Pick Of The Litter

PHILADELPHIA – The 1985 Tears for Fears hit “Everybody Wants to Rule the World” pulsed from a nearby tailgate inside the Lincoln Financial Field parking lots nearly six hours ahead of kickoff between the Eagles and Jaguars, seemingly foreshadowing a not-so-ordinary Sunday in South Philadelphia.

While Sunday’s late afternoon start might not have had the same appeal as the nightcap that was originally planned, stars were out and about Sunday morning in Philadelphia, whether it was three-time Pro Bowl wide receiver DeSean Jackson, who walked past a table at Xfinity Live to franchise great LeSean McCoy being inducted into the Eagles Hall of Fame.

The electric atmosphere was palpable.

The Eagles survived a valiant fight from the Jags before winning 28-23 against a Doug Pederson-led Jacksonville squad that just didn’t have enough firepower offensively to truly threaten the Eagles’ lead.

Eagles linebacker Nakobe Dean reeled in a circus interception in the left corner of the end zone – the first of his career – to end the game.

The Jags had an opportunity in the waning moments of the fourth quarter to bear down and pick up a timely stop, but running back Saquon Barkley closed the game in style, ripping off chunk plays and staying in bounds to drain the clock.

The Eagles got off to a fast start offensively, courtesy of a 20-yard strike from quarterback Jalen Hurts to Barkley, producing the Eagles’ first first-quarter points of the season.

The Jaguars will ill-equipped to counter, as the visitors were blanked until 5:30 remained in the third, when Jags quarterback Trevor Lawrence punched it in from a yard out, followed by a successful two-point attempt from Lawrence to wide receiver Bryan Thomas Jr.

GETTY IMAGES: Eagles LB Nakobe Dean’s first interception sealed a tight 28-23 win over the Jags in Week 9 at the Linc.

Jacksonville regained possession a play later, after referees curiously ruled that Barkley had fumbled away the football.

Edge rusher Travon Walker secured the loose ball, rumbling 35 yards for the touchdown before the Jaguars executed another two-point conversion, with Lawrence connecting with tight end Evan Engram to draw the Jags within six.

The dam eventually broke for the Jags early in the fourth, when Hurts completed a 46-yard deep shot to wide receiver DeVonta Smith, soon followed by an exceptional 25-yard touchdown from Hurts to Smith to extend the Eagles’ lead to 12.

Hurts produced 230 yards through the air to go along with two touchdowns, while adding another 69 yards and a touchdown on the ground. Barkley was again the star, rolling up 125 rushing yards and a touchdown on the ground along with hauling in 3-of-4 pass targets for 40 yards and another touchdown.

Defensively, it was linebacker Zack Baun who led the way, notching 10 tackles and an interception, while defensive end Josh Sweat accumulated two sacks on the afternoon, bringing his season total to five.

In injury news, the Eagles ruled out wide receiver A.J. Brown with a knee injury and linebacker Ben VanSumeren with a concussion. Both will be worth monitoring this week.

Let’s get to the observations.

*Inactive today for the Eagles: QB Tanner McKee (3rd QB), CB Darius Slay, S Tristin McCollum, OL Darian Kinnard, OL Trevor Keegan, and TE Dallas Goedert. Slay (groin) and Goedert (hamstring) were ruled out Friday, but one name of note is McCollum, a key special teams piece. It’s worth mentioning that McCollum had served as the gunner opposite CB Kelee Ringo –  until S Sydney Brown returned from injury. The immediate backups behind starters C.J. Gardner-Johnson and Reed Blankenship were Brown and veteran Avonte Maddox.

* Sunday marked the first time since Dec. 26, 2022, that Eagles CB Isaiah Rodgers started a game. The 26-year-old cornerback viewed the spot start as a job interview, adding that Slay has been instrumental in imparting wisdom this week: “A lot, man,” Rodgers said. “He’s the same as me, like, he doesn’t overdo it. He doesn’t try to tell me, ‘Hey, be on the lookout for this.’ He’s just letting me be me. So, we’re really continuing everything as if it’s normal.” And with Slay sidelined, second-year CB Eli Ricks was active for the third time this season.

* The Jags won the toss and elected to defer, putting the Eagles’ offense on the field first. A 4th-and-1 scrum was ill-fated due to a false start from TE Jack Stoll, but the Eagles received some help from the third phase. Punter Braden Mann launched a 41-yard punt deep into Jags territory, but returner Austin Trammell was blown up for no gain by Sydney Brown, who won his matchup down the left sideline, forcing a timely fumble that CB Kelee Ringo recovered at the Jacksonville 20. Brown has made an impact in kick coverage.

* The second series began with LB Ben VanSumeren aligning at fullback and reeling in his first reception on the ensuing play, albeit for no gain. The following play resulted in a perfectly placed 20-yard strike down the right sideline to RB Saquon Barkley for the Eagles’ first first-quarter points this season. Barkley did a great job tracking the football and looking it in.

* Inspired LB play has been the glue that’s catalyzed the Eagles’ defensive resurgence. Zack Baun, especially early, was all over the field. But where the tandem of Baun and Nakobe Dean impressed most was in coverage. On the Jags’ first play of the game, QB Trevor Lawrence attempted a deep shot to TE Evan Engram, but the pass was broken up by Baun, who shortly before the break had also recorded his first interception of the season off a pass deflection. Later in the opening quarter, it was Dean getting a hand in to deny Engram a short reception over the middle. Credit Baun and Dean for their rapid development, but also give a hat tip to LBs Coach Bobby King, who has been instrumental to their success.

* The special teams revival continued later in the first quarter, with rookie RB Will Shipley slipping past a blocker and launching himself into Trammel, halting the returner for a gain of only six. The Clemson product has taken great pride in owning a role that has been new to him. Shipley leads the unit with five tackles.

* The Jags did an admirable job bottling up Barkley on the ground to start, holding the star running back to 3.8 yards per carry, before the gap widene to 4.7 thanks to a strong close to the half. But credit the Eagles for continuing to lean on the running game, as Barkley carried 13 times in the first half.

* Lawrence and Engram couldn’t establish much of a connection. On a second quarter 4th-and-1 with 7:28 remaining until the break, Lawrence looked Engram’s way, attempted a short pass to the left but had his pass broken up by rookie DB Cooper DeJean for the rookie DB’s second fourth-down stop in as many weeks. DeJean continues to dazzle, showcasing instincts, closing ability and physicality. His ability to read and break on the ball in a flash – in his fourth NFL start, no less – has been remarkable.

* With a chance to go up three scores with 4:55 remaining until the break, the Eagles went for it on 4th-and-3 from the Jags’ 22. But Jalen Hurts lofted a pass slightly off the mark of WR A.J. Brown, who would’ve had a catch if Hurts had led his receiver. Instead, the pass fell incomplete. No issue with Sirianni going for it there.

* Thought it was notable to see Hurts target TE Grant Calcaterra as often as he did, as Calcaterra at one point led the Eagles in targets, with five. It speaks to the growing chemistry and comfort level Hurts has when looking Calcaterra’s way, but also – and more importantly –to Hurts’  growth as a quarterback. Over the years, Hurts has seemingly been hesitant to target players with whom he’s had little experience working. Adding to this, Hurts in the third quarter lofted a deep shot down the left sideline to WR Jahan Dotson, who’d been sparsely utilized through the first seven games. Hurts got some air under the pass and, despite a deflection, Dotson stayed with it to bring in the 36-yard circus catch. Another example of having trust in his surrounding talent not named A.J. Brown, DeVonta Smith or Saquon Barkley.

*Thought Jaguars LT Walker Little, starting in light of trading away starter Cam Robinson, generally held his own. I’ll have to rewatch, because it’s likely Josh Sweat’s sack will be credited to Little, but the Philadelphia edge group was relatively quiet throughout the contest. If the Eagles are active ahead of Tuesday’s trade deadline, they’re obviously be looking to bolster the edges.

* Questionable coaching decision from HC Nick Sirianni with 1:25 remaining in the third quarter, electing to go for it on a 4th-and-1 from the Jacksonville 25 rather than take the field goal and extend the lead to nine. The pass, a short pass to the right, fell incomplete.

– Andrew DiCecco (@AndrewDiCecco) is a Staff Reporter/Content Producer for InsideTheBirds.com.