Roob's Observations: Eagles blow out Bengals in Cincinnati

Roob’s Observations: Eagles blow out Bengals in Cincinnati on the starting build regarded on NBC Sports Philadelphia

Three straight wins, two straight blowouts, a 5-2 file and the Eagles explore love a true football crew again.

The offense looked expansive. The protection looked unparalleled. And this apt would be a fun season despite all the pieces.

The Eagles went into Cincinnati Sunday and earned themselves a commanding 37-17 gain over a harmful Bengals crew. It used to be spectacular stuff for the duration of.

Right here’s our 10 Speedy Observations because the Eagles be pleased a three-game successful trip for the first time in practically a twelve months.

1. Right here’s a gain the Eagles be pleased wanted for a in fact long time. On the road against an elite quarterback and a quality crew with all phases running at a high stage. We didn’t be taught primary from the Browns and Giants excluding that the Eagles would possibly perhaps perchance beat terrible teams with lousy quarterbacks. This used to be Joe Burrow, Ja’Marr Whisk, Trey Hendrickson and a upsetting matchup that the Eagles fully dominated. And irrespective of blowing the dwelling opener vs. the Falcons and irrespective of getting embarrassed by the Bucs the Eagles get themselves at 5-2 with a three-game successful trip, and the conversation about Slash Sirianni would possibly perhaps perchance also soon be just a few contract extension as a replacement of when he’s getting fired. You’ve got to love how the Eagles be pleased bounced again from some early adversity and taken their station among the NFL’s easiest. And tell what you’d like about Sirianni, he’s unprecedented at getting his crew ready, getting them assured and getting them to shrug off irrespective of adversity hits. Getting them to factor in in themselves. And a season that just a few weeks in the past regarded like it used to be in disarray now has so primary promise. The Eagles are legit. How about that.

2. Very encouraging stuff from the Eagles’ protection. After the Bengals opened the game with a 17-play, 70-yard touchdown drive, they in fact did explore unstoppable. Joe Burrow used to be 11-for-12 on the drive for 60 yards with a touchdown pass to Ja’Marr Whisk. But one hallmark of Vic Fangio’s protection is that they decide things out along the plot in which, and coverage tightened up, stress improved and so that they held Cincinnati to 10 points and apt 210 yards. The Bengals had been 6-for-6 on third down in the first drive and then 4-for-7 the remainder of the plot in which. Adjustments. The Eagles even bought two 4th-quarter defenses for the first time in two years – since a gain over the Steelers when Chauncey Gardner-Johnson picked off Kenny Pickett and Javon Hargrave compelled a Pickett fumble. Over the final three weeks, this protection has held the Browns, Giants and Bengals to 29 points – the first time since early in 2016 they’ve allowed fewer than 30 points over a three-week span. Burrow focused Whisk 11 times and he had 54 yards. That’s huge. Big coverage, huge stress, huge tackling. Second half, Burrow didn’t even total a pass longer than 13 yards. This Bengals offense is harmful, nonetheless their final eight drives netted apt 10 points. That’s elite protection. Right here’s one of the youngest defenses in the league and so that they’re easiest going to enhance.

3. This used to be the most straight forward Jalen Hurts has looked in a protracted, long time. Potentially since the first Dallas game final twelve months. He carried out 16 of 20 passes for 236 yards with a 45-yard TD to DeVonta Smith, three dashing TDs and for the fourth straight game no interceptions. He unfold the ball round, he made huge decisions, he bought rid of the ball immediate, he apt looked expansive engaged and it regarded love his mind used to be working snappy. That’s three straight video games with out a turnover and four straight with out an interception. When a quarterback can drive the ball down the field and be aggressive while avoiding turnovers, you’re going to gain practically each time. Three video games since the bye, Hurts is at 71 p.c with four touchdown passes, no interceptions and a 3-0 file. He’s not forcing the ball anymore. He will not be dashing things. He looks to be like as overjoyed as he has since 2022 and Kellen Moore and Doug Nussmeier be pleased plenty to beget with that, nonetheless Hurts deserves a ton of credit for cleansing up the flaws in his game and getting again to doing the things he does nicely.

4. We want to chat about Cooper DeJean. That 4th-and-1 play he made on Ja’Marr Whisk used to be apt huge. Right here’s a 21-twelve months-passe minute one playing playing in his third-career game on protection in the initiate field against a man who’s made the Pro Bowl each and each twelve months he’s been in the league while averaging over 1,200 yards per season. DeJean diagnosed it perfectly, bought to Whisk sooner than he would possibly perhaps perchance flip upfield and introduced him down with a grip on his leg so he couldn’t trip. DeJean has made such an huge distinction since Fangio build him in the slot as a replacement of Avonte Maddox. He’s physical, he’s tricky, he’s immediate and he’s a certain tackler. He’s for the duration of the ball and genuinely should always be pleased had his first interception in the 2nd quarter. Right here’s a rookie who had performed eight career snaps on protection sooner than the Browns game, and he’s giving the Eagles next-stage play very early in his career. I don’t know if I’ve ever considered a personnel replace label this sort of correct away affect. DeJean is a flat-out stud.

5. I will’t give sufficient props to Isaiah Rodgers for that 4th-quarter pass breakup that resulted in Chauncey Gardner-Johnson’s interception. The Eagles led 27-17 with 12 ½ minutes left and the Bengals had a 1st-and-10 come midfield when Burrow threw deep to Whisk down the apt sideline. Most ceaselessly, Darius Assassinate would possibly perhaps perchance be defending Whisk in that station, nonetheless he had apt left the game with a groin injury and Rodgers used to be in the market in his station. After being compelled to take a seat out final twelve months with his gambling suspension, he’d performed easiest 41 snaps on protection all twelve months. But he used to be ready for the 2nd and likewise you’ve bought to love the plot in which he didn’t backpedal against one of the straight forward huge receivers in the NFL. Rodgers had huge coverage and batted the ball in the air, where Gardner-Johnson used to be ready and picked up the Eagles’ first interception since Week 3. It’s a terrific play whoever makes it, nonetheless the truth that it used to be a man who had apt entered the game moments earlier and had performed 41 snaps since 2022 makes it even more particular.

6. Some days Saquon Barkley is apt going to disappear all over the build the loads of crew, and that’s superior when he does. After which would possibly perhaps perchance even be video games love this, where he apt chips away, chips away, chips away, the yards don’t come so with out teach, and at final he breaks through. You’ve bought to present it to Kellen Moore for persevering with to feed Barkley on today when the yards aren’t coming so with out teach. He’s so freaking proficient that apt about each time it’s going to pay off. By three quarters, Barkley had 15 carries for 51 yards for 3.4 yards per carry. Final drive in the fourth quarter? Seven carries for 57 yards. Barkley is so huge and tricky and strong that he apt wears down defenders. It looks love because the game goes on he gets stronger and stronger and by the fourth quarter he’s apt steamrolling of us. Barkley carried out with 108 dashing yards irrespective of the dreary initiate and now has 766 dashing yards in exactly seven video games, which is insane. He’s a beast.

7. Grant Calcaterra is in fact developing into moderately a weapon in the receiving game, and he’s not primary of a blocker – though the teach will not be any doubt there – nonetheless he is immediate and has soft hands and clearly has the trust of Hurts, who he spent a twelve months with at Oklahoma in 2019. Calcaterra had 19- and 28-yard catches Sunday and with Dallas Goedert out since very early in the Browns game, he has seven catches for 130 the final three weeks, which is huge-time manufacturing. This from a man averaging 5.2 yards per game in his career going into the Cleveland game. Calcaterra easiest has 11 receptions this twelve months, nonetheless that capabilities catches of 15, 19, 20, 26 and 34 yards. You’re repeatedly going to miss a man love Goedert, who’s an elite blocker and a huge-time receiver. But Calcaterra has in fact helped label up for his absence with a bunch of huge plays. I’d desire to explore a characteristic for him as soon as Goedert does come again.

More coming …