Each week, prior to kickoff, let’s take a look at some of the numbers that matter and keep them in mind when the game begins.
1. Philadelphia has one of the best running offenses in the league, averaging 150.3 yards per game on the ground, while Jacksonville has the very best run defense in the NFL, permitting just 55 yards per game.
That’s a paltry, minuscule number.
Jacksonville’s defense is the real deal with an aggressive, athletic, and physical front seven that the Eagles understand will be a challenge to handle. Establishing the run is always something the Eagles strive to do, and obviously Jacksonville’s first priority is containing the running game and forcing the Eagles’ offense into a one-dimensional approach. That worked perfectly for Jacksonville last Sunday in its win over the Chargers. Making this matchup even more interesting is the potential for windy and rainy conditions at Lincoln Financial Field throughout the game. Trey Sermon makes his Eagles debut with Boston Scott sidelined after suffering a rib injury in the win over Washington, so we will see how he is incorporated into the scheme and how he has absorbed the nuances of the offense. How well can Jacksonville handle the diversity of the Eagles’ running game, quarterback Jalen Hurts included? This is a chess match to follow, for sure.
2. We get our first look at Jacksonville quarterback Trevor Lawrence, the first overall pick in the 2021 NFL Draft. He’s tall – at 6-6, he’s mobile, he’s got a powerful arm, and he’s very smart. Head Coach Doug Pederson has Lawrence setting up and throwing quickly and not taking sacks – his sack percentage of 1.77 is best in the NFL. In the last two weeks, Lawrence has been ridiculous, completing 77 percent of his passes for 497 yards, five touchdowns, and no interceptions.
What does that tell us? It means he gets the ball out quickly, is processing what he sees very fast, and is extremely accurate. So, how do the Eagles play Lawrence and his arsenal of receivers that includes Christian Kirk, Zay Jones, Marvin Jones, Jr., and pass-catching tight end Evan Engram? The Eagles have matched very well with great receiver groups from Minnesota and Washington the last two weeks, so this is going to be fun to watch. Jonathan Gannon hopes he can throw a lot of different looks at Lawrence and give him something to think about, and the Eagles have the talent and experience to challenge any receiving corps.
3. This is a battle of two of the brightest and best young…
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