1. The defense was awesome
Baltimore scored on its opening two possessions, taking a 9-0 lead and really giving the Eagles some problems with Lamar Jackson’s legs and some grind-it-out yards by running back Derrick Henry. Then it all changed and the Eagles dominated. Baltimore failed to gain a first down on the next three possessions and had just 14 the rest of the way until very late in the game. The Eagles won up front – Jordan Davis and Jalen Carter (he was awesome) and Nolan Smith on the edge – did a fantastic job keeping Jackson in front of them and holding Henry in check. Josh Sweat pressured off the edge. Moro Ojomo won inside. The linebackers filled. The coverage was excellent. Baltimore finished with 372 total net yards and the No. 1 offense in the NFL scored 19 points – the final score coming with three seconds remaining.
“This is a good defense. We hold our heads high. I think we earned the right to have some confidence, going into any game,” Baun said after the game. “There was no adjustments made. It was just locking onto our keys, scrambling quarterback, locking onto our guys and staying in our coverage.”
2. A turning point? How about this one
After a fourth offensive possession that did very little, Braden Mann had a perfect punt downed by Sydney Brown at the 1-yard line and then the Eagles’ defense stepped up with a three-and-out series. The Eagles had some momentum. They trailed 9-0 at the time, but they took possession at the Baltimore 49-yard line in the second quarter with something to feel good about, and then quarterback Jalen Hurts went to work. After starting the game 1-of-5 passing, and with the offense failing to convert on its first three third downs in the first quarter, Hurts completed 8 of 9 passes for 86 yards and a touchdown pass to tight end Dallas Goedert and a 1-yard touchdown run by Hurts and the Eagles held a 14-9 lead. On those two drives, Hurts also ran 3 times for 18 yards.
“I just ran down the field. I think there’s a lot more credit to Braden (Mann), put in a great spot, great roll. All I did was have to go down it on the one,” Sydney Brown said. And what that does, it just puts them in a difficult position. And when you’re playing backed up offense, it’s hard to really get something going because of the risk of safety. So, whenever we can get them down there, and it’s been a goal since the start of year and it was the first one of the year, so just try to keep on going. All credit to Braden though.”
3. Offense grinded it out
The chants from the thousands of Eagles fans in attendance of “MVP, MVP, MVP,” started after Barkley broke off a 25-yard touchdown run midway through the fourth quarter to cap that 7-play, 71-yard drive. Baltimore came into the game ranked No. 2 in run defense and understandably so: Baltimore is tough, physical, and very good. The yards didn’t come easily. But the Eagles stuck with it and kept running the football and finally Barkley broke one for a score. He finished with 23 carries, 107 yards, and the clinching touchdown.