Tennessee

Pressure on Carson Wentz Creating Huge Problems for Eagles' Offense

NASHVILLE, Tenn. - The Eagles have allowed more sacks in their last three games than they allowed in their last nine games last year.

That says it all.

That's 11 in their last nine games last year, including the postseason. And 12 in their last three games this year.

Whether it's Nick Foles or Carson Wentz, the Eagles are just not protecting the quarterback, and it's creating real problems for the offense.

The Titans sacked Wentz four times Sunday in their 26-23 overtime win at Nissan Stadium, but they also recorded 11 hits on Wentz and countless hurries (see Roob's observations).

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With pressure coming both from the defensive line and the blitz, the Eagles were simply over-matched up front, and it cost them.

"You don't want the guy hit," Zach Ertz said. "Our O-line, in my opinion, is the best in the league, best in the league in terms of protection. Our schemes are really good. We've got to find a way to keep him upright."

Wentz threw for 348 yards and a couple touchdowns Sunday, but the pass pressure really kept him from getting comfortable and standing tall in the pocket and kept the Eagles out of a rhythm for much of the game.

And it's not just the sacks. Pressure limited the Eagles to just three plays longer than 17 yards on 55 called pass plays.

Wentz took a beating.

"They just got home a lot," Lane Johnson said. "It starts with all of us. We'll improve. We'll learn a lot from this game. It's a tough pill to swallow. We'll go back to work and get it fixed."

Johnson, who rarely gets beat, allowed a sack that caused a Wentz fumble and led to a Titans field goal in the fourth quarter.

"I gave up some pressure, gave up a sack late," he said. "That's the way it goes. You beat a guy 70 times and all it takes is one to put a nail in the coffin. It was a big play in the game. I wish I could have it back."

But it wasn't just Johnson. It was everybody.

"It's not always on the O-line," Ertz said. "The receivers and tight ends, we've got to do a better job of getting open. Can't face 3rd-and-10-plus situations where he's got to hold onto the ball to let the routes develop down the field. It's multiple players."

The Eagles allowed three sacks in the loss to the Bucs and four in their win over the Colts last week. This is the first time since 2010 they've allowed four sacks in consecutive games.

And it's the first time since 2015 they've allowed 12 sacks in any three-game span.

"It's part of the game," Wentz said. "There's times I hold onto the ball too long. There's miscommunication, some protection we need to get called right. We have to … regroup on that."

The Eagles have a lot of issues right now, but the offense is missing something.

The Eagles are averaging 364 yards per game, which is really good. Only 13 yards per game fewer than last year.

They're averaging 20½ points per game, which is terrible. That's a full 8½ points less than last year.

Protecting Wentz isn't this team's only issue right now, but it might be the biggest.

"It's not just one guy or two guys, it could be the offensive line, it could be the quarterback, it could be the coverage," Doug Pederson said.

"We just have to address it. We pride ourselves on picking up the pressure, picking up the blitz, and we'll get back to that."

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