to recover. A promising field-position advantage disappeared almost immediately.
- Milton's mobility couldn't compensate for his struggles as a passer. Milton led Philadelphia with 64 rushing yards on nine carries, and his athleticism occasionally sparked the offense. The passing numbers, however, were considerably less encouraging. He completed 18 of 34 attempts for 169 yards, lost a fumble, and finished with a 66.9 passer rating. He was also sacked seven times in his first career start.
- The offensive line couldn't keep Reese out of the backfield. He repeatedly found ways to disrupt Philadelphia's passing game, recording three sacks against Milton. The strip-sack was particularly costly, but his continued success against the protection illustrated a problem that has followed the Eagles throughout this losing streak.
- Philadelphia takes another injury hit. Baun and McCarthy both headed to the locker room with trainers after the Eagles linebacker delivered a hard hit on the Giants quarterback. McCarthy eventually returned, but Baun did not re-enter the contest despite returning to the sideline. Losing one of the defense's most important players was another unwelcome development on an afternoon with few breaks.
The downright ugly
The Eagles' third-quarter offense was an embarrassment. Philadelphia opened the second half with three consecutive three-and-outs, producing zero total yards across those possessions. The offense couldn't find a first down, and the defense was eventually left trying to protect a lead with an offense that couldn't stay on the field.
Things got worse when McCarthy briefly exited with a hip injury. His brief absence proved a blessing in disguise as Jameis Winston entered and immediately sparked the Giants' offense, directing a 14-play, 76-yard touchdown drive. He completed six of eight passes for 71 yards on the possession, finding a wide-open Isaiah Likely for a 5-yard score. McCarthy had struggled to move the offense, but Winston's arrival changed the momentum and gave New York a 13-8 lead.
The Giants added two more field goals in the fourth quarter, while the Eagles managed just 99 yards and three first downs in the second half. Even with a chance to make things interesting late, Philadelphia couldn't finish the job. The hometown crowd began filing out with more than six minutes remaining, and the seventh consecutive loss became a reality.
What's next for Philadelphia?
The Eagles finally get a week off, with their bye arriving in Week 10. They'll return to Lincoln Financial Field in Week 11 to host the Pittsburgh Steelers in a 4:25 p.m. ET kickoff. A week away from the field might be exactly what this team needs, but the problems facing Philadelphia won't disappear simply because the schedule offers a break.
This article originally appeared on Eagles Wire: Eagles vs. Giants: Good, bad, and ugly from Philadelphia’s 19-11 loss
