The Eagles’ first “dress rehearsal” was an absolute nightmare, getting absolutely torched in a 24-7 loss to the Baltimore Ravens on Saturday. While everyone says preseason games “mean nothing,” some of those numbers coming out of M&T Bank Stadium are just stomach-churning. They got outgained by a brutal 440 yards to 159. The Ravens racked up a ridiculous 31 first downs compared to the Eagles’ measly 6. And what really grinds your gears? Ten penalties for 96 yards. That’s not a strategy problem, buddy, that’s a discipline problem, even for a game that doesn’t count. This defense was so horrid, it literally made a guy named Joe Fagnano look like an all-time legend, as he completed 22 of 28 passes for 224 yards and a touchdown. Seriously, it was tough to watch.
Yards, First Downs, and Flags: A Preseason Nightmare
Let’s just be real for a second: the stats from this game were beyond ugly. Giving up 440 yards while only gaining 159? Yikes. Allowing 31 first downs while your offense barely scratches out 6? That’s a beatdown, plain and simple. And those 10 penalties for almost a hundred yards are a huge red flag. Forget the score for a minute; that kind of sloppiness speaks volumes about a lack of discipline. It doesn’t matter if it’s preseason or the Super Bowl, you can’t be giving away free yards and first downs like that. It made the Ravens’ quarterback, Joe Fagnano, look like he was playing against air, and that’s just not acceptable for any NFL defense.
Any Bright Spots In That Trainwreck? Yeah, A Few.
Okay, so it wasn’t *all* bad. Amidst the chaos, some guys actually showed up. Linebacker Jeremiah Trotter Jr. was everywhere, finishing with five tackles, two solo, and a sack all in the first half. He was always around the ball and is definitely pushing for a starting role. Defensive tackle Ty Robinson also had a solid night, contributing two tackles, one for loss, a quarterback hit, and a sack in the first quarter, forcing a critical third-and-17. He’s had a good training camp and looks like he’ll add some much-needed depth. On offense, running back Will Shipley had a decent showing with 22 yards on 7 carries, and backup quarterback Cole Payton looked the best of the three QBs, completing 4 of 9 for 34 yards and a touchdown to Erik Ezukanma, even going off script for it. Rookie tight end Eli Sowers, after a rough start, finished with 3 catches on 3 targets for 12 yards, and cornerback Kelee Ringo grabbed the Eagles’ only interception of the game at their own 9-yard line in the final minute of the first half, a genuinely great defensive play. Darius Cooper also led the receivers with 2 catches for 21 yards, with a long of 13.
Mistakes Mount: Some Real Head-Scratchers
Unfortunately, some of those “bright spots” had a flip side. Eli Sowers, who caught a few passes, got flagged for holding on his very first snap as an NFL player. And the big question is, can he block? That could be a real problem. Kelee Ringo, who made that sweet interception, also got hit with a pass interference call in the first minute of the first half and is apparently “on the bubble” to begin with. Wide receiver Darius Cooper, despite leading the team in receiving, also had an Andy Dalton pass go right through his hands in the first quarter. Look, it’s preseason, but these are the kind of mistakes that cost you games when it actually matters. The Eagles need to iron out these fundamental issues ASAP.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Bleeding Green Nation.
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