It’s do or die time for the Philadelphia Eagles, as they look to gain a semblance of hope against a New York Jets team with an underrated offense and a dominant defense.
Rookie head coach Todd Bowles has done a stellar job with his unit, while Chip Kelly’s preseason champion Eagles have struggled immensely in moving the ball. Prized free-agent acquisition DeMarco Murray is at just 11 rushing yards through two games, and $63 million cornerback Byron Maxwell has been just as bad.
Fortunately for Kelly and the Eagles, the NFC East is seemingly up for grabs, especially given the serious injuries that have hit the Dallas Cowboys. Winning this upcoming matchup with the Jets – a team that has never defeated the Eagles – is crucial for Philly to get its season back on track. It starts with the following five components.
Force Ryan Fitzpatrick Into Committing Several Turnovers
Ryan Fitzpatrick is a journeyman NFL starting quarterback, but he’s been competent enough in his role that every year, there’s a team vying for his services.
He’s quarterbacking a 2-0 Jets team, and he’s establishing single-season bests in both completion percentage (63.8) and QBR (63.91). Fitzpatrick can be prone to turnovers, as he did lead the NFL with 23 interceptions back in 2011. Even this year, he’s thrown an interception in each game, and forcing Fitzpatrick into multiple turnovers will be key for an Eagles defense that is strong in the front seven but weak in the secondary.
Pressure New York’s Interior Offensive Line
Like the Eagles, the Jets lack top-notch linemen at the guard positions. Former Seattle castoff James Carpenter is a stopgap on the left side, while the veteran Willie Colon will line up at right guard.
Defensive coordinator Billy Davis’ 3-4 system funnels through Fletcher Cox, a top talent who frequently requires double teams. Cox will likely line up over the outside shoulder of Carpenter, and left tackle D’Brickashaw Ferguson will need to worry about Brandon Graham on the outside.
Cox will need to win this matchup to give the Eagles a good chance in pressuring Ryan Fitzpatrick. Graham has struggled in a full-time role this year, and nose tackle Bennie Logan will square off against arguably the finest center in the NFL in Nick Mangold.
That further emphasizes the need for Cox to win his one-on-one battle, where he can play a role in both neutralizing running back Chris Ivory and making life uncomfortable for Ryan Fitzpatrick.
Win the Offensive Mismatches
Theoretically, Chip Kelly is an offensive guru whose specialty is maximizing matchups to put his players in ideal scenarios on the field. That means keeping 6’2″, 212-pound receiver Jordan Matthews in the slot, where he can physically overwhelm smaller nickel cornerbacks, as well as finding a way so slower linebackers are forced to cover Darren Sproles on passing plays out of the backfield.
Kelly has gotten Sproles involved early and often this season, although some of that may be the result of Murray’s struggles and the offensive line’s inability to block for him. Sproles has the playmaking ability that makes him still an essential part of this team, even as he’s on the wrong side of 30 years old.
Matthews will be key to winning this contest. All-Pro corner Darrelle Revis will likely match up with Nelson Agholor, Riley Cooper or Josh Huff on the outside (assuming Revis plays, as he’s dealing with a recent groin injury), and it’s safe to say it will take that player out of the game. So Matthews vs. nickel corner Buster Skrine will be a matchup to watch, and the Eagles need Matthews to fare better than he did in Week 2.
Run the Ball Effectively Between the Tackles
Easier said than done, right? Especially considering the Jets have arguably the NFL’s finest three man-front – and that’s without Sheldon Richardson.
Muhammad Wilkerson, Damon Harrison, and rookie Leonard Williams are a wall of tremendous players, and the Eagles’ offensive line has been simply atrocious this season. Against the Cowboys last week, DeMarco Murray was getting hit in the backfield over and over again. As a result, the running game hasn’t just been bad this season; it’s been all-time historically awful.
Chip Kelly is a run-first head coach, and getting the Eagles’ offense back on track will start with the ground-and-pound rushing attack of DeMarco Murray and Ryan Mathews. Murray is plagued by a sore hamstring, an injury he suffered this week, and his status is still unknown. If he doesn’t play, Mathews will need to fill in as the workhorse back for the game; if both play, expect Murray to get the bulk of the rushing attempts.
The Jets’ No. 1 rated scoring defense hasn’t allowed a touchdown on the ground yet this season, although the Jets rate near the middle of the pack in rushing yards allowed. Realistically, the Eagles can’t possibly do any worse than they did last week. Kickstarting the offense with Murray is a good way to get Philadelphia back on track.
Make Some Plays on Special Teams
The 2014 Eagles experienced so much success – especially early in the season – because of their standout special teams units.
Kicker Cody Parkey made the Pro Bowl as a rookie. Donnie Jones has long been one of the game’s top 10 punters. Returner Darren Sproles is dynamic in the open field, and the Eagles scored a multitude of touchdowns on blocked punts.
The ’15 club needs that special teams boost. Parkey’s missed field goal in Week 1 directly cost the Eagles a win. A blocked punt returned against them contributed to last week’s loss. It’s time for Kelly – a coach who has always made the special teams a direct priority – to recapture some of the magic his club had a year ago.
