Saints @ Eagles
Final Score: Eagles 40, Saints 29
Writer: Dan Adams (@dadams0323 on Twitter)
The Eagles were able to dominate the trenches on both sides of the ball en route to a dominant win that wasn’t as close as the score would make it appear. The Eagles offensive line created plenty of running lanes that Jalen Hurts and the running backs were able to take advantage of using a heavy dose of read-option plays. Hurts scored all of Philadelphia’s offensive touchdowns, including a great run where he made a defender fall over with a juke. Defensively, Philadelphia was able to pressure Trevor Siemian and while they weren’t able to get home for a sack they consistently forced the Saints into long third downs. Darius Slay added a pick-six before leaving the game with an injury, and the Eagles led 27-7 at halftime. A 22-point fourth quarter helped the Saints make the game look more competitive than it was, but Hurt’s third touchdown put the game out of reach for good. The Eagles won 40-29.
😤😤😤@JalenHurts | #FlyEaglesFly pic.twitter.com/enzVgxUkGa
— Philadelphia Eagles (@Eagles) November 21, 2021
New Orleans Saints
Quarterback
Trevor Siemian: 22/40, 214 yards, 3 TD, 2 INT | 2 carries, 16 yards, TD
Trevor Siemian really struggled in the first half. He avoided taking any sacks but was clearly affected by the Philadelphia pass rush, misfiring on several throws including two interceptions including a pick-six.
THERE'S A REASON WHY THEY CALL HIM BIG PLAY#NOvsPHI | #FlyEaglesFly pic.twitter.com/GAEnuFSOoC
— Philadelphia Eagles (@Eagles) November 21, 2021
He settled into a rhythm during the second half, perhaps due in part to several injuries to the Eagles’ defense, and was able to make the game more competitive. Siemian threw a strike to Marquez Callaway in between two defenders for the score.
CALLAWAY TD 💪#NOvsPHI | 📺: FOX pic.twitter.com/xQtqdZxbzH
— New Orleans Saints (@Saints) November 21, 2021
After getting good field position for the next drive Siemian did the scoring himself, scrambling 17 yards for the score after the defense completely lost track of him.
RUN IT IN SIEMIAN 💨#NOvsPHI | 📺: FOX pic.twitter.com/Z17DcI9VZ8
— New Orleans Saints (@Saints) November 21, 2021
After the Eagles added on another touchdown, essentially icing the game, Siemian threw one last touchdown to Lil’Jordan Humphrey. It was a good throw and a good decision, as Siemian placed the ball perfectly once he saw the defensive back fail to turn back to locate the football.
Humphrey with the catch & TD#NOvsPHI | 📺: FOX pic.twitter.com/6HpXXlkvAk
— New Orleans Saints (@Saints) November 21, 2021
Siemian did well to bounce back from a tough first half but his stats ended up being a little inflated thanks to the Eagles letting off the gas a little bit at the end.
Running Backs
Mark Ingram: 16 carries, 88 yards, Fumble | 8 targets, 6 receptions, 25 yards
Tony Jones: 3 carries, 2 yards
Dwayne Washington: 1 carry, 3 yards | 1 target, 1 reception, 6 yards
Alvin Kamara missed this week which left Mark Ingram as the main option out of the backfield. Ingram didn’t seem to feel like sharing, as he dominated the backfield touches even as Tony Jones returned to the lineup after battling an injury. Ingram saw a combined 24 opportunities, versus just six for the other two backs, and was the focal point of the offense until the scoreboard took away the running game from the Saints. Ingram looked solid, consistently finding tiny running lanes despite his offensive line getting outplayed for much of the game. He didn’t break any big plays but his usage in the passing game kept him relevant even as the game turned into a blowout. The lone blemish for Ingram was a lost fumble, but given the score was 30-7 at the time he can be forgiven for taking a chance to fight for extra yards.
Wide Receivers/Tight Ends
Tre’Quan Smith: 8 targets, 5 receptions, 64 yards
Marquez Callaway: 4 targets, 1 reception, 26 yards, TD
Deonte Harris: 5 targets, 2 receptions, 11 yards, Fumble
Adam Trautman: 8 targets, 5 receptions, 58 yards, TD
Lil’Jordan Humphrey: 1 target, 1 reception, 4 yards, TD
Adam Trautman was one of the bright spots for the Saints in what was otherwise a disaster of a first half. He was leading the team in targets and snagged a touchdown in the back of the end zone, stretching just further than the defender was able to.
TOUCHHHHDOWNNN TRAUTMAN 👏👏#NOvsPHI | 📺: FOX pic.twitter.com/9iU3t0x4Gg
— New Orleans Saints (@Saints) November 21, 2021
Unfortunately, Trautman landed awkwardly on a 19-yard reception in the second half. He jumped up to make a catch in traffic and while absorbing a hit from the defender, Trautman’s leg got caught underneath him. He was able to walk off the field, but he had a noticeable limp and did not return. Tre’Quan Smith was the other notable pass-catcher for the Saints, tying Trautman for the team lead in targets. Smith had a brutal drop when it looked like he shied away from catching the ball in order to avoid a hit, but came back the very next play with a difficult catch on a slightly misplaced ball. Deonte Harris was the only other receiver with more than just one catch, he fumbled the ball but was able to recover it himself.
Philadelphia Eagles
Quarterback
Jalen Hurts: 13/24, 147 yards, 3 Sacks | 18 carries, 69 yards, 3 TD
Jalen Hurts wasn’t asked to do much through the air but was repeatedly counted on to make plays with his legs. Hurts scored all three of the Eagles’ touchdowns, cashing in a QB-sneak on their first drive and following it up with an easy scramble where he beat the defender assigned to spy on him to the edge.
We assure you that this was ruled a touchdown.#NOvsPHI | #FlyEaglesFly pic.twitter.com/xpXJO2zhzq
— Philadelphia Eagles (@Eagles) November 21, 2021
His third touchdown was a beautiful play to put the game away after the Saints had mounted a comeback. On a read-option, Hurts opted to keep the ball despite the defender watching him the whole way. It didn’t matter though, because Hurts proceeded to break the defender’s ankles before accelerating upfield and outrunning the defense to the end zone. The play was very well-blocked on the left side of the field, but it would have gone for a short gain at best if not for Hurt’s ability to make guys miss in space.
What a way for @JalenHurts to secure a hat trick!#NOvsPHI | #FlyEaglesFly pic.twitter.com/29wIuRnm31
— Philadelphia Eagles (@Eagles) November 21, 2021
When he was called upon to pass, Hurts was fine. He lost a few completions to drops from his receivers, including a particularly bad one from Dallas Goedert, and has a passing touchdown called back due to offensive pass interference.
Running Backs
Miles Sanders: 16 carries, 94 yards, Fumble | 1 target
Boston Scott: 6 carries, 16 yards | 2 targets, 2 receptions, 2 yards
Jordan Howard: 10 carries, 63 yards
Miles Sanders returned from injury and immediately resumed his place as the primary back in this offense. Sanders had a bad fumble that directly led to the Saints’ first touchdown and gave New Orleans the first really positive play they’d had all game. Aside from that though Sanders looked healthy and explosive. His only target came down the field on the sideline and would have gone for a nice completion, possibly a touchdown had Hurts been able to get the ball there faster. Hurts was forced to make the throw on the run, which gave the safety just enough time to come across the field and get a hand on the ball.
Jordan Howard came in as a bruising change-of-pace and broke several solid runs. He left the game with an injury after landing awkwardly on his back and did not return.
Boston Scott mixed in a little but didn’t have the same effectiveness as the other backs. He was more involved in the passing game, and it seemed like when Sanders was off the field and it was a passing down Scott was his direct backup, otherwise the team turned to Howard. The Eagles are having success committing to the run, so there are enough carries for the backs to share as long as the team isn’t getting forced into playing catch-up. Kenneth Gainwell was inactive for the first time this season as a healthy scratch.
Wide Receivers/Tight Ends
DeVonta Smith: 6 targets, 4 receptions, 61 yards
Jalen Reagor: 3 targets, 1 reception, -1 yard
Quez Watkins: 1 target
Dallas Goedert: 8 targets, 5 receptions, 62 yards
J.J. Arcega-Whiteside: 1 target, 1 reception, 23 yards
Dallas Goedert should have had a monster game. He had one touchdown taken away by a pass interference call on DeVonta Smith on a pick play, and another could-have-been touchdown that was ruled down at the one. Goedert also had two bad drops on back-to-back plays but Hurts showed no hesitation going back to him later in the game. Smith wasn’t needed much in this one but did have a nice play where he caught the ball and then cut back to the middle of the field making two defenders miss. J.J. Arcega-Whiteside earned his first target of the season and made the most of it, turning it into a 23-yard reception that converted a key third down. Jalen Reagor and Quez Watkins were non-factors and were mostly used as decoys. They both lost some snaps to Arcega-Whiteside, who is prized by the Eagles as a strong run-blocker, and may continue to do so if the Eagles stick with this new commitment to the running game.
— Dan Adams (@dadams0323 on Twitter)-