Eagles vs Jets: Postgame Grades, Notes and Quotes for Philadelphia
The Eagles' perfect preseason was not meant to be, as the New York Jets defeated Philadelphia 24-18 at MetLife Stadium Thursday night.
The final preseason game featured rotational players and people fighting for a spot on the team for the most part. The main exception was that this was the preseason debut for recently acquired inside linebacker Kiko Alonso.
Overall, the game started out rough for the Eagles, as Matt Barkley threw an interception on only his second attempt of the game. On the ensuing possession, the Jets marched down the field and Matt Flynn threw a touchdown pass to give the Jets an early lead.
Throughout the entire game, New York's quarterbacks seemed composed and able to pick apart the Eagles secondary. Matt Flynn finished the day 10-of-14 for 136 yards with two touchdowns and one interception. Josh Johnson only completed seven passes but gouged Philadelphia's defense with 76 yards on seven carries.
The most reliable offensive production for Philadelphia came from running back Raheem Mostert. The rookie from Purdue got it done both on the ground and in the passing game against the Jets. Mostert contributed 69 yards on 15 carries and eight receptions for 93 yards. Despite his impressive performance, it may not be enough to earn him a roster spot, but the performance will make other general managers around the league take notice.
But the story of the game comes down to Tim Tebow and his quarterback play. The former Heisman winner commanded the offense during his time under center and finished with two passing touchdowns. In the battle for the third and final quarterback roster spot, Tebow made a convincing argument.
In the final preseason game, some players rose to the occasion and others raised concerns. This article will break down the game, key performances and important notes from Thursday night's game.
Position Grades for Philadelphia Eagles
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| Position | Grade |
| QB | C+ |
| RB | B+ |
| WR/TE | B- |
| OL | C+ |
| DL | B |
| LB | B- |
| DB | C- |
| Special Teams | C |
The offense scored its lowest total during this preseason with only 18 points on the day. In the first three games of the preseason, the Eagles scored 36 points or more.
The offense ran the ball effectively but only converted on three third-down attempts the entire game. In large part, this came down to Matt Barkley's inconsistency on the night. On some attempts he overthrew open receivers, and other times he threw the ball well short of his target. Tim Tebow's performance helped but the alternating of quarterbacks each quarter didn't allow the team to get into a rhythm offensively.
The wide receivers and tight ends did the best they could with what they had. No one player stood out, but a lot of receivers put together solid nights. Freddie Martino had only two catches on the day, but one was for 45 yards and the other was an acrobatic touchdown grab in the corner of the end zone.
On the other side of the ball, the defense gave up over 20 points for the second week in a row. This came in large part due to poor cornerback play. Both Eric Rowe and Jaylen Watkins got hung out to dry by Jets receivers a few times on the outside.
On the defensive front, Beau Allen made his presence felt all night. The second-year player was busy on the line and finished the day with eight total tackles and one for a loss.
The return game for Philadelphia left nothing to praise or criticize as both Kenjon Barner and Raheem Mostert had run-of-the-mill days. On the other hand, Kip Smith had an interesting night. Smith made both of his field goals but then missed both of his extra point attempts. In the long run, this will have very little effect on the Eagles, as Cody Parkey will be the team's long-term kicker.
Tim Tebow Outperforms Matt Barkley
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The most publicized storyline coming into the final preseason game was the battle between Tim Tebow and Matt Barkley. Barkley took a backseat in the conversation as Tebow-mania swirled around Philadelphia.
Matt Barkley received the start from Chip Kelly, but the quarterbacks alternated quarters throughout the game, which the Southern California product did not appreciate.
"I've never liked it. I've never done that before. ... But you can't make excuses and say that was the reason," Barkley said about rotating playing time, according to the Philadelphia Inquirer's Zach Berman.
Barkley performed poorly in his final preseason game with an interception on his second throw of the game. On the play, Josh Huff beat his man but Barkley short-armed the throw right to the defensive back. On the next drive, Barkley overthrew open receivers twice and never looked settled in the offense.
The third-year quarterback did not see a lot of action in the third quarter and finished the game with only nine passing attempts. Unfortunately only completing four of them and throwing one interception did not help his case.
On the other side of the position battle, Tebow put forth his best performance of the preseason. Tebow proved to be clutch during his time a starter for the Denver Broncos, and he rose to the occasion again Thursday night. This came as no surprise to the coaching staff.
"Tim's a little bit of a gamer," offensive coordinator Pat Shurmur said during training camp, according to Berman.
The University of Florida star led an impressive touchdown drive in the final two minutes of the first half and looked determined to get the Eagles back into the game in the fourth quarter. Tebow effectively avoided sacks while still keeping his eyes down the field. His ability to scramble and reset his feet to throw or take off down the line got Philadelphia out of several difficult situations.
Overall, Tebow finished the day 11-of-17 for 189 yards, including two touchdowns and one interception. In his final audition, the hybrid quarterback likely earned himself a spot on the final 53-man roster over Barkley.
Kiko Alonso Returns
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The performance that will likely have the biggest impact on the Eagles first-team depth chart was the return of inside linebacker Kiko Alonso. Philadelphia acquired the promising player from the Buffalo Bills in a trade that sent LeSean McCoy the other way earlier this offseason.
The game against the Jets was Alonso's only appearance of the preseason and the 25-year-old's first game since tearing his ACL in 2013.
The linebacker only played one series, but he made an impact immediately. The player made a pair of tackles and helped stop Zac Stacy twice consecutively. Alonso also glided across the field and smacked receiver Quincy Enuwa on another play. In a small sample size, Alonso showed his ability to explode into the backfield and cover the width of the field.
As the last tune-up before the regular season, it was imperative for Alonso to see some action. There is no denying Alonso's athleticism, but the player clearly was still trying to figure out the timing of the game.
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Still Concerns in the Secondary
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Philadelphia pretty much cleaned house in the secondary this offseason with the exit of Cary Williams, Bradley Fletcher and Nate Allen. And up to this point, the secondary looked much improved and like it might even be a strength of the defense.
That changed against the Jets. Both Eric Rowe and Jaylen Watkins were torn apart by New York's receivers. Rowe got juked off the line on one play, and he was left in shambles. Matt Flynn also went after Watkins and threw it over him for a touchdown in the first quarter. Watkins recovered later in the game to intercept a pass from Flynn.
Philadelphia spent a second-round pick on Rowe in this year's draft. The converted safety shows signs of potential but may take more time than expected to become a reliable part of the defense. Watkins is in his second season in the NFL but fails to show that he is taking the necessary strides to blossom into a starting slot corner.
Byron Maxwell and Nolan Carroll will likely start on the outside for Philadelphia this season, but the slot corner position is still an uncertainty. With the inconsistency of options, defensive coordinator Billy Davis said he may deploy several different players in the slot for the first few games of the season, according to the Philadelphia Inquirer's Jeff McLane.
Tim Tebow on Returning to the Game
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"Sometimes when things are taken away, you realize how much you really do love it, and you love it even more after that," Tim Tebow said, per Zach Berman.
Before joining the Eagles this offseason, Tebow worked as an analyst for SEC Network at just 28 years old. The fan favorite returns to the game after a polarizing stint in the NFL that ended when he was cut by the New England Patriots in 2013.
From the start, the former Heisman winner was never considered a "sure thing," but the Broncos selected the quarterback from the University of Florida in the first round, 25 overall, in 2010. Tebow waited his turn and eventually earned a starting job in Denver. During this stint, the media craze grew as Tebow developed a knack for late-game heroics, including a game-winning play against the Pittsburgh Steelers in the playoffs.
However, the arrival of Peyton Manning in 2012 essentially ran Tebow out of Denver, and the quarterback never gained a foothold on a team. Tebow went on for two unsuccessful stays with the New York Jets and New England Patriots before leaving the game.
Tebow returned to football and to MetLife Stadium Thursday night—a place he once called home—to earn his spot on a new team. The determined quarterback played with moxie and refused to rest on the sidelines. With his grit and determination to get the team back in the game, Tebow may have earned himself another shot in the NFL, this time with the Philadelphia Eagles.
Chip Kelly on Final Roster Decisions
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"It can’t just be a one-game, this-is-it, make or break. This isn’t American Idol," Chip Kelly said, per Zach Berman.
The Philadelphia Eagles have to make the final cuts to get down to their official 53-man roster by this Saturday. With the final preseason game fresh in everybody's mind, Kelly made sure to remind people that they evaluate players based on more than just one game.
Through the entire offseason, including training camp to Thursday night's game against the New York Jets, the coaches have a large sample size to judge players. Just because a player performed poorly tonight or did not receive much playing time does not mean that they are doomed.
Kenjon Barner impressed with both his ability to carry the ball and create spectacular plays in the return game through the first three preseason games. However, Barner barely featured against the Jets, and fellow running back Raheem Mostert shined in the final game. Mostert's performance will be taken in consideration but Barner will likely be in pole position if Philadelphia decides to keep four running backs on their roster.
At the same time, the hype train is firmly behind Tim Tebow's performance, but Barkley had a an overall impressive preseason as well. Looking at all four games, Barkley clearly showed that he is a more capable passer than Tebow. The Southern California product finished the preseason with 351 yards from 27 completions on 52 attempts. Meanwhile, Tebow threw for only 286 yards but showed his versatility by adding 82 yards on the ground with 14 carries.
Overall, the final preseason game is a final audition for players, but it is not the only consideration in the coaches' minds.
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