The Philadelphia Eagles offensive line is flat out dominating. They are working cohesively as a unit and individually consist of some of the best players at their respective positions.
And this is all with three-time Pro Bowl guard Andre Dillard on injured reserve with a pectoral strain.
LT - Jordan Mailata
LG - Landon Dickerson
C - Jason Kelce
RG - Jack Driscoll
RT - Lane Johnson
In Week 11, the Eagles got a big 40-29 win over the Saints—formerly the league's best rushing defense, as pointed out by Nick Sirianni in his postgame speech. Philadelphia rushed for 242 yards and is now 2nd in the NFL averaging 153.4 yards on the ground per game. Jalen Hurts leads all NFL quarterbacks with eight rushing touchdowns in 11 games and as a team the Eagles are tied with the Browns for the most rushing touchdowns with 17.
And that's with their No. 1 running back Miles Sanders missing three games and having yet to find the end zone this season!
Listen to Philadelphia sports talk now on Audacy and shop the latest Eagles team gear
Philadelphia is tied for third in the NFL averaging 5.0 yards per carry and second in the NFL in overall rushing attempts with 338, just two carries behind the Tennessee Titans, who have lost their star RB Derrick Henry for the season. Of those 338 attempts, the Eagles have only lost two fumbles this season.
This week, Audacy NFL Insider Brian Baldinger detailed how dominant the Eagles' o-line has been in his video breakdowns on Twitter.
In one play, he illustrates Mailata manhandling Saints DE Marcus Davenport.
In another video, he displays multiple exhibits of the offensive line having their way against the Saints.
.@Eagles tandem of OT's @jordan_mailata @LaneJohnson65 is the best in the #NFL after 11 weeks. No one else is close. Game Balls for everyone up front #FlyEaglesFly #BaldysBreakdowns pic.twitter.com/p4eiFzyHPp
— Brian Baldinger (@BaldyNFL) November 22, 2021
NFL analyst Dan Orlovsky shows how elite 34-year-old three-time first-team All Pro and four-time Pro Bowl center Jason Kelce just is.
Eagles video analyst Fran Duffy broke things down ever further, once again showing just how excellent Philadelphia's run game was on Sunday.
What makes the #Eagles run game so tough to stop?
— Fran Duffy (@EaglesXOs) November 23, 2021
Like an ogre, there are layers upon layers upon layers.
- Downhill runs
- Perimeter runs
- Option runs
- QB Read runs
All on display in this clip #FlyEaglesFly
Tune into #PHIvsNYG | Nov. 28th at 1:00 PM on FOX pic.twitter.com/HlFO5adJCG
Speaking to the media, head coach Nick Sirianni explains that everything starts with Kelce and Johnson, who previously missed three games dealing with mental health issues.
"When I look at our offensive line it's led by 62 and 65. I know Jason sets the table for everything of what we're going to do, where we're going with the point, everything like that," Sirianni explained. "And it's those two guys who really, really carry us."
Sirianni talked about how the combo of Jalen Hurts and the dominant offensive line gives the Eagles a unique and powerful rushing attack on 94WIP.
"Now, as far as scrambling is concerned from the quarterback position, if you get about three to four a game make sure that they're at the right moments when you're doing it," McNabb said. "But what we're seeing as for the identity of this football team where the running game is included, because of Jalen Hurts. And I think that plays a major part of the success of the running game, is just his ability to pull and get down field. If it's a four or five yard or if it's a 15 to 30 yard game, it's still major because it keeps the chains moving.
"I think now what you're seeing is the ability of what the RPO game has done for the offense. It opens up the wide receiver screen, it opens up the halfback screen, and then you start to utilize your tight ends a little bit. I think the identity of this offense will be more a running game, plus play action."
After winning three of their last four games to improve to 5-6 on the season, Philadelphia finds themselves in the thick of the NFC Playoff race with one of the league's easiest remaining schedules.
The Minnesota Vikings, New Orleans Saints, and San Francisco 49ers all sit at 5-5 tied for 6th in the NFC. The Eagles and Carolina Panthers are both 0.5 game behind them at 5-6. Philadelphia, of course, has the tie breaker over the Saints, Panthers, and 4-6 Falcons, beating all three this season.
With seven wildcard spots and 17 games this season, the Eagles have as good of a shot as any of the aforementioned teams to reach the postseason.
And getting to play the Giants twice, the Jets, and Washington twice in six of their final seven games doesn't hurt their cause.
