After a close loss to the Pittsburgh Steelers, the Eagles come back home to face the other AFC North defensive powerhouse: the Baltimore Ravens.
Before we dive into just how hard this game will be for the Eagles, let's take a look at last year's stats, their off-season additions/departures, and this year's stats.
2019 Ranks:
Yards per game: 407.6 (2nd)
Passing yards per game: 201.6 (27th)
Rushing yards per game: 206.0 (1st)
Points per game: 33.2 (1st)
Yards allowed per game: 300.6 (4th)
Passing yards allowed per game: 207.2 (6th)
Rushing yards allowed per game: 93.4
Points allowed per game: 17.6 (3rd)
Turnover differential: +10 (6th)
Key arrivals:
DE Calais Campbell (trade), DE Derek Wolfe (free agency), G D.J. Fluker (free agency), RB J.K. Dobbins (draft), LB Patrick Queen (draft)
Key departures:
LB Patrick Onwuasor (free agency), TE Hayden Hurst (trade), DT Michael Pierce (free agency), CB Brandon Carr (free agency), S Earl Thomas (released)
2020 Ranks:
Yards per game: 339.6 (24th)
Passing yards per game: 178.8 (31st)
Rushing yards per game: 160.8 (3rd)
Points per game: 29.8 (9th)
Yards allowed per game: 335.5 (6th)
Passing yards allowed per game: 243.0 (18th)
Rushing yards allowed per game: 92.0 (5th)
Points allowed per game: 15.2 (1st)
Turnover differential: +5 (T-3rd)
The Eagles What-if game
What if the Eagles drafted Patrick Queen in the first?
What if the Eagles kept L.J. Fort?
What if the Eagles drafted J.K. Dobbins to back up Sanders over Jalen Hurts?
What if the Eagles didn't trade up for Dillard and drafted Marquise Brown instead?
The Ravens have all of those players mentioned above.
J.K. Dobbins is being used sparingly but has given the Ravens 7.9 YPC on 16 carries. Marquise Brown has 319 yards on 22 receptions, 14.5 YPR. Queen is in the top ten in the league for tackles, and L.J. Fort has proven to be a valuable piece of a great defense.
This is going to be a game where many Eagles fans say "what if".
PSA: Don't bring up the trade back that landed the Ravens Lamar Jackson. Eagles weren't going to draft him. Irrelevant.
Protecting Carson Wentz
The Eagles will go into Sunday with their fifth different offensive line set up in six weeks. Matt Pryor was ruled out, so newcomer Jamon Brown will be making the start at right guard.
A new line combination vs a defense leading the league in blitzes (98) and is second in blitz percentage (44.5%) doesn't bode well for the Eagles.
The Ravens defense has been dominant:
https://twitter.com/Infante54/status/1317142594435141633?s=20
Calais Campbell, whom the Ravens got for a fifth-round pick, is tied for the team lead in pass deflections with five. Yes, a defensive lineman has five deflections. His ability to get up and disrupt the pass this season has been extremely good. The Eagles' leader is McLeod with five.
The Ravens have forced nine fumbles and have recovered seven of them.
Five different defensive backs have a sack. Marlon Humphrey is tied for the league lead in forced fumbles with three. Patrick Queen and Chuck Clark have two.
The Eagles offensive line, tight ends, and running backs will have their hands full trying to protect Carson Wentz.
For history and predictions, check out the next page.
Photo by Nicole Fridling/Icon Sportswire)
History
The Eagles and Ravens have played each other five times. Their first meeting in 1997 was a tie and they have split the other four. The Eagles lost the last meeting in 2016.
Eagles game Predictions
The 1-3-1 Eagles need to win this game to keep pace in the awful NFC East. The Ravens (4-1) look to keep pace with the 4-0 Steelers. The Eagles have 11 turnovers in five games. (T-1st). The Ravens have ten takeaways (2nd).
Yeah, I won't even pretend to think the Eagles have a chance in this. If I'm wrong, great. But this Ravens team is way too dominant in areas the Eagles struggle in. The Ravens win 35-21.
Eagles Stat predictions:
Wentz: 19/30 200 yards 2 TD 1 INT
Sanders: 13 rushes 70 yards 1 TD
Fulgham: 19 catches 200 yards.... (kidding.. maybe)
Offensive line: 4 sacks allowed
Hargrave: sack
#47: no ankles
Last week's stat predictions (with actual)
Wentz: 21/33 200 yards 1 TD (20/35 258 2 TD 2 INT)
Sanders: 17 rushes 68 yards 1 TD (11 rushes 80 yards 2 TD)
Ertz: 6 rec 70 yards (1 rec 6 yards)
Ward: 5 rec 40 yards 1 TD (4 rec 26 yards 1 TD)
Sweat: 1 sack (no)
#47: oblivious (yes)
Slay: INT (no)
Photo by Nicole Fridling/Icon Sportswire)
