Following three straight losses, most of the discussions surrounding the Philadelphia Eagles have centered on the need for a response. Unfortunately, that will have to wait for at least another week, as their 25-14 loss to the Carolina Panthers offered more frustration than relief.
Tanner McKee took over as the starting quarterback, and while the offense managed a few encouraging stretches, the same problems that have plagued Philadelphia in recent weeks continued to surface. Drives stalled, penalties piled up, and the Eagles struggled to capitalize when Carolina gave them opportunities.
Philadelphia finished with 11 penalties for 84 yards, while the Panthers were flagged 13 times for 149 yards. Five of the Eagles' penalties gave Carolina first downs, helping the visitors maintain possession and control the tempo. The Panthers held the ball for 34:48, leaving Philadelphia chasing the game for much of the afternoon.
There were positives, including a touchdown from DeVonta Smith in his return and another encouraging performance from Jeremiah Trotter Jr. (six tackles and one half-sack in this one); however, those moments weren't enough to overcome the mistakes. Before attention shifts to the Dallas Cowboys in Week 7 on Monday Night Football, here's the good, bad, and ugly from Philadelphia's latest defeat.
The good we saw from the Eagles in Week 6
Nolan Smith made an impact before exiting. Smith recorded a sack, his second on the year, before leaving the game with a concussion. His departure was concerning, but the early production showed the kind of disruption Philadelphia needs from its pass rush. Hopefully, he makes a full recovery, and soon.
The offense found some rhythm late in the game. Philadelphia's final drive of the first half was a promising sequence, covering 78 yards in 10 plays over 5:26. Dameon Pierce finished the possession with a 2-yard touchdown run, giving the Eagles something positive to carry into halftime. The fourth-quarter touchdown drive was another encouraging stretch, even though the comeback ultimately fell short.
Jeremiah Trotter Jr. continues to impress. Trotter has been one of the more encouraging developments for Philadelphia, and his continued contributions deserve recognition amid the team's struggles. The linebacker is giving the Eagles reasons to feel good about his trajectory, even as the team, as a whole, searches for greater consistency.
DeVonta Smith delivered in his return. Smith caught a 19-yard touchdown pass from McKee early in the fourth quarter, cutting Carolina's lead to 19-14. Returning from a hamstring injury and immediately producing a scoring play was a welcome development for an offense that needs its playmakers available.
The bad news from Philadelphia
Johnny Mundt's holding penalties remain a problem. Mundt was brought in largely for his blocking, but another holding penalty added to Philadelphia's growing list of self-inflicted mistakes. The Eagles need dependable execution from their supporting players, and repeated flags undermine the very purpose of having a specialist in that role.
The third-quarter scoring drought continues. Philadelphia once again failed to score in the third quarter, extending a troubling trend that has followed the offense throughout the season. The Eagles managed a touchdown in the fourth, but waiting until late in games to produce points leaves little room for error. The offense needs to find answers coming out of halftime rather than repeatedly trying to rescue games in the final quarter.
The injury situation keeps getting worse. Smith's concussion added another concern, while defensive tackle Jordan Davis injured an ankle and running back Carson Steele suffered a shoulder injury. Philadelphia is already dealing with significant absences, and losing more contributors makes an already difficult stretch harder to navigate.
Carolina took advantage of Philadelphia's mistakes. With just over six minutes left in the third quarter, the Panthers began a drive at their own nine-yard line. Young connected with Jalen Coker for 32 yards on third-and-eight, and Hubbard ripped off a 19-yard run on fourth-and-1. An encroachment penalty by Philadelphia also extended the possession. The 14-play drive covered 91 yards and carried into the fourth quarter, ending with Hubbard's 2-yard touchdown run for a 19-7 lead. Carolina failed on the two-point attempt, but the damage had been done.
The downright ugly
After DeVonta Smith's touchdown brought the Eagles within five points, the defense forced a three-and-out. Sam Martin's 39-yard punt gave Philadelphia possession at its own 48-yard line, setting up a chance to make the game even tighter. Instead, the next four plays turned a promising situation into another wasted opportunity.
- First-and-10: A bad snap from Jake Majors and a Tanner McKee recovery, resulting in a 12-yard loss.
- Second-and-22: McKee completed a short pass to Pierce for four yards.
- Third-and-18: McKee's pass intended for Smith fell incomplete.
- Fourth-and-18: Braden Mann's punt was deflected at the line and traveled just eight yards (this isn't considered a block as the punt traveled forward).
The sequence was costly not only because Philadelphia failed to score, but because it handed Carolina excellent field position. The Panthers needed only four plays to cover 48 yards and score another touchdown, pushing the lead to 25-14. Philadelphia had finally created an opportunity to build momentum, only to see it disappear through a bad snap, an unsuccessful third down and a deflected punt.
What's next for the Eagles?
As mentioned, the Eagles now turn their attention to the Dallas Cowboys, but the next opponent isn't the only concern. Philadelphia needs to find a way to start games more efficiently, emerge from halftime with a functioning offense, and stop giving opponents extra possessions through penalties and execution errors.
There were flashes of what this team can still do, particularly on the scoring drives and through Smith's return. But flashes won't be enough to reverse a three-game losing streak. Philadelphia needs a complete performance, and the matchup with Dallas offers its next chance to show that it can deliver one.
This article originally appeared on Eagles Wire: Good, bad, and ugly from Eagles' Week 6 loss vs. the Panthers