Eagles Report Card: Day of Struggles Results in Loss

By Kevin Durso, Sports Talk Philly editor 

For the first time this season, the Eagles suffered a loss, falling late to the Detroit Lions, 24-23. 

It was a game where not a lot went right for the Eagles and yet they were still in a position to win the game late.

Defeat always hurts, but losing from self-inflicted wounds particularly hurts more and that is the focus of the grade book this week.

Here are this week's grades.

Pass Offense – B

The Eagles faced a deficit for almost the entire game, and Carson Wentz looked poised the whole way through. Even on his first interception, which sealed the game for the Lions, he looked definitive in his decision-making. Realistically, the pass offense was the best aspect of the game for the Eagles, who used the passing game effectively and was really mistake-free until the final play.

While the final play was a little baffling — why go for it all on the first play with 1:29 to go — Wentz was a leader the whole way through.

Run Offense – C

The run was modestly effective, but the real flaw here is on the final run attempt the Eagles had. Ryan Mathews fumble proved to be costly and that fact that he both failed to secure the ball and carried with the wrong arm makes the mistake even worse.

Pass Defense – C+

They improved as the game went on and overall kept Matthew Stafford in check. But the first half to second half difference was night and day, and the first half was just brutal to watch. Poor coverage, poor tackling and the Lions were just having their way with the Eagles. They stood tall in the second half, showing signs of the defense that performed so well in the first three games, but they took a little too long to shake off the rust.

Run Defense – B-

Theo Riddick was off to the races at the start, but by the end of the game, the Lions weren't getting much on the ground. Much like the pass defense, it took a little too long for the rust to come off, but once it did, the Eagles defense held the Lions to just three points in the second half.

Special Teams – A-

Caleb Sturgis hit all three field goals he attempted and the special teams really did everything you could have asked. When there are really no flaws from the special teams unit, it's typically a good day.

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