Anthony DiBona
Here are five takeaways from last night’s Eagles/Jets game, penned by our Eagles writer, Anthony DiBona. Follow Anthony on Twitter (@Anthony_DiBona).
Finally! The Rock has come back to…actually, I’m just really excited that the preseason is finally over! That means actual meaningful NFL games are almost here. But first our beloved Philadelphia Eagles had to close out their preseason slate of games against that other green team, the New York Jets.
Despite suffering their first and only loss of the preseason, there were plenty of things to take away from last night’s 24-18 loss to the Jets. Here are five takeaways from the Eagles’ performance against the other New York team:
1) “Tebow Time” is here to stay in Philadelphia
While I know many of you won’t be happy to hear this, Eagles quarterback Tim Tebow is here to stay. He will likely survive the team’s final cuts on Saturday at 4:00 PM EST and he blatantly outplayed his competitor for the final quarterback spot, Matt Barkley, on Thursday night. Tebow finished the game completing 11 of his 17 throws for 189 yards and two touchdowns. He also added 32 rushing yards on four carries as well, showcasing his versatility. Chip Kelly has been dying to prove to the rest of the NFL that he can make Tebow a competent back-up quarterback and he seems to be on his way to doing so.
2) Kiko Alonso finally makes his debut
After waiting nearly two years, Kiko Alonso finally stepped back onto an NFL field Thursday night. Alonso’s debut gave many a reason to actually watch Thursday’s action and he certainly didn’t disappoint. Although he made one mistake in coverage, Alonso was all over the field and racked up two solo tackles on his only defensive drive of the game. It was important for Alonso to get some real game action before the team’s regular season opener against the Atlanta Falcons on Monday Night Football.
For those keeping track, Kiko Alonso officially credited with 2 tackles in his #Eagles debut.
— Dave Spadaro (@EaglesInsider) September 4, 2015
3) Raheem Mostert puts on a show
Although it seems like Kenjon Barner has locked up the fourth and final running back spot on the Eagles’ roster, that didn’t stop Raheem Mostert on Thursday night. The undrafted rookie put on an absolute show and put the rest of the NFL on notice. Mostert was involved as runner, receiver and kick returner throughout the night. Mostert had 15 carries for 69 yards, 8 receptions for 93 yards and three kick returns for 77 yards. That’s 239 total yards! Quite an impressive performance for an undrafted rookie. Hopefully the Eagles can somehow sneak Mostert onto their practice squad but that sadly doesn’t seem likely at this point.
4) Freddie MartinWOAH!
For a player that was signed midway through training camp, wide receiver Freddie Martino has certainly made some impressive plays for the Eagles. Tonight’s game was his best performance thus far and he made two impressive plays. Not only did Martino haul in a 45-yard bomb from Tim Tebow…that’s right, Tebow threw a football 45 yards. But he also made this ridiculous toe-tapping touchdown catch with some help from his helmet:
Tebow. Touchdown. Magic. #PHIvsNYJ
— NFL (@NFL) September 4, 2015
5) Bryan Braman continues to dominate
Although he’s been going against back-ups throughout the entire preseason, Eagles outside linebacker Bryan Braman is proving he’s more than just a “special team’s ace.” Braman has dominated the opposition during the preseason this year, consistently getting pressure on every quarterback he goes up against. Whether he’s taking them for a trip to “Suplex City” or just bringing them down the old traditional way, Braman has proven he deserves more time on the defensive side of the ball for the Eagles when the games actually matter.
https://vine.co/v/epngMv7BEeg
Check back here next week when I take an overall look at the NFC East and my preview for the Eagles/Falcons game. And make sure you keep it at PhillyInfluencer.com for some of the best Eagles coverage around.