The Eagles ran six plays out of the pistol on Sunday – after running just five plays out of that formation all season long beforehand! It was clearly a point of emphasis against the Cowboys.
The play-action pass game was an effective tool for them against Dallas, with completions of 18, 81, 19, 23, 43, and 10 yards, and just a pair of incompletions. The Eagles averaged over 5 yards per carry as well! So the run game was working. The play-action pass game was effective. What happened?!?
Look at the drives.
After scoring on their first two possessions, the Eagles went three-and-out on their final drive of the first quarter. That possession had three runs before the punt.
On the next drive, their first of the second quarter, they moved the ball into enemy territory, even getting as far as the Dallas 35-yard line. They were in striking distance for points. On second-and-9, Hurts threw a pass away while being pressured on a shot play downfield. On third-and-9, a false start penalty backed them up to the Dallas 40. Third-and-14 produced an incompletion and the Eagles punted.
The Eagles extend their lead with a field goal on the next possession, going up 17-13. This would be their last points of the game.
The last drive of the first half was kind of a throwaway in that they tried some gadgets and Hail Mary passes to attack downfield. That resulted in no points.
Coming out of the half, the Eagles went three-and-out. Two runs set up third-and-3. Hurts left the pocket and didn't see Alshon Jeffery over the middle for what would have been a first down (I'll explain why in the next clip). Eagles punt.
Dallas is now up 30-17 with just over eight minutes left in the half. Plenty of time. A first-down sack derails the drive, and the Eagles punt shortly afterward.
Same score on the next possession, and on this one they cross midfield again! A run sets up third-and-5. Hurts rolls left, doesn't like what he sees, and takes off for a couple of yards. The Eagles chose to take a delay of game penalty and punted away on fourth-and-8.
The next one is a killer. Darius Slay picks off Andy Dalton, and the Eagles get the ball down 13 at the Cowboys' 28-yard line with under a minute left in the third quarter. A score here makes it a one-touchdown game. On second-and-10, Sanders juts up the middle for 18 yards, but a holding penalty brings it back. The Eagles instead face second-and-13, which turns into second-and-18 after a false start penalty. Hurts' next pass is batted down at the line of scrimmage, which preceded another false start. That brings up third-and-23. Two passes underneath to Ertz result in a turnover on downs. Cowboys ball. Drive completely stalled because of penalties.
The Eagles moved the ball well on their next three drives, getting the ball into the red zone, but all three ended in turnovers, with a pair of picks and a fumble by Hurts running the ball. Game over.
What was the point of this? The Eagles didn't abandon the run. Watching the film, I actually thought they stuck with it until they had no choice. Penalties did them in, getting them behind the chains too often, and when you pair that with Hurts just not playing well, it was tough to move the ball offensively.
"here" - Google News
December 29, 2020 at 11:11AM
https://ift.tt/34O2Pwk
Duffy: Here's what I learned from the All-22 | Cowboys edition - PhiladelphiaEagles.com
"here" - Google News
https://ift.tt/2z7PfXP
https://ift.tt/2Yv8ZPx
No comments:
Post a Comment