There is no doubt there are going to be weeks this Eagles team gets outplayed. That is the reality of having a roster lead by a rookie head coach and (essentially) a rookie quarterback.
This was not one of those weeks — and still, the Eagles lost.
The 17-11 loss to the San Francisco 49ers could be one that comes back to haunt this team, especially with a trip to Dallas next up on the schedule. It is a loss they have nobody to blame for but themselves. The 49ers didn't out play them. Nobody on the 49ers had a great game. Jalen Hurts didn't turn the ball over. The Eagles even won the most important coaching matchup — Jonathan Gannon vs. Kyle Shanahan.
Yet still, they lost.
How did they blow a golden opportunity to move to 2-0?
Let's count the ways:
Watkins didn't score: There are not many 91-yard completions in NFL history that didn't result in a touchdown. Credit to Watkins for making the play down the sideline, getting open and coming down with the perfect pass from Jalen Hurts. There is no doubt Watkins can fly, but seeing the team's fastest player being caught from behind with nothing but green in front of him was surprising. Before the game the idea of Watkins getting then down from behind if he broke free would have been laughable. Watkins not converting the big catch into a touchdown proved to be a crucial moment in the game.
Reagor's mistake: Holding a 3-0 lead, with all the momentum, the Eagles looked to briefly take a potentially commanding 10-0 lead when Hurts hit Jalen Reagor down the right sideline with just 10 seconds left in the first quarter. The play seemed initially to be an excellent one by Reagor. The replay, however, showed Reagor had made a crucial mistake — he stepped out of bounds not just once, but twice. His feet were barely out, but the call was an easy one for the refs, who took away the touchdown. After the game Nick Sirianni said that it can be a teaching moment for Reagor, who was too far over towards the sideline and should have allowed himself more space to work with. The mistake was a big one, as three plays later a Jake Elliott field goal was blocked, ending the drive with no points.
Blocked field goal: Things started to slip away after the Reagor penalty, and the loss in momentum escalated when kicker Jake Elliott had a 47-yard field goal blocked on the second play of the 2nd quarter. Sirianni said after the game that perhaps the kick being a 47-yard field goal caused Elliott to kick the ball on a line drive instead of lifting it more, but regardless, Elliott drove the ball right into the lower arms of 49ers defenders. The blocked kick cost the Eagles three points, which proved to be big at the end in a close game.
Anthony Harris, Steven Nelson drop interceptions: As good as the Eagles defense has been so far this season, allowing only 23 points through two games, they have yet to force a turnover despite having multiple chances to do so. Both Anthony Harris and Steven Nelson, two veteran additions this offseason, dropped interceptions against the 49ers on Sunday. Neither play was easy, but Harris and Nelson were both once considered among the best in the league at their position. The plan for the Eagles was to have them come to Philadelphia and reestablish themselves after down 2020 seasons. Neither player was terrible against the 49ers, but the dropped interceptions were key moments where the momentum could have swung back in the Eagles' favor.
Key 3rd downs missed on offense: Against the Atlanta Falcons in Week 1 the Eagles were just 2-of-5 on third-and-fourth downs with three-or-fewer yards to go. It was one of the few blemishes from the otherwise dominating win, but now, it is looking like it might be a real issue for this team.
The Eagles missed some key third-downs against the 49ers, and once again went 2-of-5 on third downs with three-or-fewer yards to go. They missed from 3rd-and-3 from the 49ers 26 yard line in the first quarter. They missed from 3rd-and-1 from the 49ers 27 yard line in the second quarter. They had multiple chances to keep drives alive with what should be easy conversions, but couldn't get the job done.
Converting these short-yardage downs shouldn't be an issue with Miles Sanders as their running back, Jalen Hurts as their quarterback and an offensive line that should be one of the best in the league.
Instead, it has been a major problem — and the Eagles now have a loss because of it.
Key 3rd downs allow on defense: As good as the Eagles' defense was, they did come up small on a few key third downs, keeping touchdown drives alive for the 49ers.
At the end of the first half, when the 49ers went on a 12-play, 97-yard touchdown drive, the Eagles allowed a 3rd-and-3 from the 10-yard line at the beginning of the drive. Then, they allowed a 3rd-and-1 from the 45-yard line, keeping the drive alive and ultimately allowing the 49ers to take a 7-3 lead into the half.
It got even worse on what proved to be the fatal fourth-quarter touchdown drive.
Third-downs allowed by the Eagles' defense on that drive:
3rd-and-2 from the 32 yard line
3rd-and-7 from the 41 yard line
3rd-and-1 from the 35 yard line
3rd-and-3 from the 3 yard line (pass interference)
Four chances to get off the field, four times the Eagles defense allowed the drive to stay alive. The touchdown allowed gave the 49ers a 14-3 lead, proving to be enough to secure the win.
Derek Barnett: In a completely not-shocking development, defensive end Derek Barnett was called for a personal foul on Sunday, needless hitting a 49ers player at the end of a play where the ball was fumbled out of bounds. The penalty turned a 3rd-and-15 at the 49ers own 27-yard line into a 1st-and-10 on their 42 yard line. The drive, kept alive by Barnett, ended in a 49ers field goal to give them a 17-3 lead.
Sirianni's play calling: After a 91-yard completion from Hurts to Watkins, the Eagles should have easily taken a 10-0 lead. They had the ball on the 49ers' six-yard line and a fresh set of downs. They had the momentum. They had a chance to start to put the game away.
Instead, Sirianni blew it. .
The Eagles ran seven plays after the 91-yard completion, and after seven plays, they had a total of three yards and zero points. They were even given a fresh set of downs on the one-yard line after a San Francisco penalty in the end zone. Still, they couldn't get it in.
The players deserve part of the blame, but the main reason they didn't capitalize on a chance to take a 10-0 lead was the play calling. Sirianni not only elected not to do the obvious thing — a quarterback sneak — but he had two really bad calls instead.
The first was a roll-out play where Hurts one to his right. The idea of rolling Hurts out is fine, but the had just one option on the play, which was tight end Zach Ertz in the back of the end zone. Credit to the 49ers for covering the play well, but it was a poor design that didn't give Hurts maybe options.
The final play, the "Philly Special", was simply a terrible call. It didn't come close to working and ended with Greg Ward just throwing the ball out the back of the end zone. It was in some ways the perfect ending to a series of plays where Sirianni seemed to be overthinking it instead of just pounding the ball up the middle from a few yards out.
If the Eagles turn that series into a touchdown, they would have had a 10-0 lead. If Reagor's foot avoids the sideline, they have a 17-0 lead.
Instead, they went into the half down 7-3, and they now wake up Monday at 1-1 instead of 2-0 — and they have nobody to blame but themselves.
You can reach Eliot Shorr-Parks on Twitter at @EliotShorrParks or email him at esp@94wip.com!
