It isn't a win that fans will feel good about — but it was a much, much needed win.
The Eagles played a terrible game on offense on Sunday, but the combination of big plays on defense and poor play from the Panthers helped them stay in it just long enough to steal a 21-18 win in Carolina.
There is no question this team has a lot to work on. If they have any chance of staying with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers on Thursday they are going to have to be much better on offense.
Sunday, however, might have been a season-saving win as it kept the Eagles from falling into a 1-4 hole that would have been close to impossible to get out of.
Here is a report card for Nick Sirianni and Jalen Hurts, who should thank Jonathan Gannon and the defense for saving them:
Jalen Hurts: For the majority of the day on Sunday it seemed Hurts had taken a big step back — and then, it all changed on one drive.
Hurts made two big plays when he needed to in the fourth quarter, running it in from six-yards out to give the Eagles a 19-18 lead with just over two minutes to play, and then finding DeVonta Smith for the two-point conversion. The pass to Smith was especially impressive, as Hurts had to handle a bad snap, avoid a defender and fired it into the back of the end zone for the completion.
Hurts stepping up and getting the offense into the end zone at the end is a huge moment for his development. He was bad for the majority of the game, but stepped up when it really mattered.
There is no question Hurts will have to be better moving forward. If this season is about his development, however, Sunday ended up being a positive. Moments like Sunday will be huge for him moving forward.
Grade: A-
Nick Sirianni: It would to be very interesting to hear how Sirianni would explain Sunday's game to owner Jeffrey Lurie.
Yes, he got the win, but was no creativity from Sirianni or the Eagles offense on Sunday, as the game plan seemed to be a ton of short passes near the line of scrimmage. Sirianni talked often in training camp about the speed on the offense, but outside of a few deep shots against San Francisco, he hasn't tried to utilize it. Even on 3rd-and-19 the call was a bubble screen to Jalen Reagor, who predictably didn't make anyone miss and the Eagles were forced to punt.
Unless Sirianni is going to tell Lurie that he doesn't trust Hurts to throw the ball, and the organization agrees with him, it is hard to see how the front office or ownership would agree with the game plan. Making it even worse is that Sirianni stuck with it despite it clearly not working.
Penalties were once again, to no surprise, an issue. There was a penalty by both the offense and the defense on their opening drives, and there was another touchdown taken off the board, the fifth of the season. Coaching receiver is supposed to be Sirianni's specialty, but they have been the sloppiest unit on the team, and have had four touchdowns taken off the board this season due to penalties.
Yes, the players deserve some blame for the sloppy play — but on Sunday it felt like the Eagles won despite Sirianni, not because of him.
Grade: F
You can reach Eliot Shorr-Parks on Twitter at @EliotShorrParks or email him at esp@94wip.com!
