The Philadelphia Eagles head to London on Sunday to face the Jacksonville Jaguars, looking to snap a two-game losing streak and get their season back on track.
When: Sunday, October 11th, 9:30AM E.T.
Where: Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, London
How: NFL Network, 6ABC
The Eagles have gone from 2–0 to 2–2 and lost 2 of their core offensive linemen as well.
Philadelphia first had their all-world RT Lane Johnson retire, then traded Cam Jurgens to the Baltimore Ravens a day later. The offensive line has struggled mightily and will look to return to its standard with a much younger core.
The Jaguars, meanwhile, enter the matchup at 3–1 and bring a strong run defense, but they do allow a lot in the air.
The biggest challenge for the Eagles will not be the travel; though playing in London is essentially a home game for the Jaguars, it will be whether the Philly offense can play complementary football.
This has become the obvious place to start every Eagles preview as their leaky OL has allowed historic pressure rates and eight sacks over the first four weeks. A position that was once penciled in to be their biggest strength is now looking for ways to survive.
The offense has struggled to play consistently or ever show any rhythm. When the line isn’t winning, the offense isn't moving.
They're facing a Jacksonville defense that has 10 sacks, headlined by Josh Hines-Allen. Jacksonville has enough speed and athleticism to make life difficult for an Eagles offensive line that has already struggled.
The Eagles are also likely to be without both Tank Bigsby, who is on the IR, and their starter Saquon Barkley. If the young running backs, Will Shipley and Dameon Pierce, are going to have any success, it will be by taking advantage of Jacksonville’s aggressiveness.
If they can redirect runs and keep Jacksonville honest, they'll give Jalen Hurts enough time to work; he has the talent to stress the Jags defense that gave up over 400 passing yards in multiple contests.
If the pressure continues, it won’t matter who is running routes or carrying the ball from the backfield.
The Eagles’ offense needs to find some consistency and sustain a drive. Everything is magnified when their offensive line isn't winning its battles and can't establish the run. Even if it isn’t highly efficient, they need to stick with it. Use shotgun, pistol, anything; be creative and stubborn.
Philadelphia has to make Jacksonville defend the entire field and utilize some of the offense we saw this summer. Motion, quick passing game concepts, designed QB runs, and find plays to limit Jacksonville from simply attacking their line without easy out answers.
Jalen Hurts cannot be asked to create everything himself; he needs quick fixes built into the game plan.
Trevor Lawrence is playing some of the best football of his career. He has completed 69.2 percent of his passes for 843 yards and 8 touchdowns. It sounds obvious, but the Eagles need to pressure Lawrence.
Parker Washington has 228 receiving yards, Brenton Strange has 167, and Jakobi Meyers has 165 through four games. The three of them have totaled 5 touchdowns. Brian Thomas Jr. has also found the end zone. The defense can not focus on one player.
Jacksonville can also run the football, control possession, and force defenses to tackle for four quarters.
Bhayshul Tuten has emerged as a major part of that attack, rushing for 277 yards and two touchdowns on 60 carries through four games. The Eagles have to stop that early.
If Jacksonville can consistently run the football on early downs, it will put Philadelphia on the field for extended periods, and as good as the Eagles' defense can be, we all just saw what happens when they are gassed.
Yes, this is becoming repetitive. That’s because it is the biggest issue facing this team. The Eagles have invested heavily in their offensive line for years, and the expectation was that this would continue to be one of the team’s biggest advantages. It hasn’t been.
The Eagles don’t need perfection; they need competence and to compete.
Give Hurts a clean pocket. Give the running game a chance to work. Stay ahead of the sticks. If Philadelphia can do those things, the offense has enough talent to move the football.
If it can’t, Jacksonville has the type of defense that can make a bad offensive afternoon even worse.
Jacksonville has six interceptions and a league-best +6 turnover differential. The Eagles cannot give the Jaguars extra possessions or short fields.
Philadelphia has to establish some semblance of a rushing attack. If Jacksonville doesn’t have to respect the run, it can unleash its pass rush.
Lawrence has played efficiently, but Philadelphia needs to make him uncomfortable. The defensive line has to create pressure without constantly sacrificing coverage.
The Birds have struggled mightily on third down, and for them to have any chance, that cannot continue.
Philadelphia has to sustain drives, stay ahead of the sticks, and keep their defense fresh to have a chance at the upset in London.
This is a completely different Jaguars team than the one Philadelphia has grown accustomed to. Jacksonville is 3–1, Trevor Lawrence is playing well, and the defense is creating turnovers.
The Eagles are coming off back-to-back losses and are dealing with significant injuries, particularly on offense.
That doesn’t mean Philadelphia can’t win, but the Eagles need to play better football than they have over the past four weeks. The only way I see them leaving Tottenham Hotspur Stadium victorious is by playing sound football for four quarters. Something they arguably have not done since Super Bowl 59.
Jaguars 24, Eagles 20
Jacksonville has been far more consistent through four weeks, and even though I don’t love picking against Jalen and the Eagles, I don’t have the confidence to trust the team to seal a victory until the offense proves it can protect Hurts.
I think Philadelphia keeps it close; I just dont have the confidence in them to overcome all of their issues. I hope they prove me wrong.
Eagles fans, remember the game starts at 9:30 AM EST!
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