The offense didn't grade well coming off the Eagles' ugly 23-21 loss to the Vikings on Sunday, as expected - but one person in particular received a failing mark after the latest defeat.
Quarterback
Carson Wentz: 24/35, 311 YDS, 2 TD
Non-garbage time stat line: 19/29, 255 yards, one touchdown. Meh. Protection issues and dropped passes hurt Wentz, as did a game plan that asked too much of the quarterback. He's also holding on to the ball too long and isn't seeing the whole field right now.
Grade: C
Running backs
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Wendell Smallwood: 3 REC, 44 YDS, 1 TD
Tough to grade, seeing as the group recorded 12 carries. Jay Ajayi's fumble at the Vikings' 5-yard line was a backbreaker, though, and while Smallwood had the touchdown, he dropped a third-down pass.
Grade: D
Wide receivers/tight ends
Zach Ertz: 10 REC, 110 YDS, 1 TD
Ertz's non-garbage time line: 6 receptions, 58 yards, no TD. Also meh. Still a better day than Alshon Jeffery, who caught two of eight targets for 39 yards and failed to hang on to a key third-down pass - he got drilled, but the offense had to have it. Shelton Gibson, of all people, provided the Eagles' longest gain of the day with a 48-yard bomb.
Grade: C-
Offensive line
Isaac Seumalo was not the answer to the Eagles' protection issues, to nobody's surprise. Wentz was hit eight times and took three sacks, including Lane Johnson's whiff that led to a 64-yard fumble return for a Vikings' touchdown.
Grade: C-
Defensive line
Brandon Graham: 3 TKL, 2 TFL, 1.0 SK, 2 QH, 1 PD
Graham and Michael Bennett each registered two hits on the quarterback. Fletcher Cox had four! Only one sack between them, but the ball was coming out fast. Vikings backs also averaged a pedestrian 3.2 yards per carry. Strong all-around performance up front.
Grade: A-
Linebackers
Jordan Hicks: 9 TKL, 1 TFL, 2 QH
On 3rd-and-1 with 5:09 remaining, either Hicks or Kamu Grugier-Hill (or both) got swept up in the fake and left the tight end alone for a 17-yard gain to put the Vikings in position for the decisive field goal. Tough situation, but that's when the Eagles needed a play from their linebackers most.
Grade: B-
Defensive backs
Jalen Mills: 4 TKL, 3 PD
Aside from Mills getting beat for a 66-yarder, the secondary wasn't bad. The Vikings used a ton of wide receiver screens, but the Eagles' cornerbacks tackled well - even Ronald Darby.
Grade: B
Special teams
Jake Elliott was perfect on two field goals and an extra point, while Cameron Johnston downed two of four punts inside the opponents' 20 with a 46.8 average, no touchbacks. Punt coverage, on the other hand, was just OK.
Grade: B
Coaching
Eagles' record: 2-3
Doug Pederson could be second-guessed for many things - third-down calls, a baffling replay challenge, going for two when one makes a seven-point game. But the only thing that really needs to be said: Wentz dropped back 42 times compared to 13 designed running plays. The offense disappointed, but it doesn't help when the head coach is stuck on tilt.
Grade: F
