Bench Buries Big Blue

PHILADELPHIA – A Kelee Ringo pass breakup on the opening series Sunday between the Eagles and visiting New York Giants resulted in a turnover on downs.

The Eagles’ offense, piloted by backup quarterback Tanner McKee, took over at their own 49. McKee, fresh off an NFL debut in which he tossed a pair of touchdowns on just four pass attempts, went 3-for-3 on the opening drive.

His final pass was a 15-yard scoring strike to rookie wide receiver Ainias Smith to give the Eagles the early lead.

There was no looking back, as the Eagles’ reserves bested the Giants, 20-13, at the Linc in the season finale. The Eagles finished 14-3, tying the franchise record for wins in a season.

The Eagles earned the second seed in the NFC playoffs and will play the Packers (11-6) at the Linc in the wild-card round.

The Giants, who committed two penalties on the Eagles’ final possession, cost themselves an opportunity to have more time for a comeback and watched the game on Drew Lock’s intercepted heave by Sydney Brown. They fell to 3-14.

While the Giants failed to generate much in the way of offense, Lock managed to cut into the Eagles’ lead in the fourth, connecting with wide receiver Malik Nabers for a 45-yard touchdown.

The rookie wideout jetted past cornerback Eli Ricks to separate and eluded a tackle from safety Tristin McCollum to complete the sequence.

McKee had led another scoring drive in the second half, a seven-play, 61-yard march that resulted in a 7-yard touchdown connection to tight end E.J. Jenkins to extend the lead to 17-10.

McKee completed 27-of-41 pass attempts for 269 yards and two touchdowns. Rookie running back Will Shipley led the backfield with 10 carries, producing 32 yards. He also added 35 yards on four receptions. Wide receiver Jahan Dotson led all players in this game in receiving, reeling in seven catches for 94 yards on 11 targets.

Smith and Jenkins hauled in their first NFL touchdowns.

Defensively, linebackers Oren Burks (15) and rookie Jeremiah Trotter Jr. (11), as well as McCollum (9) led the Eagles in tackles.

GETTY IMAGES: Eagles QB Tanner McKee tossed two TDs in the season finale vs. the Giants, his first NFL start.

Let’s get to the observations.

*Eagles inactives: QB Jalen Hurts, CB Darius Slay, WR DeVonta Smith, WR A.J. Brown, LB Nakobe Dean, RB Saquon Barkley, LB Zack Baun, RT Lane Johnson, LT Jordan Mailata, G Landon Dickerson, DT Jalen Carter.

* Veteran DB Avonte Maddox – not Sydney Brown – started at safety opposite Tristin McCollum. When the Eagles went to nickel, Maddox kicked inside, and Brown came on at safety.

* The Eagles starting offensive line, from left to right: LT Fred Johnson, LG Tyler Steen, C Nick Gates, RG Jack Driscoll and RT Darian Kinnard. Rookie OL Trevor Keegan didn’t crack the starting lineup but worked into the rotation.

* While this game was meaningless from a seeding perspective, it wasn’t for those who played and worked for an opportunity to showcase their abilities. On the Eagles’ opening defensive series, the cornerback tandem of Isaiah Rodgers and Kelee Ringo delivered inspired plays on consecutive downs.

First, Rodgers lowered his shoulder and delivered a pop to Giants TE Daniel Bellinger, limiting Bellinger to a gain of five. Then, Ringo stepped in front of WR Darius Slayton and nearly came up with an interception. The play forced a turnover on downs.

* TE Dallas Goedert, activated from injured reserve on Saturday, started and made an immediate impact. On the first play from scrimmage, QB Tanner McKee delivered a perfectly placed pass to Goedert for 16 yards and then again, two plays later, down the left side for 17 yards. The four-play, 51-yard scoring drive culminated in a 15-yard scoring strike to rookie WR Ainias Smith, who reeled in the pass at the goal line for his first NFL touchdown.

* Thought QB Tanner McKee was largely in command of the offense, completing passes with touch and accuracy. McKee, on the first play of the second quarter, had one that he laid a bit too far in front of a streaking Kenny Gainwell down the left sideline on a wheel route that McKee would want back but overall turned in an eye-opening performance.

* While his counterpart, Jalen Carter, was a healthy inactive, DT Jordan Davis started. He flashed early, storming into the backfield and showcasing effort in chasing down plays, to reminded those who questioned his conditioning going into the season that he’s not slowing down.

* Eagles WR Jahan Dotson didn’t have the season many envisioned when he came over in a late-summer trade but got into a bit of a rhythm with McKee, snaring five passes for 63 yards (on seven targets) in the first half. Dotson’s involvement was expected and reinforced just how difficult it is to garner targets when taking into account the Eagles’ broad gamut of receiving options.

Also can’t help but wonder whether the Eagles would consider deploying Dotson as punt returner for the postseason to preserve DB Cooper DeJean, who is critical to the defense’s success. While Dotson didn’t have an opportunity to return any punts, he fielded all three fair catches cleanly. He’s also repped at returner during Thursday practices.

* Another game in which Eagles K Jake Elliott left the Delaware Valley feeling a bit queasy after missing a 39-yard second-quarter attempt. Elliott drilled a 24-yarder minutes before the break, but the inconsistency is sure to call into question his ability to come through in high leverage moments in the postseason.

* RB Will Shipley flashed his receiving prowess, hauling in all four targets for 35 yards. His natural pass-catching ability was apparent, and he wasted little time getting upfield in his opportunities. Working behind a backup offensive line, there wasn’t much room to run, but Shipley made his mark as a receiver.

* CB Isaiah Rodgers’ 51-yard kickoff return to open the second half showcased his long speed and explosiveness, perhaps suggesting he should be deep to return, probably alongside Shipley. Both players offer more open-field shiftiness and juice than Gainwell.

* Eagles S Tristin McCollum was in on seemingly every tackle. He finished with nine. His ability to react, process and execute was among my more notable takeaways. Comparatively, Sydney Brown missed a handful of tackles despite finding himself in a position to make the play. It’s the details and consistency that makes the difference when doling out playing time.

* Eagles TE E.J. Jenkins surprisingly yielded only one target – first career catch, first career touchdown – but he also made some plays as a blocker in the running game, which he’s made a point of emphasis.

* Eagles fifth-round pick Trevor Keegan, who’d been inactive for every game this season, saw some second-half snaps at left guard.

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