Final Farewell

Down by three with just under two minutes to play in Nashville, Jalen Hurts was given another opportunity to author a comeback that would bring the Eagles to 2-0.

Hurts did just that, courtesy of a nine-play, 65-yard drive in which he was sharp, accurate and poised. The key play was the 19-yard strike to wide receiver DeVonta Smith on a 3rd-and-6, setting the offense up at the Tennessee Titans 3-yard line with seconds to play.

With exactly 14 seconds remaining, Hurts fielded the snap and launched a pass toward the back pylon, where second-year wide receiver Darius Cooper skied to reel it in, showcasing good body control in tapping both feet in bounds for the go-ahead score. Cooper, by the way, found the end zone for the first time as a professional.

The Eagles held on to win, beating the Tennessee Titans 24-20.

Offensively, quarterback Jalen Hurts completed 26 of 37 pass attempts for 264 yards and two touchdowns, along with two interceptions. Smith led all receivers in this one, bringing in 10 of 13 targets for 110 yards and a touchdown. Fellow wideout Dontayvion Wicks, who accumulated 74 receiving yards, also came up big on Sunday afternoon.

Let’s get to the observations:

* Second-year OL Drew Kendall was expected to start as the Eagles reconfigured their offensive line in the wake of losing LG Landon Dickerson to injured reserve, though his alignment remained unclear going into the game. Hours before kickoff, NFL Network reported Kendall would be inserted at center, his natural position, and not left guard. That role was filled by veteran Cam Jurgens, who moved over from center. The line surrendered a good bit of penetration to the Jeffery Simmons-led defensive front, though. Still, I thought Kendall held up pretty well is his first meaningful NFL start.

* The two interceptions could have proven costly, sure. Otherwise, though, I thought Jalen Hurts was again pretty efficient. The Eagles’ quarterback was money on high-leverage downs, and managed to move the football through the air without having running back Saquon Barkley and tight end Dallas Goedert.

What I came away most impressed with was Hurts’ ability to throw with rhythm and accuracy. He kept the offense on schedule. On his final drive, a 65-yard march giving the Eagles’ the go-ahead touchdown with nine seconds remaining, Hurts was razor-sharp and got a necessary boost from his supporting cast.

* For the second consecutive week, Eagles running backs couldn’t find much running room. The Titans’ defensive line surged, often winning the point of attack and slowing any momentum from the Eagles’ backs. This has become a trend through the first two weeks. In fairness, much of the interior configuration was different this week, which perhaps becomes more synchronized with more time on task. Still, the ground game is a foundational aspect to the Eagles’ offense. For the Sean Mannion offense to take full effect, it must first establish consistency on the ground. Saquon Barkley, who left the game in the first half with an injury but returned, averaged 2.3 yards per carry while Tank Bigsby posted an average of 2.5. Third-year running back Will Shipley led the charge — with a 3.4 yards per carry average.

* The Eagles keeping the Titans in this game can be mostly attributed to their second-half tackling lapses. RB Tony Pollard showcased good downhill power and balance and fought for yardage, while fellow RB Tyjae Spears, on a 3rd-and-22, scooted around the left side, eluding tacklers en route to a 27-yard pickup. WR Elic Ayomanor also produced a 41-yard catch-and-run, hurdling Eagles S Marcus Epps in the process. The heat likely factored prominently into some of the missed tackles, as fatigue can compromise fundamentals, but those are the details you can expect coordinator Vic Fangio to harp on.

* Positive development on a second quarter 3rd-and-8. Hurts dialed up rookie wide receiver Makai Lemon, who snared a contested grab over the middle for a 14-yard pickup. The USC product is still finding his way as he makes up for lost time, but it’s hard to imagine some of these early touches not providing some sort of confidence boost. Conversely, the next time his number was called resulted in a loss of two yards, in a play that was eerily reminiscent of last week. With Lemon, the quality of touches is important, and these swing passes require better execution. I suspect his role as the primary slot receiver will grow as the season progresses.

*How about Darius Cooper? The second-year WR dazzled in training camp, but with only so many targets and snaps to go around, Cooper has embraced his role on special teams, where he’s been a ringer. Cooper has often talked about pouring everything into whatever role the team demands of him, a selfless quality the mirrors the messaging of Nick Sirianni and the culture the Eagles have established. He patiently waited for his number to be called and delivered with a pair of important receptions, none more critical than his game-winning touchdown grab. Cooper is emblematic of the notion that when you work hard and prepare, good things tend to follow.

* Speaking after the trade for WR Dontayvion Wicks, Eagles general manager Howie Roseman noted the trust the Packers’ QBs seemingly had in the receiver in big spots. Hurts, in the first half, looked Wicks’ way on a 3rd-and-12, 3rd-and-4, 4th-and-2, and 3rd-and-12 – all high-leverage first-half conversions. Hurts this summer developed an apparent rapport with Wicks that has carried over into the regular season. The fifth-year pro is known as an “elite separator” with strong hands who will attack the football. Those qualities have led to budding trust between the quarterback and receiver. Through two games, Wicks has been an X-factor in the Eagles’ passing game.

* I noticed Jalyx Hunt revving up with a few first-half pressures, and Nolan Smith Jr. found the sack column, but there were too many times where it felt Titans QB Cam Ward had too much time in the pocket. This will be one of the initial takeaways I’ll be focusing on when I give it a re-watch. The silver lining here is that the return of ace pass-rusher Jonathan Greenard is nearing. His presence will naturally command attention and create opportunities for teammates.

* TE Dallas Goedert shined as a primary pass target in Week 1, accounting for 77 yards and a pair of touchdowns. But the depth behind the 31-year-old has been a major question. How would the Eagles atone for his production, with a pair of blocking-centric reserves, if an injury arises? Well, that scenario came to fruition early in Week 2, when Goedert exited with a knee injury. Veteran TE Johnny Mundt bumped up in the pecking order, while E.J. Jenkins saw an uptick in usage. Mundt totaled eight yards on a pair of receptions, while Jenkins wasn’t targeted. We’ll monitor Goedert’s injury, but regardless, it’s evident the team needs more of an established pass-catcher on standby. Not having a dependable, big-bodied middle of the field target to act as a safety valve left a glaring void once he exited.

* You may have noticed last week that the Eagles fielded a kick return tandem of Bigsby and Shipley. This week, it was Shipley and wide receiver/punt returner Britain Covey. Perhaps it has something to do with the fact that Titans K Joey Slye has knuckleball kicks in his arsenal. Curious to hear the perspective of special teams coordinator Michael Clay this week. Covey, by the way, continues to do a nice job returning punts. Against the Titans, Covey totaled 31 yards on two returns, including a long of 23 yards. He takes a lot of pulverizing hits, sure, but Covey is smart, instinctive — and tough as nails.

— Andrew DiCecco (@AndrewDiCecco) is the Eagles beat reporter for InsideTheBirds.com