November 05, 2019 at 03:52AM
PHILADELPHIA — The Eagles built a 19-0 lead and nearly saw it slip away.
Five quick postgame thoughts on their 22-14 victory over the Chicago Bears on Sunday at Lincoln Financial Field:
Settling for three
The Eagles settled for a pair of 28-yard Jake Elliott field goals on their first two drives, and with better decision-making and play-calling on a couple of third-and-goal situations, they might have taken a bigger lead early on.
On the first, Carson Wentz had a lane to scramble and could have reached the end zone, but he planted himself in the pocket and was sacked by Bears tackle Eddie Goldman. On the second, Wentz threw a quick screen pass to Miles Sanders, who was lined up wide to the left. The Bears swarmed him for a 3-yard loss. Against a better team with a better quarterback — that is to say, against just about any NFL quarterback other than Mitchell Trubisky — the Eagles can't afford to squander such opportunities.
Why is Sendejo here?
As the first half neared its end, Trubisky scrambled for a first down and slid to the ground to give himself up, and Eagles safety Andrew Sendejo committed a galactically dumb penalty by spearing him.
Sendejo isn't fast or heady, and his reckless style of play led him to collide with Avonte Maddox last month in Green Bay — a hit that sidelined Maddox until Sunday. Defensive coordinator Jim Schwartz likes edgy, tough players, but Sendejo too often crosses the line separating "edgy" from "careless."
Just drop it
The wide-receiver position is an utter mess for the Eagles at the moment.
Alshon Jeffery has contracted the same case of Dropfluenza that has afflicted Nelson Agholor; Jeffery dropped three passes Sunday, each of which would have likely given the Eagles a first down. DeSean Jackson made a brief appearance in the first quarter, his first action since Week 2 in Atlanta, but soon left with an abdomen injury. Mack Hollins had his fifth straight game without a catch; Wentz didn't target him even once Sunday. J.J. Arcega-Whiteside, a second-round draft pick this year, rarely gets on the field. Sanders might be the team's best wide receiver, and he's not a wide receiver.
Wentz isn't the problem
Wentz was excellent on the Eagles' final possession, completing four third-down passes for first downs to extend the drive and melt the clock.
He still holds the ball too long on a few too many plays, but he completed 67% of his passes and threw for 239 yards and a touchdown Sunday, generally taking what an excellent Bears defense gave him.
What it all means
The Eagles are 5-4 entering their week off, ahead of two of the most challenging games left on their schedule: home games against the Patriots and Seahawks. Their schedule lightens up considerably after that. Split those two games, and they can still get themselves into the playoffs.
GALLERY: Eagles beat Bears 22-14
Bears Eagles FootballLos Angeles Angels' Mike Trout watches during the first half of an NFL football game between the Philadelphia Eagles and the Chicago Bears, Sunday, Nov. 3, 2019, in Philadelphia. (AP Photo/Chris Szagola)PHILADELPHIA — The Eagles built a 19-0 lead and nearly saw it slip away.
Five quick postgame thoughts on their 22-14 victory over the Chicago Bears on Sunday at Lincoln Financial Field:
Settling for three
The Eagles settled for a pair of 28-yard Jake Elliott field goals on their first two drives, and with better decision-making and play-calling on a couple of third-and-goal situations, they might have taken a bigger lead early on.
On the first, Carson Wentz had a lane to scramble and could have reached the end zone, but he planted himself in the pocket and was sacked by Bears tackle Eddie Goldman. On the second, Wentz threw a quick screen pass to Miles Sanders, who was lined up wide to the left. The Bears swarmed him for a 3-yard loss. Against a better team with a better quarterback — that is to say, against just about any NFL quarterback other than Mitchell Trubisky — the Eagles can't afford to squander such opportunities.
Why is Sendejo here?
As the first half neared its end, Trubisky scrambled for a first down and slid to the ground to give himself up, and Eagles safety Andrew Sendejo committed a galactically dumb penalty by spearing him.
Sendejo isn't fast or heady, and his reckless style of play led him to collide with Avonte Maddox last month in Green Bay — a hit that sidelined Maddox until Sunday. Defensive coordinator Jim Schwartz likes edgy, tough players, but Sendejo too often crosses the line separating "edgy" from "careless."
Just drop it
The wide-receiver position is an utter mess for the Eagles at the moment.
Alshon Jeffery has contracted the same case of Dropfluenza that has afflicted Nelson Agholor; Jeffery dropped three passes Sunday, each of which would have likely given the Eagles a first down. DeSean Jackson made a brief appearance in the first quarter, his first action since Week 2 in Atlanta, but soon left with an abdomen injury. Mack Hollins had his fifth straight game without a catch; Wentz didn't target him even once Sunday. J.J. Arcega-Whiteside, a second-round draft pick this year, rarely gets on the field. Sanders might be the team's best wide receiver, and he's not a wide receiver.
Wentz isn't the problem
Wentz was excellent on the Eagles' final possession, completing four third-down passes for first downs to extend the drive and melt the clock.
He still holds the ball too long on a few too many plays, but he completed 67% of his passes and threw for 239 yards and a touchdown Sunday, generally taking what an excellent Bears defense gave him.
What it all means
The Eagles are 5-4 entering their week off, ahead of two of the most challenging games left on their schedule: home games against the Patriots and Seahawks. Their schedule lightens up considerably after that. Split those two games, and they can still get themselves into the playoffs.
GALLERY: Eagles beat Bears 22-14
Bears Eagles FootballLos Angeles Angels' Mike Trout watches during the first half of an NFL football game between the Philadelphia Eagles and the Chicago Bears, Sunday, Nov. 3, 2019, in Philadelphia. (AP Photo/Chris Szagola)
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