They scored all 15 points in the 4th quarter to escape New Orleans with the victory.
In a game that could have been defined by missed opportunities and a litany of questionable 4th down decisions by head coach Nick Sirianni, the Eagles eked out a win over a Saints team who had gotten off to as hot a start as any team this season.
The Eagles finished 1-for-3 on fourth down in Sunday’s win, failing to convert at the Saints’ 14-yard line and the Saints’ 34. Both misses came with the Eagles down just three and a more than capable field goal kicker in Jake Elliot who would have likely tied the game. The decision to go for it from the Saints’ 14-yard line with just 15 seconds left was especially questionable and earned him plenty of scrutiny after the game.
“I did what I thought was best for us in that particular case. Hey, it didn’t work,” Sirianni said in response to media questions. “So, like I said, when it doesn’t work, there is nowhere else to look but right here, right on me.”
Eagles fans in attendance and on social media were unhappy with their head coach’s decision-making.
The Eagles’ defense was the real highlight of the game this week. The Saints came into this week three matchup as the #1 scoring offense in the league fresh off a 44-19 drubbing of the Cowboys in Dallas in week 2. The Eagles held the scorching-hot New Orleans offense to just 12 points, which was a huge surprise considering their 27th-ranked defense in opponent scoring through two weeks.
A huge part of that came down to the play of 2nd-year defensive lineman Jalen Carter and 2nd-year safety Reed Blankenship. Jalen Carter was a monster on defense, impacting almost every offensive snap for New Orleans and earning Pro Football Focus’ highest grade for an interior lineman in the entire NFL so far this season. Reed Blankenship also scored high marks for his play in the secondary – including the game-sealing interception – scoring PFF’s highest coverage grade for a safety so far this season.
With star receiver AJ Brown missing his second straight game with a hamstring injury, the offense was in a rut for most of the game. The offense struggled to put points on the board through the first half of the game, and quarterback Jalen Hurts continued to struggle with turnovers as added two more by way of a lost fumble and a backbreaking interception in the red zone.
Things got even thinner for the offense when new top receiver Devonta Smith was forced to leave the game with a concussion in the 4th. While being dragged backward after securing a catch from Hurts, a defenseless Smith took a shot to the head which knocked his helmet off. While lying on the ground Smith was then hit by Saints defender Payton Turner who also appeared to spit on him.
No penalties were called on the play.
Shortly after the hit on Smith, star running back Saquon Barkley took a carry 65 yards to the house. It was the first touchdown of the game – surprising in that it didn’t come until the 4th quarter – and also gave the Eagles their first lead of the contest.
The Eagle’s lead didn’t last for long as the defense gave up their first touchdown of the game when Carr found Chris Olave for a 12-yard touchdown with just more than two minutes left. That gave the Saints a 12-7 lead after they failed to convert the 2-point try.
With things looking dire for the Birds, down by 5 and facing a 3rd and 16 from their side of the field, Goedert set up the final score of the game with a 61-yard reception as Hurts hit him in stride on a crossing route across the middle of the field. Saquon Barkley converted a four-yard touchdown run a few plays later allowing the Eagles to escape from New Orleans with the victory.
The Eagles next travel to Tampa to face Baker Mayfield and the 2-1 Buccaneers at 1:00 PM on Sunday, September 29th.
