Philadelphia Eagles vs. Detroit Lions: Full Report Card Grades for Eagles
The Philadelphia Eagles were going to lose eventually. The first loss of the 2016 season came at the hands of the Detroit Lions, and it was a frustrating affair. During the week, there was optimism; the Eagles were a healthier and more talented team. Head coach Doug Pederson is an Andy Reid disciple, and Reid was always notoriously good after bye weeks. On paper, the Eagles should have been able to dispatch the Lions and earn another comfortable victory.
Things did not quite go that way. The team came out flat. The defense gave up more touchdowns in the first half than it had in the first three games combined. The offense was solid but continued to suffer from self-inflicted wounds.
The Eagles were able to bounce back and score 16 unanswered points, but two late turnovers doomed them. The Lions walked away with a 24-23 victory.
Quarterback
1 of 10
Carson Wentz was not the reason the Eagles lost. The young quarterback had another solid performance, going 25-of-33 for 238 yards, two touchdowns and an interception. Overall, Wentz was a bright spot on a tough day. He made plays with both his arm and his legs. He worked through multiple progressions. On most days, his performance would have been enough to get the job done.
The interception was the first of his career and sealed the Eagles' fate. It was a poor decision, as the Eagles had plenty of time and only needed around 40 yards to have a shot at a game-winning field goal. Instead, Wentz tried to play hero and force a deep pass. He will learn.
Grade: B+
Running Back
2 of 10
Ryan Mathews' fumble is inexcusable. He's a veteran running back, and he can't have fumble issues with the game on the line. The worst part was that the fumble was caused by carrying the ball in the wrong arm. Football 101.
Aside from the fumble, Mathews and Darren Sproles both had good days. They combined for 87 yards rushing, 56 yards receiving and a touchdown. Sproles averaged nine yards per carry. It was a good outing until the fumble.
"Other than that, Mrs. Lincoln, how was the play?"
Grade: D
Wide Receiver and Tight End
3 of 10
Zach Ertz returned from his rib injury and picked up right where he left off. Ertz provides a security blanket for Wentz and has a massive catch radius. Jordan Matthews continues to come up big when it matters most. These two are the best pass-catchers on the team, and it helps to have them both healthy and playing well.
Dorial Green-Beckham and Nelson Agholor continue to confound. Green-Beckham will have great plays, including the one where he stiff-armed a defender into the ground to pick up extra yardage. He also had a touchdown hit him in the chest, but he dropped it. The Eagles settled for a field goal instead and lost by four. Agholor had two nice snags but ran a terrible route on the final play and did not track the ball or contest it.
Josh Huff had a touchdown. It was a well-designed play by the coaching staff. The coaches stacked Huff behind Matthews, and they both ran the exact same route. That seems insane, but Matthews effectively shielded the defenders from being able to make the play without committing pass interference.
Grade: C+
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Offensive Line
4 of 10
The big boys up front played well overall. The run game continued to be effective. The line got a good push throughout the day.
The pass protection was a bit shakier. The Eagles allowed three sacks, and Wentz was put under early pressure a few other times. Jason Peters did not have his best game and struggled with inside moves. Jason Kelce seemed to be having issues with the snap count.
Grade: B-
Defensive Line
5 of 10
The Eagles' defensive line continues to be the strength of the team. It added another four sacks to its season total. Fletcher Cox continues to force teams to double-team him. When they don't, he makes big plays. Vinny Curry may have gotten the sack late in the game, but it was Cox who was instantly in the backfield, spinning Matthew Stafford around.
The Eagles' defensive ends need to do a better job keeping contain, though. Connor Barwin has had issues with it this season, but today, just about everyone had a run play bounced to their outside.
Marcus Smith had a tackle for loss. I repeat—Marcus Smith made a positive contribution to the Philadelphia Eagles.
Grade: B+
Linebacker
6 of 10
Mychal Kendricks had a bad game. He was bad in coverage and could not tackle anyone in the open field. The attacking scheme that defensive coordinator Jim Schwartz brought with him was supposed to help Kendricks think less and play more. The opposite has happened. Kendricks has never been a perfect player, but even the things he once was good at seem to be eluding him, much like ball-carriers are.
The most interesting part of the linebacker situation was Nigel Bradham's playing time. Bradham was not part of the game plan during the first half, when the Lions raced out to touchdowns on each of their first three drives. After halftime, he was suddenly in. Pederson claimed the playing time was part of a rotation and had nothing to do with Bradham's legal issues.
Schwartz loves Stephen Tulloch, and the Eagles would like to get Kendricks back on track, but the defense plays at a much higher level when Jordan Hicks and Bradham are on the field together.
Grade: C
Secondary
7 of 10
If you hold an opposing quarterback to 180 yards in 2016, you had a good game. The secondary had some rough patches and an instance or two of blown coverage, but it was able to prevent any long completions or major damage. It was volume and poor tackling that doomed the Eagles defense in the first half, not poor secondary play.
It would be nice for the corners to be more consistent at defending the slant route. Likewise, the safeties need to help diagnose screen plays.
Grade: B-
Special Teams
8 of 10
Caleb Sturgis had an impressive day. He had to make several long field goals, and none were ever in doubt. It is a shame the Eagles didn't get a chance at a game-winning field goal.
The coverage unit implemented some nice gamesmanship. Special teams coordinator Dave Fipp decided to have Sturgis kick the ball high but short in an effort to get the Lions to not take the touchback. With the NFL's new touchback rule placing the ball at the 25-yard line, the coverage team is betting on itself to make the tackle.
Grade: A
Coaching
9 of 10
It's tough to figure out an appropriate grade for the coaching staff. On one hand, Pederson kept his composure and helped his team mount a comeback. On the other hand, this team wasn't emotionally prepared to play a football game.
Pederson had a wonderful and creative play design on the Huff touchdown. On the other hand, the toss sweep into the boundary on the Mathews fumble, when a three-yard gain would have iced the game, was atrocious.
Pederson designed a good game plan, albeit one lacking a vertical threat. He helped Wentz make good throws and not sit in the pocket forever. Pederson also abandoned the run game for much of the second half despite its success.
Schwartz's unit looked lost during the first half. It didn't give up big plays, but it seemed like the only way to get the Lions off the field was to let them score. In the second half, it was outstanding.
Penalties were an issue. Most were of the ticky-tacky variety, but the two delays of game are on the staff. The team needs to get plays in quicker and figure out a better way to silent-count in loud stadiums.
Grade: C-
Final Grades
10 of 10
| Position Unit | Grade |
| QB | B+ |
| RB | D |
| WR/TE | C+ |
| OL | B- |
| DL | B+ |
| LB | C |
| Secondary | B- |
| Special teams | A |
| Coaching | C- |
| Cumulative Grade | C |
The Philadelphia Eagles' first loss of 2016 was frustrating. The team came out lifeless. The penalty disparity was a joke, and behind closed doors, that referee crew is going to get yelled at. The Fox broadcast seemed confused and out of sorts.
It was a day to forget. Carson Wentz will throw interceptions. And yet, the Eagles were a single three-yard run away from getting a win.
Let's see how the Eagles respond to adversity this week. They'll be back in action on Oct. 16 in Landover, Maryland, as they play their first divisional game against the Washington Redskins.
Tyler Aston is a Bleacher Report Eagles Team Stream Contributor. You can yell at him on twitter @Astonia67.
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