Saints Vs Eagles Recap; Monday Morning Quarterback

SOUTH PHILADELPHIA - After Sunday’s stunning loss to the New Orleans Saints fans have been left to pick up the pieces of what may have been the most surprising and disappointing losses in recent memory. With a chance to clinch the Number one seed in the NFC and an NFC East division title, the Birds would muster just one first down in the first half while backup QB Gardner Minshew struggled to master a scheme that was not built for him.

The Eagles came into the Linc on Sunday morning as heavy favorites, looking to topple over a struggling Saints club that was barely keeping their head above water in the race for the NFC South. After a heart-wrenching 40-34 loss to the Dallas Cowboys the week prior it seemed as though the Birds were poised to trample the Saints.

Sunday’s loss proved to be an uphill battle from the gate as the Saints would slowly but effectively march down the field to score the opening touchdown, all the while burning 9 minutes off the clock. Things didn’t get any better as a woeful Eagles offense went 3 and out consecutively on their first four drives. Though a quick slant to Dallas Goedert would give the Birds their first, first down of the half with only a minute to spare, though Gardner Minshew and Philly offense would neglect to score once in the first half.

The affray continued into the second half as the Birds would muster just one touchdown nearly completely manufactured by AJ Brown. As the All-Pro wideout adjusted for an underthrown ball and proceeded to run 50 yards to the house for the Eagles first and only Touchdown of the game.

It was quite evident that the struggles in the offense ran much deeper than the production of the players on the field or a struggling backup QB. Offensive Coordinator Shane Steichen had a gameplan molded around Jalen Hurts, but after the star quarterback went down, it seemed he made minimal effort to change his scheme for Gardner Minshew a player with a completely different game than the much more mobile Hurts. This resulted in multiple RPOs where the defense was never once fooled by the prospect of Minshew running the Football, instead opting to swarm Miles Sanders or Boston Scott in the backfield.

While it is incredibly easy to point fingers every which way, we do need to begin looking at the bigger picture and asking if the sky is truly falling. Obviously all hope has not yet been lost, the Eagles continue to control their own destiny heading into their week 18 matchup with the New York Giants, a game in which the G-men will be playing for nothing besides their own pride and more likely then notn resting their starters for a majority of the game. Nevertheless I wouldn’t put anything past this team after what we saw this week. Chances of a Philly win will no doubt sky rocket if/when Jalen Hurts is cleared to play, however if the Birds do somehow drop next weeks game down at the Linc there should be little question as to if we should all be pressing our giant red panic buttons.