Nick Sirianni had no plan.
Jalen Hurts had no clue.
That’s one consensus regarding the Philadelphia Eagles’ 41-21 setback to the Dallas Cowboys on Monday Night football emerging from Why Episode Why, Episode 4.
Pete Amato, Bill Gelman and myself analyze the team every week, with topics including the team’s upcoming game, the previous encounter, games around the league and betting nuggets, where applicable.
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Why Eagles Why may never have been more appropriately named than after Philly’s Monday Nights Meltdown on national television. The Eagles only called three plays involving running backs Miles Sanders and Kenneth Gainwell.
“What are you THINKING Nick Sirianni?” Bill inquired. “You wear a beat Dallas T shirt all week and you don’t come to play with a game plan? In DALLAS?
“When Jalen Hurts couldn’t find receivers open, he had more rushing yards than Sanders and Kenny G,” he added. Hurts had 35 yards rushing, compared to their 29.
Pete raised the point about Jalen “One Read “Hurts.
“I got killed on social media by Jalen Hurts defenders when I said in Week One that he’s not a franchise quarterback,” Pete laughed. “So let them kill me again for it, I don’t care.
“He’s a one-read quarterback. He makes that first read and if the receiver is not open, he runs out of the pocket. That may have worked for him in college, but it is not going to work in the pros.”
Hurts did please some people, however. He surpassed betting-yardage thresholds of more than 300 yards passing and more than 350 combined passing and rushing.
Eagles Future
Over the course of the episode, Pete and Bill give their report card on the Eagles over the first three weeks.
Other topics on the show include what moves the Eagles will try to make this weekend against the talented Kansas City Chiefs offense. Are there ways to contain Kansas City quarterback Patrick Mahomes?
The Chiefs entered the week favored by a touchdown. The line has inched up to Eagles + 7.5 for brief stretches before Philadelphia action knocked the line back down.
Is seven points enough? Draft Kings indicates 98% of its bettors are backing the Chiefs, its highest percentage of any NFL game. Are they right?
Around The League
Games of note. I weighed in on the Tampa Bay Buccaneers-New England Patriots game Sunday night. It’s the reunion between Tom Brady, who won six Super Bowls in New England, and his former coach Bill Belichick.
After the show was recorded, DraftKings came out with a promo on Brady Bets. Brady needs just 68 yards to surpass Drew Brees for all-time passing yardage. DraftKings props include what quarter it happens in, who will take in the record pass and how many pass completions it will take.
Bill likes the Arizona Cardinals-Los Angeles Rams matchup, which puts together two solid teams playing sharp ball. The Rams just defeated the defending Super Bowl champion Tampa Bay Buccaneers and the Cardinals fought off a feisty Jacksonville Jaguars team.
Pete weighs in on the Cleveland Browns-Minnesota Vikings matchup in Minnesota. This is one of the league’s more compelling games, featuring two excellent offenses. Cleveland is building off success from last year and the Vikings beat the Seattle Seahawks after losing two road games on the final play.
When will the Eagles win their next game? Is Dallas going to run away with the NFC East? What number ties in with Bill’s analysis at the top of the show?
We invite you to check out Why Eagles Why, a combination of tough love found at a family meeting and a look around the NFL.