Menu Close

THE NOTEBOOK: Why the Eagles’ win against the Bills was encouraging

The Eagles showed signs of life.

For the first time all year excluding the New York Jets game, the Philadelphia Eagles controlled a football game and dictated the pace of it. They won it the way that they wanted to win it. They weathered an early storm, took over during the late stages of the first half and early in the second and then put it away in the fourth quarter.

Let’s break down the Eagles’ 31-13 win against the Bills.

HOW THE GRADING WORKS

To put it simply a (+) is a win for the offense, a (-) is a win for the defense and a (/) is a tie. For example, if a team has a 1st and 10 and the offense picks up five-or-more yards it’s a win for them. It’s a victory for the defense if they hold the offense to three yards or fewer. A four-yard gain is a tie.

An offensive touchdown results into (+++), but a turnover forced by the defense gets (- – ). A field goal is (++) and a safety (–). If the defense forces a three-and-out they get a bonus of (–).

(++)- Offense gains 15-29 yards past the original line of scrimmage. If the offense commits a holding penalty and they pick up 15 yards on a 1st and 20, the offense gets just one (+) instead of two.

(+++)- 30-49 yards (++++)-

50-74 yards (+++++)-

75-or-more yards (+++++)-

WEEK 8: Philadelphia at Buffalo

Buf 1st Poss: 15:00
1+10 (25) sing11ML10- Edwards pursuit, in on tackle (-)
2+10 (25) off10- Gore up the middle, Cox tck, Kamu shot through initially
3+6 (29) gun21- showed blitz and pulled back, Cox uses right arm to rip and power through Feliciano, beat him off his right shoulder (-)
5-0 Phi | Cox strip-sack
Bills 0/1 on 3+6 plus

Phi 1st Poss: 12:51
1+10 (19) sing21HBL- Ertz trap block, Howard up the middle 3 yds (-)
2+8 (21) sing02- Howard puts shoulder into Edmunds and gains an extra 4 yards (+)
3+2 (27) sing12sstiHBL- Agholor right flat, 31 Marlow gets outflanked (+)
1+10 (34) sing20- Howard up the middle for 4 (/)
2+6 (38) sing20HBR- Edmunds, backside pursuit on Howard run wide right (-)
3+4 (40) gun22- quick slant left side Jeffery, Wallace breaks on ball immediately. (-)
3-2 Buf | 7-3 Phi | Wallace breaks on the quick slant

Buf 2nd Poss: 10:09
1+10 (20) gun1buti- Smith over the middle, sandwiched by Gerry and Edwards (-)
2+4 (26) I10- Edwards strong tackle on Gore while being blocked (/)
3+1 (29) I01- run gets stuffed, power play off RT, Cox in on tackle (-)
4-0 Phi | 11-3 Phi | Run gets stuffed on 3rd and short
Phi 2nd Poss: 8:13
1+10 (27) gun11- Dillard gets overpowered by Lawson, Star bull rush on Kelce, sack on Wentz (-)
2+15 (22) gun21HBR- Goedert push from right side 5 yds, Howard 5 yds (-)
3+10 (27) gun31- White PI on Ertz, grabbed him on pivot back to inside (+)
1+10 (35) sing12HBL- Agholor jet sweep left side, Jeffery block along perimeter (+)
1+10 (49) gun03- Howard stuffed up the middle (-)
2+10 (49) gun13- Sanders screen left, Kelce great block out in front, nice cut to the inside by Sanders (++)
1+10 (24) gun2B21- PA back shoulder left sideline, White physical coverage (-)
2+10 (24) gun1buti- Wentz takes off and picked up 5 (/)
3+5 (19) gun12sstiMLHBL- thrown behind Ertz, double covered (-)
Eliott FG (++)
6-5 Phi | 17-8 Phi | Sanders screen, looks more decisive in the open field

Buf 3rd Poss: 3:38
1+10 (25) sgun1buti- Brown cross, big hit by McLeod 6 yds (+)
2+4 (31) sing12ss- PA boot left, Brown over the middle, crossing right to left 8 yds (+)
1+10 (39) gun12- lots of time for Allen, nobody open, inc to Kroft (-)
2+10 (39) gunssti2- Allen tried to take off and Edwards in on tck, that’s three plays that he’s made already (-)
3+8 (41) gun12- BG late pressure, deep comeback Brown on Darby left sideline (++) roughing QB on top of it BG
1+10 (35) gun20- Feliciano block on Edwards, Gore up the middle for a quick 5 (+)
2+5 (30) gun13- Allen right boundary, Jenkins unn rough (++)
1+GL (8) pisoff12M- Jenkins times snap, into BF on Singletary, Singletary motioned left and came back to take pop pass (-)
2+GL (9) gun13- FS, Allen PA TA (-)
3+GL (14) Allen keeps play alive, finds Beasley for a TD. 3rd and longs are stilling killing the Eagles, Gerry chose to take Allen instead of Beasley and left him free (+++)
7-3 BUF
10-4 Buf | 21-18 Phi | 3rd and 8 converted, as was 3rd and goal from the 14
2/3 3+6 plus

Phi 3rd Poss: 14:48
1+10 (25) gun20- Agholor flip left 1-yd loss (-)
2+11 2+16 gun12HBL- Seumalo and Dillard out in front TE screen Goedert left side 11 yds (-)
3+6 (29) gun23MBF13- swing pass right, wide open terrain in front for Sanders (++)
1+10 (44) sing21HBLMR- Oliver strong tackle, no gain (-)
2+10 (44) gun21- Jeffery hauls in wide throw from Wentz, double move comeback right sideline on White (+)
1+!0 (45) gun20- PA boot right, inc to Ertz, looked like pass was tipped (-)
2+10 (45) quick slant Agholor on 31 Marlow Left slot (+)
3+4 (49) gun10HBR- Matt Milano sliced into the BF, tried to pop pass it to Agholor lined up in BF, too predictable with Agholor lined up in BF (-)
5-4 Buf | 25-23 Phi | Big play by Milano on 3rd and 4,

Buf 4th Poss: 9:34
1+10 (20) off11MR02DS- Riley all over DiMarco wheel (-)
2+10 (20) gun21- zone read keep, Curry in on Gore Allen pulled it out and got 5 (/)
3+5 (25) gun12- Barnett off the edge, Allen takes off for 6 right side (+)
1+10 (31) gun22SSti- Kroft down the right sideline, 20 yds, good ball from Allen, (++)
1+10 (49) gun20- Allen takes off up the middle again, 3 yds (-)
2+7 (48) gun13- Gore off RT, Gerry in on tck (-)
3+6 (47) gunss1- thrown behind Beasley, Barnett heat again (-)
4-3 Phi | 29-26 Phi | Barnett some pressure on drive, Allen’s legs taking off up the middle, had zone read keeper, kept earlier play alive twice with his legs and made play with arm
2/4 3+6 plus

Phi 4th Poss: 6:00
1+10 (20) gun12- Howard LG 5 yds, Seumalo combo (+)
2+5 (25) gun02- 97 shoots into BF, Hughes in BF on Howard (-) 3-4 last year, 6-3 close
3+9 (21) gun22MR13- Jeffery left sideline comeback on White, great throw (+)
1+10 (34) gun02- Wentz escapes pocket to his left, Ertz unable to make a one-handed catch on back shoulder left sideline Poyer solid coverage (-)
2+10 (34) gun13- Edmunds chases Sanders down from behind (-)
3+6 (38) gunbu1- Wentz pressured again, dump to Ertz right flat and stopped shy of sticks (-)
4-2 Buf | 31-30 Phi | Wentz pressured on drive, had to escape a lot

Buf 5th Poss: 2:30 ish
1+!0 (20) sing11- launched deep, Darby downfield with Foster (-)
2+10 (20) Nice tackle by Mills, didn’t get first down because of it (+)
3+2 (28) gun30- BG in on Allen, got of Kroft strip sack on designed run (—)
6-1 Phi | 37-31 Phi | BG punches the ball loose, 7th fumble and 3rd one lost by Allen

Phi 5th Poss: 1:53
1+10 (23) sing02- Sanders 6 yds LG (+)
2+4 (17) sing20- Sanders up the middle 3 more (/)
3+1 sing11- sneak (+)
1+10 (12) sing12- Wentz picks up 8 yards along the left sideline, lots of PA boots being used, TE and RB screens, Goedert block (+)
2+3 (5) sing02- pumped right, came back left to Goedert TD (+++)
2pt- Sanders pitch to right, lineman out in front (+)
11-7 PHI
7-0 Phi | 44-31 Phi | HUGE TD before the half, getting ball to start 2nd half

Buf 6th Poss: 25 Kneel


Phi 6th Poss: 15:00
1+10 (33) gun12HBRML-Howard stuffed up the middle 2 yds (-)
2+8 (35) 2B12- Howard with lead block, Kelce on Edmunds and Sanders all the way down the left sideline for a TD 65-yd TD, EXPLODED DOWN THE LEFT SIDELINE, HOWARD WITH THE LEAD BLOCK (+++++++)
missed extra point (-)
17-7 PHI
7-2 Phi | 51-33 Phi | Buffalo is stout defensively up the middle and have been bottling Howard up, but Sanders has been gaining along edges with runs and screens.

NFL RANKS SINCE 2016
+161 Point differential
100 yds per 3rd quarter
70 yds passing
1st IN EVERYTHING
All about weathering storm in first quarter because if you keep it close, you pull away in the second half

Buf 7th Poss: 14:02
1+10 (25) sing11FJS- Singletary got wide left, hold, Edwards got hand in and forced fumble that went OOB (P)
1+20 (15) gun12- out from slot Singletary, unable to haul it in with Gerry in coverage (-),
2+20 (15) gun12- Duke flip left , hitch, Darby imm tck (-)
3+14 (21) gun12- Allen rolls right by design, Brown deep comeback right sideline (+)
1+10 (40) singss1- PA boot left, penetration and pressure but Kroft free in left flat 12 yds (+)
1+10 (48) singssti1- Jenkins darted after Allen forced TA, Eagles not blitzing as much in this game (-)
2+10 (48) gun03- Gerry shot through for initial tackle, Singletary 1 yd (-)
3+8 (50) gun03- Beasley quick out on Jones right side, played closer to line 21 yds, unable to get hands on him (++)
1+10 (25) sing21- Cox initial penetration powered through, Allen tried to break free and 3 yd loss, ruled gave himself up (-)
2+13 (28) gun21- low throw to Brown left sideline, Douglas decent coverage (-)
3+13 (28) gun21- Singletary left flat, runs through tackle Douglas? and TD (++++)
XP blocked (-)
17-13 Phi
8-6 Buf | 57-41 Phi | 3rd and longs and Eagles STILL CAN’T GET OFF THE FIELD
5/7 3+6 plus

Phi 7th Poss: 9:36
1+10 (32) gun20TTssti- dropped it into the hole of defense, sluggo, beat 39 Wallace, safety 23 Hyde couldn’t get there 38 yds (+++)
1+10 (30) gun02TEsstiL- Phillips powered through Seumalo and then swiped him away for sack (-)
2+17 (37) sing03- screen right 15 yds Howard, blockers in front and drove forward, Kelce (+)
3+2 (23) singDSSTI- short hitch Jeffery in front of White (+)
1+10 (19) offsides
1+5 (14) sing20TES- wide right Howard, getting it going out wide along boundaries, Brooks two blocks (+)
1+GL (4) sing11- off LT TD Scott, Dillard seal, Lane trap (+++)
9-1 Phi | 66-42 Phi | Jeffery sluggo, hitch on 3rd and short, 15/20 147 Wentz efficient

Buf 8th Poss: 5:38
1+10 (25) gun22DSS- Allen low throw left flat inc to Singletary (-)
2+10 (25) gun21- Allen takes off for 5 yds (/)
3+5 (30) gun12ssti- BG all over the screen left flat (-)
Scott fumbles punt (+++)
1+10 (43) off20- Gore up the middle for 6 yds (+)
2+4 (37) gun12- Gore up the middle, big surge from OL on back to back plays (+)
1+10 (29) gun12- Singletary right flat, Gerry all over it (-)
2+8 (27) gunbu- Allen puts ball into the ground, screen didn’t materialize (-)
3+8 (27) gun22- sack BG , Allen tried to take off right side (-)
4+10 (29) gun21- Darby nice play on Brown, deep in, on his hip and knocked it away glove tech (-)
6-4 Phi | 72-46 Phi | Bills go for it and Darby knocks it away

Phi 8th Poss: 1:33
1+10 (29) singss1HBR- Milano makes play on Agholor, deep in BF, jet sweep action again (-)
2+19 (20) gun21HBL- Off LT run 9 yds (-)
3+10 (29) gun32MBF31- Johnson nickel blitz sack (-)
5-0 Buf | 3rd time tried to run with Agholor, worked 1st time, not next two times, still down hate the calls, Milano is good, they pursue well and disciplined within gaps

Buf 9th Poss: 14:51
1+10 (38) gun21- wide of Williams right sideline, Mills in coverage, good coverage (-)
2+10 (38) gun22- Jenkins great coverage on Kroft slot fade route (-)
3+10 (38) gun21BFslot22- 6/12 on 3rd down inc right sideline in area of John Brown right sideline, poor throw (-)
5-0 Phi | Back to back sloppy sequences by both Philly and Buffalo

Phi 9th Poss: 14:28
1+10 (17) sing10- Howard cutback RG 5 yds, Goedert block (+)
2+5 (22) gun12- Howard stuffed up the middle (-)
3+5 (22) gun12- Wentz takes it himself right side (+)
1+10 (35) sing02- Howard up the middle stuffed (-)
2+10 (35) sing12ss- nearly intercepted by Hyde, read screen play (-)
3+10 (35) gun13- Wentz takes it himself and gets the 1st down again, QB draw (+)
1+10 (45) Howard up the middle 4 yds (/)
2+6 PA boot right, Goedert right flat 7 yds (+)
1+10 (44) Howard big burst up the middle, Brooks and Seumalo (++) 133 rush yds at 8:45 of 4th (2nd half?)
1+10 (24) Howard up the middle 3 yds (-)
2+7 (-)
3+7 good protection, post corner to Ertz
1+GL (3) wide right Howard no gain (/)
2+GL Howard up the middle TD (+++)
9-5 Phi | EXACTLY WHAT I TALKED ABOUT, GET OFF TO A BETTER START, WEATHER THE EARLY STORM, GET A LEAD IN THE 4th AND PUT IT AWAY WITH THE RUNNING GAME. LONG, METHODICAL DRIVE AND A TD
31-13 PHI
14 plays 83 yds 8:17

Final: 31-13 Eagles 86-56 (1 ¼*)

 


You can follow Adrian Fedkiw on Twitter (@AdrianFedkiw) and e-mail him at [email protected]. Subscribe to The Bitter Birds on YouTube here.

Follow Philly Influencer on Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram.

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.