The playoff hopes are alive, but the way this team is playing, it feels like just a matter of time until those hopes are gone.
The Eagles are now 5-6 following their 17-9 loss to the Seattle Seahawks, a loss that falls squarely on the shoulder of one player — quarterback Carson Wentz.
Here are some takeaways from the game:
Carson Wentz: Wentz has had a disappointing season so far, but Sunday was without question rock bottom.
Wentz was bad from the start, and didn't get much better, as he turned the ball over four times (two interceptions, two fumbles) and had issues completing even the easiest of passes.
A good example of the ball placement issues Wentz has had this season showed up on the first drive of the game. On 3rd-and-7, Wentz had tight end Zach Ertz open over the middle of the field, but threw the ball high and behind him, causing it to nearly be intercepted. On the next drive, Wentz had another easy completion on 3rd down, but sailed the ball about five yards over the head of a wide-open Miles Sanders in the flat.
At the end of the first half, with the Eagles behind just 10-3, Wentz had a wide-open Greg Ward on third-and-five. Wentz had a clean pocket, but threw the ball low and to the side of Ward, and the Eagles had to punt.
Ball security continued to be an issue for Wentz, and on the third drive of the game, he put the ball on the ground for the second week in a row. The ball came out after knocking against the helmet of a Seahawks' player, but it was a terrible play by Wentz, was holding the ball with one hand despite the pocket collapsing. Wentz has now fumbled 38 times in 51 career games.
Wentz's struggles continued in the first half when with just under 14 minutes to play he threw the ball right into the arms of Bradley McDougald. Wentz was pressured on the play, but he appears to stare down tight end Zach Ertz the entire time, making the interception an easy one. his second interception, with just over four minutes to play in the game, was just as ugly.
This team has issues, no question. The receivers on Sunday were not great and the offensive line had their issues. The team lost on Sunday, however, because of Wentz — and he absolutely has to start playing better if this team wants to keep their slim playoff hopes alive.
Defense: The Eagles' defense has now played four games in a row at a very high level, and if you are looking for reasons to be optimistic about this team going forward, it starts with Jim Schwartz's unit. The defense certainly benefited from a few miscues from the Seahawks, but overall, the defensive line dominated and the secondary made a few really nice plays. Their only really bad play of the game, however, came at a really bad time — a 58-yard touchdown run by Rashaad Penny with just over 12 minutes to play that turned a 10-3 game into a 17-3 deficit.
Greg Ward: In the first half, receiver Greg Ward had five targets. He caught all of them for 31 yards. The issue is not Ward's play — the issue is what Ward represented. First, signed from the practice squad on Saturday, it is a bit concerning that he was such a big part of the offense right away. If the coaching staff had so much confidence, why hasn't he been on the roster sooner? Second, if J.J. Arcgea-Whiteside can't run the same routes Greg Ward was, and get involved the way Ward did, the Eagles have a serious issue on their hands.
Andre Dillard: Dillard's first start at right tackle did not go well, to say the least. Dillard struggled mightily throughout the first half, and was responsible for a sack at the end of the first half that killed an Eagles' drive. Dillard was so bad that the coaches pulled him at the start of the second half, moving Halapoulivaati Vaitai to right tackle and putting Matt Pryor in at right guard. Dillard's long-term future is at left tackle, and this week he talked about how hard going to the right side would be. He wasn't wrong, and the team ending Sunday with their first-round pick benched is certainly not ideal.
Injuries: The Eagles lost starting right guard Brandon Brooks on the third drive of the game Sunday due to an illness. In his place, the team moved Vaitai to right guard.
You can follow Eliot Shorr-Parks on Twitter at @EliotShorrParks or email him at esp@94wip.com!
