Yeah, the Eagles lost their preseason opener to the Ravens 24-7, but let’s be real, who cares about the final score in August? What did sting, though, was watching the offense flat-line, putting up a paltry 100 yards on their first 31 plays. Seriously? One hundred yards on over thirty snaps? It was rough. Thankfully, Cole Payton finally led a scoring drive later in the fourth quarter to at least get something on the board. But hold up, before you go ripping your hair out, Kelee Ringo came through with a massive interception of Xavier Guillory, a real spark in an otherwise slow offensive showing. That’s the kind of play that reminds you why we still watch these early games, even when they’re mostly snooze-fests.
Offense Looked Like a Throwback (And Not the Good Kind)
Let’s talk about the offense, because, woof. It looked a lot like the 2025 offense, and we all know how that went. The backup QB battle? It’s still a battle because neither guy really separated themselves. Andy Dalton got the start and had a tough night, going 3/6 for just 20 yards and a 57.6 passer rating. He was in for nine plays, gained 12 yards, and punted three times. Not exactly sharp. Tanner McKee wasn’t much better, finishing 6/10 for 35 yards and a 66.7 rating. This outing totally reflected what we’ve seen in training camp; there’s no real favorite for that QB2 spot.
The offensive line, with Fred Johnson at LT, John Ojukwu at LG, Willie Lampkin at C, Drew Kendall at RG, and Markel Bell at RT, had its issues too. Rookie tight end Eli Stowers got flagged for holding on the very first play from scrimmage, wiping out a Tank Bigsby run. Then Johnson had a false start, pushing the offense back to 3rd-and-15. That first drive? Three plays, three yards, punt. Sean Mannion, our first-time offensive coordinator, was calling plays from the sideline, which was a bit of a surprise, but even that didn’t stop the struggles.
Defense Had Its Moments, And Position Battles Are Heating Up
While the offense was figuring things out, some guys on defense actually showed up, thankfully. Jeremiah Trotter Jr., who started at linebacker next to Jihaad Campbell, blew past the line for a huge sack on Tyler Huntley. That blitzing ability from Trotter Jr. is something that really stands out and could be a major asset. Ty Robinson also beat his blocker to sack Huntley, putting the Ravens’ offense in 3rd-and-17. Robinson has been picking things up recently after a slow start to camp, which is great to see. It wasn’t all perfect though; A.J. Epenesa dropped into coverage and gave up an explosive play, which probably isn’t the best way to utilize a player like him.
Position battles are always spicy this time of year. At safety, Marcus Epps, who we hear isn’t injured, didn’t dress while Michael Carter II did. Still, Epps has been taking most of the first-team reps in camp, so he’s still got the advantage there. Britain Covey was first up at punt returner, and Quez Watkins and Elijah Moore were the first combo for kick returner duties. It’s early, but you gotta wonder if these defensive flashes from guys like Trotter Jr. and Robinson can turn into consistent play as the regular season gets closer. These early trends matter.
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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