The Philadelphia Eagles showed heart, grit, and determination in their 32-27, comeback win over the Washington Redskins on Sunday. The Eagles could have easily used the season opener as a preseason game and allowed their division rivals to steal one on the road.
After making adjustments late in the second quarter and challenging the Redskins secondary, the Birds were able to dominate late and pull away.
With a huge contest against the Falcons fast approaching, here are six takeaways from the Eagles home win over the Redskins.
1. DeSean Jackson is the difference-maker
Jackson loves opening day and Sunday afternoon against his former team, the veteran put the Eagles on his back and put the NFL on alert about Philadelphia’s explosive offense. Sanders scored his 30th, 50+ yard touchdown of his career, torching Josh Norman on a beautiful 51-yard bomb for Carson Wentz. Jackson turned around and did it again, this time, snagging one 53 yards in the second half.
Wentz and Jackson proved that the chemistry is real and defense will have to account over the top, freeing everyone else up to do work.
2. Carson Wentz has arrived
Wentz was on his way to winning the MVP in 2017, before tearing his ACL. Almost two years later, the Eagles star looked like a different signal-caller in the season opener against the Redskins. Wentz was calm under pressure, not forcing any throws or taking unnecessary hits. Carson was comfortable dropping the ball off to a running back when in trouble and the results were outstanding in the second half on Sunday. His second-half touchdown throw to Alshon Jeffery in the third quarter put the NFL world on notice again, as Wentz whipped the ball to the back of the end zone, relying on touch and Jeffery’s awareness because there’s no way he saw him.
Wentz finished 28 of 39 passing for 313 yards and three touchdowns with no interceptions.
3. Cornerbacks still leave much to be desired
Redskins rookie wide receiver Terry McLaurin looked like the second coming of DeSean Jackson on his 69-yard touchdown catch. The Eagles secondary has been maligned over the past year and on Sunday, they didn’t do much to dispel the myth that the back five are the Eagles biggest weakness. Rasul Douglas got the start at the corner with Ronald Darby on the opposite side and Avonte Maddox in the slot. Sidney Jones played the majority of the second half and although they played better as a unit, they’ll have to improve even more.
4. Darren Sproles still offers great value
The demise of veteran running back Darren Sproles was premature. Doug Pederson showed early on that he trust Sproles unconditionally, even at the ripe age of 35. With all the talk surrounding Miles Sanders and Jordan Howard, it was Sproles that Pederson and Duce Staley went to when the Eagles needed a play or some juice to jumpstart the final few drives of the first half. The veteran running back — who contemplated retirement at times this offseason — finished the game with nine carries for 47 yards.
5. Jordan Howard is here to stay
Sanders got the start against the Redskins and he’s the better player, but after a week of Melvin Gordon rumors, Jordan Howard proved that he belongs. Howard adds toughness in the backfield for a team hoping to contend for a Super Bowl. Howard finished the day with six carries for 44 yards and two catches, doing his part to wear the Redskins down late in the ballgame.
Howard and Sanders will likely split touches this season and that’s great news for an Eagles team who needs some semblance of balance during those tough November and December NFC East tilts.
6. Eagles offense is built to win shootouts
We harp on the Eagles slow starts in the first quarter of games, but honestly, if this team performs like they did late in the first half and early third quarter, it won’t matter much. Part of the Eagles early game struggles stem from Doug Pederson subconsciously going through a feeling-out process as a play-caller. What’s important is that Pederson made the necessary adjustments as the game went along, took shots up top to Jackson and settle into an efficient run-pass dynamic. Pederson’s blessed with an offense that can score points on you in spurts thanks to Jackson arriving with and Miles Sanders. Once the team is able to start mixing in Arcega-Whiteside and Goedert, this offense will have weapons on par with Kansas City and New Orleans. Whether it be a slugfest or the “shock and awe”, bombs away treatment we saw on Sunday, Philly looks fully equipped to handle any style of play.
