Eagles - Cardinals: Good And Lucky Enough

Takeaways from a sloppy win that my laundry somehow gutted out. Perfection isn't always perfect...

> Just because QB Jalen Hurts is very effective in power sneaks does not mean I really want to see him do it a half dozen times a game. It's a long season. This team doesn't win without QB1. Find other things to do there please.

> Up-tempo offense always look really good or really terrible. 

> Eagle Fan made this a home game. They do that a lot.

> DE Josh Sweat didn't get a sack today and is very hit or miss, but his raw wheels were shown on a 5 yard loss on a reverse. 

> Winning a road game against a talented and desperate opponent when you have multiple offensive linemen go down is impressive. More helpful: the linemen came back and played in the game.

> Best play of the day from Hurts: a 3rd and 13 backbreaker  to WR Devonta Smith. Off side, cross field, against pressure, 23 yards and fantastic. The QB didn't have his best day today and lucked out from a near-pick, but he flashes routinely.

> PR Brandon Covey looked more like an NFL player today. Maybe the game's starting to slow down for him.

> The Eagles are the best team in the NFC, playing a major market team with a marquee QB... and we got the D team (Chris Myers! Robert Smith!) as the announcing team. Honestly, Chris Myers could make you nap through any game ever, and Smith's commentary is as nondescript as his name.

This, after two days of Yankee announcers talking about the Yankees during the first Phillies playoff series in 11 years. If you've ever wondered why Philly Fan hates the national media, you haven't been paying attention.

> I don't really understand Arizona. Talent is good, speed is off the charts, and the results and fan base aren't there. They lost a home game they really needed to have against a team that gave them a B- effort, with their franchise QB sliding too early and their front office being unable to find a kicker to make a very manageable field goal. Maybe they'll be fine once WR DeAndre Hopkins is back, but this seems like a place where the coach loses a job soon.

> Better work from P Aaryn Siposs this week, but failing to stop a fake punt is not great.

> How I'd attack the Eagles defense: tempo, running, quick throws. The dirty little secret of the Eagle defense is that they aren't as good against the run as the numbers look.

> The biggest hole in Hurts' game? Deflected balls at the line of scrimmage. Several per game. Not sure how to scheme away from that.

> Did not love the Eagles' offensive play-calling this week. Too many vertical screens, not enough running until late, poor blitz coverage in obvious situations for a blitz, and didn't get the ball to WR AJ Brown enough. Hopefully all fixable.

> For the defense, 17 points on the road is more than good enough, but the tackling and third down performance wasn't up to snuff. I'm never a fan of DE Hassan Reddick dropping into coverage. 

> Meanwhile in other games, Dallas won again with QB Cooper Rush and the Giants won in London against the Packers, so suddenly the NFC East is the best division in football. Yeah, I know, just what everyone was predicting.