It was a sloppy, sloppy game, but the Eagles picked up an 18-12 win over the Falcons Thursday night, which is all that matters.
Well … mostly. Several of units graded quite well despite how ugly this game was, particularly on the defensive side of things. There were signs of trouble in a few other areas, however, which if the Eagles don't get rectified soon will come back to haunt them somewhere down the line.
Quarterback
Nick Foles: 19/34, 117 YDS, 1 INT, 50.7 RAT
There is very little Foles did well, other than catch a 15-yard pass. He completed a third-down pass to extend each of the Eagles' two touchdown drives, and … well, that's about it. Foles was incapable of pushing the ball downfield, averaging 3.4 yards per attempt with only one completion of more than 10 yards. And in case you're tempted to argue he "found a way to win," Foles threw for 17 yards on the game-winning drive - not exactly the stuff of legends.
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Grade: C-
Running backs
Jay Ajayi: 15 ATT, 62 YDS, 2 TD
On the winning drive, Darren Sproles caught two passes for 15 yards, Corey Clement rushed twice for 24 yards and Ajayi carried twice for 13 yards with an 11-yard score and a two-point conversion. The backs started slow but combined for 98 yards on the ground for just under 4.0 yards per carry, with Sproles adding 22 yards through the air.
Grade: A-
Wide receivers/tight ends
Nelson Agholor: 10 TAR, 8 REC, 33 YDS
Agholor was everywhere. He had a 16-yard run, and of course the 15-yard completion to Foles. The receiving totals aren't impressive, though the quarterback and play calls weren't giving him a lot to work with. Tough night for the tight ends with six receptions on 13 targets. Zach Ertz dropped back-to-back passes leading to a punt, while Dallas Goedert couldn't get two feet in bounds for a potential touchdown grab and had his hands on a ball that went for an interception. Mike Wallace failed to catch a pass.
Grade: C
Offensive line
The Eagles weren't successful running the ball early, but the O-line increasingly imposed their will until the unit was decimated the Falcons by the end. The offense rushed four times for 45 yards on the game-winning drive, with two of their three longest carries of the night going for 21 and 11 yards. Pass protection was solid throughout, allowing just four hits on the quarterback and two sacks, at least one of which was Foles' own doing. Jason Peters looked solid in his return.
Grade: B+
Defensive line
Fletcher Cox: 2 TKL, 1 TFL, 1.0 SK, 4 QBH
Chris Long: 4 TKL, 1.5 SK, 4 QBH, 1 FF
Set the tone with a goal-line stand on the opening series and controlled the point of the attack thereafter. Cox was a one-man wrecking crew. Long came on in the second half. Cox and Long each had a third-down sack negated by Derek Barnett offsides penalties - both on third down no less - marring an otherwise stout effort. Unit combined for four tackles for loss, 4.0 sacks and 11 quarterback hits.
Grade: A
Linebackers
Jordan Hicks: 7 TKL, 1 TFL, 1.5 SK, 2 QBH, 1 PD
Think Hicks was amped to be back? He was a madman, announcing his presence by punching Falcons running back Devonta Freeman right in the mouth on his way to the quarterback for his first sack. Nathan Gerry made one tackle and nearly came up with an interception in his most extensive playing time to date, reading wide-receiver screen and tipping the pass in the air. Sound showing all around with Nigel Bradham serving a one-game suspension.
Grade: A
Defensive backs
Ronald Darby: 6 TKL, 1 TFL, 3 PD
Julio Jones posted 169 yards through the air, but on 19 targets. The rest of the Falcons' receivers were practically invisible, as Matt Ryan completed just 48.8 percent of his passes for 5.8 yards per attempt. With 24 seconds remaining and five shots from inside the 10-yard line, the Eagles secondary didn't allow a single completion. Darby was stellar, and Rasul Douglas put a stop to another late march with an interception. There were a few plays Jalen Mills and Rodney McLeod would like to have back though.
Grade: A-
Special teams
Cameron Johnston: 6 PUNTS, 52.2 AVG, 1 IN20
Way too many penalties, and two of the most bonehead mistakes you will ever see. Shelton Gibson got a little too cute on one of his two kick returns and wound up getting tackled at his own 10-yard line, and for the punt return team, Tre Sullivan inexplicably tangled with a group of Falcons players surrounding the ball, kicking it and causing an unforced turnover. Johnston was a bright spot, and Sproles looked explosive on three punt returns for 29 yards.
Grade: C-
Coaching
Eagles' record: 1-0
Jim Schwartz owns the Falcons. In three meetings going back to 2017, the Eagles defense has held Atlanta to 15, 10 and now 12 points. Give Doug Pederson credit, too. The offense was out of sync all game, but Pederson made adjustments in the second half, created a spark with Philly Philly, and the team was able to mount a pair of scoring drives. Some will point to the 11 penalties against the Eagles, but they scratched out an important win against a quality team - a conference opponent - without Carson Wentz and Alshon Jeffery.
Grade: B
