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Combination Choke Job and Ref Show – 22 Immediate Observations from Broncos 21, Eagles 17
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The Eagles choked away a 17-3 lead in the fourth quarter. They lost 21 to 17 at home to the Broncos.
Too many penalties on the Birds, while the refs were also terrible. Crappy one overall.
This is the best I could do after working 15 days in a row and emptying the gas tank on that terrible Phillies game:
1) Courtland Sutton with a straight up drop to end the first Broncos series. We thank him for that.
2) We’re gonna have to live with the inevitability of one brutal Jalen Carter sequence each week. We had the DAK TUAH against Dallas, one unnecessary roughness, then a roughing the passer, now a 4th and 2 jump that gave Denver a fresh set of downs on Sunday. Considering how good he is otherwise, it’s a tradeoff you accept.
3) No issue with the reversal on the 1st quarter Bo Nix fumble. Arm was clearly coming forward. Great play by Coooooooper DeJean regardless.
4) Every time the Eagles pull and throw short for a tight end, it works. It feels like a play with a success rate between 90 and 100%, not unlike the A.J. Brown slant or a 4th down tush push. They had to settle for a field goal on that second drive, but moved the ball well between the 20s and even got an explosive run from Saquon Barkley.
5) RJ Harvey? I prefer P.J. Harvey:
6) Anybody else wondering how Za’Darius Smith was unemployed to start the season? That stunt and sack was worth a three-point swing. It was also the first sack from an Eagles EDGE this year, if you can believe it.
7) 3rd and 17 – see what happens when you don’t settle for the coward’s draw? You take a shot with one of your two elite receivers and move the sticks.
8) Then – very next play? A shot for A.J. Brown, DPI, and all of a sudden you’re at the two yard line. Bang, bang, bang. The Eagles can be explosive, they just need to take some risks. But we already knew that.
9) Azeez Ojulari might win this year’s late bloomer award, which doesn’t exist. But he was active in this game and had some nice snaps, which makes you wonder why he didn’t get an opportunity until Week 5.
10) To each their own, but I feel like I learn something whenever I listen to Tony Romo do color commentary.
11) Agree with this:
12) Don’t mind the Eagles coming out throwing on that final drive before halftime. They pick up eight yards if that first toss doesn’t get batted down. Denver ended up doing nothing with their field position after two great plays from DeJean and Quinyon Mitchell, then a properly-overturned DPI on Kelee Ringo.
13) The Saquon receiving touchdown? Jalen made that check at the line of scrimmage. Great job.
14) Remember Vic Fangio’s explanation for kickers hitting longer field goals this year? No doubt that was in the back of his mind when he sent pressure after Bo Nix on the play that resulted in intentional grounding. Knocked Denver out of field goal range there. They didn’t even get to use their non-rubbed balls.
15) Going back to bullet #4, the Birds were 3 for 3 on that RPO dive with Hurts pulling and throwing to a tight end instead.
16) A.J. Brown slowed up on that deep shot, no doubt. Not sure he gets there either way, but it would have been pretty close. That sequence is not going to be good for the discourse this week.
17) At one point, Romo called Jordan Mailata “Moolata,” which was pretty good. Like a mix between Moana and Mulatto. One of the better Freudian slips of this NFL season.
18) Massive cajones on Sean Payton to go for two after their second touchdown. You’ve got momentum on your side and so you take the risk. Throw the analytics out the window and play to your instincts instead.
19) You gotta hate that ineligible man downfield penalty call when the RPO pull and toss isn’t even within 15 yards of where the infraction occurred. It’s such a ticky-tack flag to throw…
20) …followed by an illegal shift. Technically the right call, but again, come on man.
21) There’s no doubt in my mind that Zack Baun went into this tackle knowing Harvey was fighting for extra yardage before his knees touched the ground. Not the reason they lost the game, but a really tough call either way:
22) Obvious pass interference on Dallas Goedert on the final drive. Refs snoozing. But it is what it is. On to the next one.
Kevin has been writing about Philadelphia sports since 2009. He spent seven years in the CBS 3 sports department and started with the Union during the team's 2010 inaugural season. He went to the academic powerhouses of Boyertown High School and West Virginia University. email - k.kinkead@sportradar.com