The Eagles barely scraped by Washington in their season opener, a 24-22 win that saw their offensive line struggle big time. Now, with Pro Bowl left guard Landon Dickerson hitting injured reserve with a bruised right knee on Monday, they’re staring down a true game-wrecker in Tennessee Titans’ All-Pro defensive tackle Jeffery Simmons this Sunday at 1 p.m. in Tennessee. Simmons isn’t waiting for game day, either. He’s already called out Jalen Hurts, basically daring the Eagles to prove they can protect their guy.
Simmons Throws Down The Gauntlet
Simmons wasn’t holding back this week, blurting out the Titans’ Week 2 strategy for everyone to hear: “We just need to make Jalen Hurts be a QB. Stop his runs, make sure Hurts doesn’t get out of the pocket and make plays.” Talk about putting a target on a guy’s back! This is a clear challenge, especially for an Eagles offensive line that had “more than their share of breakdowns” last Sunday. With Dickerson out, second-year pro Drew Kendall, fresh off a strong training camp and preseason, is set to step in at left guard. That’s a huge test for a young player against one of the league’s best. The Titans’ defense, led by Simmons, is “about the only shot Tennessee has in beating the Eagles.” You know they’re going to feed him early and often, especially knowing the Eagles’ O-line is trying to find its footing.
Eagles Need To Clean Up The Mess
Eagles’ offensive coordinator Sean Mannion isn’t sugarcoating the O-line’s struggles from Week 1. He admitted, “Some of it is just execution, some of it’s fundamentals,” and the biggest problem was “being able to stay on schedule.” Getting “behind the sticks a little bit” and having “a free safety pressure early” because of communication breakdowns? That’s not good. Mannion emphasized, “We’ve just got to communicate a little bit better upfront,” and that “the better we’re able to stay on schedule, the better we’re going to be as an offense.” While the line was leaky, Jalen Hurts went into “Jordan mode” and “saved the day” against Washington. He threw for 203 yards and three touchdowns on 14 of 25 passing, adding 46 yards on the ground. His 22-yard scramble on third-and-18 in the fourth quarter was the “play of the game,” a critical first down that kept them alive. But relying on Hurts to constantly bail them out isn’t a sustainable plan, especially with Simmons eyeing him.
Titans’ head coach Robert Saleh has a history of figuring out Hurts and beating the Eagles, doing it as the Jets’ head coach and as the 49ers’ defensive coordinator, even when the Eagles were favored. Expect Saleh to “attack with four and drop seven in a zone,” bringing pressure from “different angles” to keep Hurts guessing. With a “game-wrecker like Simmons,” who will “probably have to be double-teamed,” the Eagles’ ability to communicate, execute, and protect Hurts will be the ultimate deciding factor. This isn’t just a Week 2 game; it’s a statement for that O-line. Can they keep Simmons out of Hurts’ face, or will the Titans’ plan work?
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Yahoo Sports.
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