Eagles dismantle division heading Titans as Henry falls quiet (MMQB)

PHILADELPHIA. PA - You wanted a quality win over a quality opponent? Well, you got it.

For weeks now, national critics have nitpicked the Eagles for their lack of statement wins against more refined opponents. Well after this week’s 35-10 squabble of the Tennesse Titans, there isn’t much more they can say to discount the Eagles legitimacy.

But of course, they will always find a way…

Sunday’s win gave the Birds a prime opportunity to showcase their offensive flexibility, as Jalen Hurts passed for a season-high 380 yards along with 3 passing TDs. The QB’s two-way prowess has been flagrant for weeks now, as we saw the 2020 2nd rounder rush for 157 yards on 17 carries during last week’s 40-33 SNF win over the Green Bay Packers.

Hurts’ ability to impede a defense on the ground and in the air is unrivaled, possibly aside for the likes of Lamar Jackson. That, paired with the deadly receiver duo of AJ Brown and Devonta Smith, has defenses shaking in their boots as soon as they see the Midnight green on their schedule.

Speaking of Brown, who recently brushed off the question of if this week’s game would mean any more to him, going up against the team that he spent the first three seasons of his career with, stating in a midweek presser “It’s just another game”. However, it was certainly more than “just another game” for Brown who recorded 8 receptions, for 119 yards and, 2 touchdowns. Brown, outwardly, took over the game at points, pulling in two huge receptions for touchdowns in the 2nd and later the 3rd quarter.

Brown has unquestionably been the Eagles most significant offseason addition, giving Jalen Hurts a true, proven WR1 (not discounting Devonta Smith’s rookie year). To this point in the season, Brown leads the team in Touchdowns, Yards, Receptions, and Yards per Reception. If you’re talking offensive player of the year, AJ Brown’s name will certainly garner mentioning.

Aside from the monstrous production of Jalen Hurts, the Eagles defense became one of the headlines following Sunday’s game. Something we may not have expected following the unit’s struggles in weeks past. The Birds defense held a potent Titans offense to only 10 points, just their second lowest mark of the season. Besides holding all-pro Runningback Derrick Henry to just 30 yards on 11 attempts, the Eagles had a grip on QB Ryan Tannehill, sacking the Titans signal-caller 6 times.

A strong defense has been something Eagles fans have coveted for a long time, with consistent struggles in the defensive backfield, paired with a lack of depth up front. The Eagles haven’t had a defense this dominant since 2017-18. The Pro-Bowl corner-duo of Darius Slay, and James Bradberry, paired with the likes of Haason Reddick, Fletcher Cox, Josh Sweat, and others, have made the Eagles a nightmare for opposing offenses all season long.

Sunday’s win will be looked at as one of the Eagles statement wins when all is said and done. The all-around vigor on the offensive and defensive ends of the ball, going up against a division leader such as the Titans, is not an accomplishment to take lightly. However, overconfidence is very much real, and heading into a crucial division tilt with the Giants, the Eagles cannot allow their red-hot play to blind them.