The Linc -prone team right now”

Let’s get to the Philadelphia Eagles links …

NFL Week 4: Biggest questions, takeaways for every game – ESPN
What should we make of the Eagles heading into their Week 5 bye? They’re an average, mistake-prone team right now. True, they were operating without OT Lane Johnson (concussion), WR A.J. Brown (hamstring) and WR DeVonta Smith (concussion) against Tampa Bay, but that doesn’t excuse them sleepwalking through the first quarter, when they were outgained 186-0. It doesn’t absolve a defense that gave up nearly 30 first downs and well over 400 yards to the Bucs. And it doesn’t wash away the fact that they have lost the turnover battle in every game so far. The coaching has left something to be desired, as the talented roster has struggled to put it all together. It will be a long couple of weeks in Philly before the Eagles host the Browns on Oct. 13.

Roob’s Observations: Eagles embarrass themselves in Tampa vs. Bucs – NBCSP
4. You really want to cut Jalen Hurts some slack being out there without DeVonta Smith, A.J. Brown and Britain Covey, not to mention Lane Johnson. But he just looked out of it for much of this game, and I don’t care who your receivers are, you go out there and run the offense with crispness and clarity and energy. But the Eagles didn’t even record a first down until they trailed 24-0 with 6 ½ minutes left in the second quarter, and I’m not sure Jalen was the worst of the offense’s problems during that stretch when they got outscored 24-0 but if you’re an MVP candidate type of guy, you need to be able to help pull your team out of that kind of morass, but all we saw was balls flying 10 feet over Jahan Dotson’s head or five yards out of bounds. Hurts was 1-for-7 for seven yards on those first three drives. Just looked out of sync, off kilter, whatever you want to call it. He calmed down a bit briefly, threw a touchdown to Parris Campbell and then drove the Eagles inside the Tampa 20. But then another turnover. He fumbled on a strip sack by Lavonte David with the Eagles inside the Bucs’ 20-yard-line. That’s turnover seven this year for Hurts. He finished with just 158 passing yards, took six sacks, and just looked bad. I keep waiting for 2022 Jalen Hurts to show up. He will eventually. Right? Right?

Eagles vs. Buccaneers: The good, the bad, and the ugly – BGN
So far, Vic Fangio has had one good game as the Eagles’ defensive coordinator—one, last week against New Orleans. Last year, under Fangio disciple Sean Desai, the Eagles allowed an average of 321.2 yards a game over the first four games—a 40-yard difference, including allowing just 174 yards of total offense to Mayfield and the Bucs in a Week Three victory in 2023. So far, Sirianni has not any good games in 2024. The Eagles are 2-2, despite Sirianni’s fourth-down blunders last week against New Orleans and fortunate that Green Bay Packers’ coach Matt LaFleur made more mistakes that Sirianni did in the season opener. A month ago, this team was projected to win 12 or more games. Does anyone think that now? Hurts completed 18 of 30 for 158 yards and a touchdown. Mayfield, with seemingly all the time in the world, threw for 347 yards and two touchdowns, completing 30 of 47 passes and was sacked twice, one coming from Old Man River Brandon Graham. This game was over in the first half. With 7:24 left in the second quarter, the Eagles had more turnovers than they had yards, down 24-0, giving up 254 yards of total offense to the Eagles’ 0 yards of offense.

Panic Time? The Eagles’ Embarrassing Loss to the Bucs. – The Ringer
Sheil is joined by Brandon Lee Gowton of Bleeding Green to discuss the Eagles’ brutal loss against the Buccaneers to fall to 2-2 on the season. What were the biggest takeaways from the game (2:39)? How poorly did the offense play without A.J. Brown, DeVonta Smith, and Lane Johnson? Plus, Jalen Hurts has continued to turn the ball over (30:07). Where is everyone’s panic meter currently at (50:08)?

Handing out 10 awards from the Eagles-Buccaneers game – PhillyVoice
5) The ‘Object Permanence’ Award: Jalen Hurts. Remember when edge rushers used to run past Carson Wentz, and it was almost as if Wentz thought that they then ceased to exist, and wouldn’t continue to try to get him? Then they’d knock the ball out of his hands? Well, Hurts has done that in each of the last two games. Last week in New Orleans. And more egregiously in Tampa. At that point in the game the Eagles were down 14 and still had a fighting chance. On the Bucs’ ensuing possession, they kicked a field goal and the Eagles were all but cooked. The Eagles have lost the turnover battle in every game so far this season. They now have a -6 turnover differential. #Math.

Bad Day by the Bay – Iggles Blitz
This was a bad game to have before the bye week. There are a lot of bad vibes around this football team right now. The defense has only played one good game this year. The offense keeps making key mistakes. STs was sloppy today, with one muffed punt and another that came close to being a turnover. Nick Sirianni talks about how he wants a smart, physical, explosive football team. The Eagles aren’t smart, physical or explosive. Sirianni said the coaches would take a look at everything. He said everything is on the table, in terms of changes. The Eagles are 2-2, but the those wins weren’t clean or easy. Sirianni has himself said that winning like that isn’t sustainable. The Eagles must be better. The good news is that they will have an extra week to get healthy. In order for that to matter, Sirianni and the coaches have to figure out how to fix the mistakes this team has made for the first month of the season.

2024 NFL season, Week 4: What We Learned from Sunday’s games – NFL.com
Rough start dooms Eagles. Philadelphia stared at 24-0 deficit midway through the second quarter before even converting a first down in the game. Three consecutive three-and-outs and surrendering scores on four of Tampa Bay’s first five possessions put the Eagles in a peculiar position that wasn’t ideal considering their top two receivers A.J. Brown and DeVonta Smith didn’t suit up. While the Eagles weren’t equipped for a shootout, Saquon Barkley did his best to make it a one-man show, leading the team in scrimmage yards (116 yards; 84 rushing, 32 receiving) and breathing life into a potential comeback to begin the second half with a 59-yard TD gallop. But the Eagles gave up a TD drive on the Bucs’ next possession, and despite the special teams unit scoring a two-pointer off a blocked extra point to make it a 14-point game midway through the third, Jalen Hurts ‘s struggles (18 of 30 for 158 yards; passing TD, rushing TD) persisted in the second half as the Buccaneers pinned their ears back. The Eagles’ passing attack wasn’t at full strength and the defense was quickly spent thanks to the Bucs’ proficient day – not to mention the Florida humidity – but Philadelphia enters a much-needed bye week following a disappointing performance overall.

Spadaro: We have a long, long way to go in the 2024 season – PE.com
As much as the Eagles accomplished an all-phases victory a week earlier in New Orleans, all three phases of the team struggled on Sunday at Raymond James Stadium as Philadelphia lost to the Buccaneers 33-16 to fall to 2-2 for the season. “It wasn’t the best showing for us, but what I do like is we’re going to be healthy coming off this bye. We’re 2-2 and it’s like, ‘What do you do?’ It’s how you respond and as long as we’re not pointing fingers and are trying to get better, by the end of the season, we should be getting stronger,” Brandon Graham said after the game. In very fast order the Eagles were in a hole that got deeper and deeper throughout much of the first half, and when they had a chance to narrow the gap and maybe climb back in things, a key giveaway and the defense’s inability to get off the field stunted the potential comeback.

Notes and stats from the Buccaneers 33-16 win over the Eagles – Bucs Nation
The Eagles recorded zero net yards of offense in the first quarter of the game, marking the lowest offensive output by a Buccaneers opponent in the first quarter of a game since Oct. 27, 2002, against the Carolina Panthers (-10).

Commanders Vs. Cardinals – Studs and Duds – Hogs Haven
I have been a Washington fan since I was six years old. I have been fortunate enough to see some great games during my time as a fan. Yesterday’s performance ranks right up there with some of the best and most complete games I’ve seen Washington play in the last two decades. The Commanders looked rested and ready on a short week playing at Arizona, and despite giving up a touchdown on the first Cardinals’ drive of the game, really owned this one from that point on. The offense looked like it was in mid-season form and Jayden Daniels is playing like a ten-year veteran in Kingsbury’s system. Even the defense stepped up and held the Cardinals to just 14 points and 296 total yards. Washington now sits at 3-1 and is in sole possession of first place in the NFC East! Below are my Studs of the game, followed by some notes.

Cowboys are 1.5-point underdogs to the Steelers in Week 5 – Blogging The Boys
The Cowboys will have to to go on the road to meet the Steelers, who have been riding a hot defense early in the year. They are using Justin Fields over Russel Wilson so far at quarterback, and the offense had its best day against the Colts, but came up short. The Cowboys are likely to be without DeMarcus Lawrence and Micah Parsons when the two teams meet, putting a lot of pressure on the rest of the defense to try an compensate for their absences.

Film breakdown: What happened to the Giants’ rushing attack? – Big Blue View
There were high expectations for the New York Giants’ rushing attack entering Week 4. The Giants hosted a Dallas Cowboys team that allowed the most rushing yards — by far — through the first three weeks of the season. The Baltimore Ravens rushed for 274 yards on Mike Zimmer’s defense in Week 3, and New Orleans rushed for 195 yards. Lamar Jackson’s zone-read and option threat caused problems for Micah Parsons and the Cowboys’ defense. New York attempted to adopt a similar approach with their special flare, but Zimmer and the Cowboys countered with strong side safety rotation toward the running back in shotgun (to add an extra body to the keep side).

Sam Darnold’s evolution into a top QB is fueling the Vikings’ unbeaten start – SB Nation
The most surprising team in football through four weeks of the 2024 NFL season, Monday Night Football aside? That is likely the Minnesota Vikings. With Kirk Cousins moving to the Atlanta Falcons, and first-round selection J.J. McCarthy sidelined for the season with a knee injury, Minnesota turned to Sam Darnold to begin their season. Now, thanks to an imposing defense and Darnold’s play, the Vikings are 4-0. Depending on how the Detroit Lions perform Monday night against another surprising team, the Seattle Seahawks, the Vikings could hold a two-game lead in the NFC North when they travel across the pond to take on the New York Jets next weekend in England.