The Eagles' Good, Bad & Ugly
PHILADELPHIA (CBS) — There were some things to like, and much to dislike as the Eagles fell for the fifth-straight time, losing 27-26 to the Baltimore Ravens at M&T Bank Stadium on Sunday.
The Good
Defensive end Brandon Graham's first-quarter sack of Joe Flacco gave the Eagles great field position and it helped set up a Caleb Sturgis 45-yard field goal.
Linebacker Nigel Bradham's sack and forced fumble that led to the Eagles taking an 11-10 second-quarter lead.
Defensive tackle Fletcher Cox's fumble recovery at the Baltimore 8-yard line, which led to Ryan Mathews' 4-yard score with 14:38 left in the first half. Cox later had a third-quarter sack that forced the Ravens to punt.
Guard Brandon Brooks' block Ryan Mathews' second-quarter touchdown run. Brooks curled back and took his man out, giving Mathews a running lane.
Special teamer Chris Maragos often gets lost in all of the good work he does on the field. The special teams demon was everywhere again on Sunday.
Running back Ryan Mathews is very maddening. He can be brilliant at times, while at other times, he disappears. In the first half, he showed up. He plays when he wants to play. He picked up a season-high 128 yards on Sunday.
Defensive end Vinny Curry made an appearance making a tackle for a loss in the third quarter.
Tight end Zach Ertz's block on Terrell Suggs to free Bryce Treggs' for a 4-yard run for a first down at the Baltimore 24 late in the third quarter. Then his tip-toe catch at the Baltimore 17—made difficult by Carson Wentz getting more air under the ball than needed.
Linebacker Jordan Hicks' interception with 6:12 to play gave the Eagles a new life, but by then, they were already on life support.
Kick Caleb Sturgis has been one of the few sustaining bright spots this season. His four field goals kept the Eagles in the game.
Rookie Byron Marshall has a decent contribution, gaining 22 yards rushing.
Coach Doug Pederson's gutsy call to attempt the two-point conversion to win in regulation—not the play (see ugly).
The Bad
Receiver Nelson Agholor dropping the little out on a third-and-one in the second quarter and the Eagles were driving.
Center Jason Kelce's holding call with just over 3:00 left in the first half.
Wentz missing Trey Burton with 14:52 left to play at the Baltimore 9. A touchdown there would have given the Eagles a 21-20 lead. Instead, they had to settle for a Caleb Sturgis field goal.
The Ugly
Coach Doug Pederson has a tendency to go away with what works. Why he didn't run Ryan Mathews on the two-point conversion to win the game in regulation is anyone's guess.
Cornerback Jalen Mills getting toasted by veteran Steve Smith with :09 left in the first half on a 34-yard TD pass. Safety Jaylen Watkins shares the blame for not getting over fast enough to help Mills. The Eagles never led again after the Smith TD.
Receiver Nelson Agholor stepping out of bounds on an end-around play on a fourth-and-two at the Baltimore 34 with 7:43
To play. It appeared Agholor had a shot at the first down, but Agholor being, well, Agholor, something confounding was going to happen. He took an outside route, instead of using a Zach Ertz block and take an inside lane, which may have led to a first down.
The Eagles first-quarter offense on the road this year. They went the entire season without a scoring a first-quarter TD on the road, settling for four field goals. They were outscored 65-12 in the first quarter on the road this season.
Quarterback Carson Wentz's choice to throw into a seas of black jerseys on the Eagles' first drive, which resulted in an interception.
Defensive tackle Bennie Logan's personal foul facemask, which cost the Eagles 15 yards with just over 11:00 to play. The penalty gave the Ravens the ball at the Eagles' 16. The following play Kenneth Dixon scored on a 16-yard run where he was barely touched.
