Many expected a shootout on Sunday night when the high-powered Miami Dolphins(5-2), led by former Alabama quarterback Tua Tagovailoa, visited Lincoln Financial Field to face the Philadelphia Eagles(6-1), who are led by former Alabama quarterback Jalen Hurts.
Entering Week 7, the Dolphins led the league in points per game, total offense, passing offense, rushing offense, and red zone offense, while the Eagles’ offense was top-5 in total offense and points per game.
However, what we got was some solid plays from both defenses.
Miami forced two turnovers that led to 10 points, including a pick-six by Jerome Baker that tied things up at 17 in the third quarter. Conversely, Philadelphia limited Miami’s offense to season lows in points scored (17), total yards (244), passing yards (199), rushing yards (45), and time of possession (23:17).
In the end, the Eagles’ offense had the last laugh. After Baker’s pick-six, Eagles quarterback Jalen Hurts led Philadelphia on an eight-play, 75-yard drive that ended with an A.J. Brown 14-yard touchdown reception. Following a Darius Slay interception, Hurts led Philly on a 13-play, 83-yard drive, which included two fourth-down conversions in their own territory, and that drive ended with a three-yard Kenneth Gainwell touchdown as the Eagles, who were dressed in their throwback Kelly Green uniforms, defeated the Dolphins 31-17.
After the win, Eagles head coach Nick Sirianni discussed the play of the defense.
“We have a good defense,” he said. “Great job to the defensive staff first and foremost to put them in positions to make plays, but at the end of the day, it’s about the players making the plays. We made them one-dimensional. I can’t tell you how much respect I have for [Dolphins Head Coach] Mike [McDaniel] and his staff and those players… I never saw anybody as fast as [Dolphins WR] Tyreek Hill in person. I mean, damn, he’s fast as hell, but great job by our DBs.”
Hurts, who completed 23-of-31 attempts for 279 yards, three total touchdowns(one on the ground) but had two turnovers and has 10 total turnovers this season after seven games, bounced back after that pick-six in the fourth.
“I mean, nothing really needs to be said,” Hurts said. “It’s another very unfortunate play, but you know, we’re mentally in the game; it’s just pressing on and continuing to do the things we can control. You know, we did a great job there, great job. It was obviously a big moment in the game, and then [Eagles CB Darius] Slay making the play he made, the defense playing great all night. It was a great team win.”
Hurts did wear a brace on left knee in the second half, but he downplayed the injury after the game. Hopefully, it’s nothing serious.
This was probably the most complete game the Eagles have played this season. The defense stepped up and the offense put up points on the board. In the future, the Eagles must limit the turnovers.
Ultimately, this was a quality win for Philly against a good football team.
Notes:
Hurts is tied with Randall Cunningham (32, 1985-95) for the most rushing TDs by a QB in Eagles history. Overall, it is tied for the 5th-most in franchise history, behind Steve Van Buren (69, 1944-51), Wilbert Montgomery (45, 1977-84), LeSean McCoy (44, 2009-14) and Brian Westbrook (37, 2002-09).
A.J. Brown paced the Eagles with 137 yards and 1 TD on 10 receptions (13.7 avg.).
Brown became the second NFL player since the 1970 merger to record 125+ receiving yards in 5 consecutive games, joining Calvin Johnson in 2012.
Brown also joined Terrell Owens (9/26/04-10/31/04) and Harold Jackson (12/12/71-10/2/72) as the only Eagles to produce 5 straight games with 100+ receiving yards. The last NFL player to register 100+ receiving yards in 5 consecutive contests was Michael Thomas (10/10/19-11/24/19).
Dallas Goedert hauled in 5 passes for 77 yards (15.4 avg.) and 1 TD.
Josh Sweat led the Eagles’ defense with a career-high-tying 2.0 sacks. Overall, it was the fifth 2.0-sack game of Sweat’s career (last: 12/18/22 at Chicago). His multi-sack performance marked the fourth consecutive week in which an Eagles player turned in 2.0+ sacks.
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