This One Hurts

INGLEWOOD, Calif. — Under the bright lights of “Monday Night Football,” it was the Eagles’ defense that dazzled against a banged-up Chargers offense, though it wasn’t enough to uplift a staggering offense and power the Eagles to their ninth win of the season, as they fell in overtime to the Los Angeles Chargers at SoFi Stadium, 22-19.

Knotted at 19 at the end of regulation, the game extended into overtime, presenting the first opportunity the Eagles had playing under the new rules where each team has a chance on offense. The Eagles called heads and won, electing to kick. The Chargers drove 34 yards on six plays, but the offense stalled, resulting in a 54-yard Cameron Dicker kick to move ahead.

The Eagles’ possession began at the 31, but a failed third-and-4 attempt to wide receiver A.J. Brown down the left sideline, set up a fourth-and-4 with 3:23 to play. A neutral zone infraction afforded the Eagles a first down. The Eagles appeared to be driving for the game-winning touchdown, but Jalen Hurts‘ throw to wide receiver Jahan Dotson was deflected by cornerback Cam Hart and picked off by safety Tony Jefferson to seal the game. Hurts tossed a career-high four interceptions in this one and was also responsible for a lost fumble.

While things appeared bleak following Hurts’ fourth quarter interception to Hart, Jake Elliott answered the Chargers’ 31-yard field goal with a connection of his own from 44 yards out to give the Eagles a 19-16 lead. It appeared the battle of attrition up front for the Chargers was enough to stall drives short of the end zone, but Dicker drilled a 46-yard field goal with 12 seconds remaining to draw even at 19.

Hurts completed 21 of 40 pass attempts for 240 yards and four interceptions. Running back Saquon Barkley churned out 122 rushing yards on 20 carries.

Inactive for the Eagles were OLB Josh Uche, QB Sam Howell (3rd QB), CB Mac McWilliams, RB A.J. Dillon, RT Lane Johnson and DT Jalen Carter.

Ahead of Monday’s game, the Eagles activated S Marcus Epps from injured reserve and elevated S Andre’ Sam from the practice squad. Epps takes the roster spot previously occupied by WR Xavier Gipson, who was waived on Sunday. For Sam, Monday’s game marked his second elevation of the season.

Let’s get to the observations.

*The Chargers won the opening toss and elected to defer, bringing the Eagles’ offense up first. The Eagles opened up with an empty backfield with Barkley aligned to the left. The running game stalled at first glance, with Barkley gaining only three yards on two carries. On the nine-yard sack taken by Hurts on a third-and-4, RB Tank Bigsby, who logged a pair of snaps on the opening march, was aligned out wide to the right. There were some positives for the ground game thereafter.

*Epps started the game at safety for the Eagles, as expected. Justin Herbert and the Chargers’ offense made good use of the defensive stop, however, leading a six-play, 80-yard march fueled by a 60-yard catch-and-run down the left sideline from Herbert t0 RB Kimani Vidal. Based off initial watch, Vidal put the Eagles’ second level in flux. Omarion Hampton, the other piece of the 1-2 punch, reeled in a 4-yard touchdown, on a drive that covered 2 minutes, 49 seconds.

*To help offset the absence of DT Jalen Carter, the Eagles used DE Brandon Graham and OLB Jaelan Phillips inside at times. Specifically, Graham aligned inside on the Hampton touchdown and Phillips on the free play that resulted from an offsides penalty called on DT Moro Ojomo, wiping away a Cooper DeJean interception. Rookie DT Ty Robinson worked in as well, but notable to see DC Vic Fangio mixing and matching his interior personnel.

*Tough outing for Hurts, who struggled seeing the field. The reigning Super Bowl MVP frequently appeared flustered and merely didn’t see open receivers. On a third-and-5 from the Eagles’ 15 in the second quarter, it appeared Hurts tossed an interception to Chargers S R.J. Mickens, but it was determined the ball hit the ground, so the Eagles instead for forced to punt. Later in the quarter, on a third-and-2 on the Chargers’ 21, Hurts threw an interception over the middle to DL Da’Shawn Hand on a perfectly executed sim pressure. Eagles RB Will Shipley forced the fumble on the tackle, recovered by Hurts — who then had it jarred loose by DL Jamaree Caldwell. LB Troy Dye recovered for the Chargers. He was officially tagged with two turnovers on the same play. Curious decision to not opt for the “push” play or traditional quarterback sneak with Hurts.

Hurts was again picked off on the ensuing drive by CB Donte’ Jackson when it appeared WR DeVonta Smith fell down (or knocked down), returning possession to the Chargers at the Eagles’ 30. He threw another in the fourth quarter, this time to Hart, firing high over the middle to Brown.

*The Eagles defense delivered an inspired performance, doing the heavy lifting for an offense that again struggled to move the football. For perspective, the Eagles defenders knifed through a porous Chargers’ offensive line, to the tune of seven sacks and an interception. They got to Herbert on several other occasions, but were unable to corral him. Strong showing across the board from a unit that has been swarming and on the attack for most of the season. Second-year OLB Jalyx Hunt may have been the team’s most impressive performer on this night, collecting 2.5 sacks and setting the edge with physicality.

*I liked the play call, design and execution of the Eagles’ fourth quarter touchdown. On a third-and-1 from the Eagles’ 48, the team lined up for their signature push play, only this one had a twist. Instead of Hurts burrowing forward, they pitched it to Barkley, who surged through en route to a 52-yard touchdown down the left sideline. Great blocks on the play from WR Darius Cooper and TE Dallas Goedert.

*Fangio last week acknowledged he should have found some snaps for rookie LB Jihaad Campbell, who failed to generate any defensive snaps a week ago, the first time that’s occurred all season. On the third defensive series, Campbell aligned opposite Zack Baun.

*High quality showing from cornerback Adoree’ Jackson, who defended a pair of passes and was secure in his perimeter tackling. Herbert tested him a handful of times, but Jackson answered the bell. My bold prediction (as mentioned to a pair of fellow beat reporters) was that Jackson would snare an interception this week, and shortly before halftime, he accomplished that feat when he stepped in front of TE Orande Gadsden. It was the first regular season interception by an Eagles outside cornerback since Kelee Ringo came up with one on Christmas in 2023. Jackson returned possession to a sputtering Eagles’ offense at their own 45, but Elliott missed a 48-yard field goal wide left.

*A couple of really untimely penalties from Ojomo. As previously mentioned, the third-year DT was called for an offsides penalty that negated a DeJean interception, but Ojomo was also called for a leverage penalty on a Dicker 36-yard field goal in the third quarter, though the renewed life proved fruitless.

*With the Eagles light on interior defensive linemen, I thought third-year pro Byron Young had a really nice game, rebounding nicely following a game that was arguably his — and most of his defensive teammates’ low light of the season against the Bears. He plugged the run and notched 1.5 sacks. I spoke to Young last week, and he conveyed confidence and poise in anticipation of his expanded role. Good on him for seizing his opportunity.

*’ Sam’s third quarter kick coverage tackle on returner Vidal was the first recorded stop of his career. Monday night was Sam’s third NFL game.

*Bigsby factored quite a bit into the backfield rotation early, but that persisted throughout the evening, something I figured would happen to mix in different personnel and offer different looks. Bigsby, as mentioned earlier, even aligned some out wide. Still, he had only one carry for four yards. Shipley also worked in a bit at times.

*In terms of time of possession at the break, there was a notable discrepancy between the Eagles (18:43) and Chargers (11:17). This would shift in the second half.

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