2-2 feels a lot better than 1-3, right Eagles fans? It feels even better knowing that the Cowboys dropped a very winnable game against New Orleans and the divisional race is well and truly back on. But how do the Eagles grade through four weeks of the regular season?
Quarterback
With the exception of a strange first half against Atlanta, it's hard to grade Carson Wentz as anything less than exceptional. The face of the franchise had 9 touchdowns and just 2 interceptions so far despite a shorthanded offense struggling with ball-security issues and a lack of discipline prior to the win in Green Bay.
Wentz looks confident in the pocket and is navigating it with ease which is a night/day transformation in comparison to what we saw last year. He's still making the Houdini moves that make us question if he really is a human or some genetically mutated 'super-quarterback', but is playing with a composure and calmness that has dragged this offense from the brink on several occasions. The questionable throws are becoming less and less, and his decision making more reliable.
We're seeing the evolution of Carson Wentz right before our very eyes and if you ever wanted a season to demonstrate the importance of a franchise quarterback, look no further than this one.
Grade: A
Running back
The Green Bay game saved this backfield from an abysmal grade. There had been flashes of versatility, brilliance, and dominance, but it was all overshadowed by a complete lack of identity as the team appeared to try and force the 'jack-of-all-trades' tag on Miles Sanders, despite having backs who excelled in niches stood right next to him.
But then they played the Packers.
Jordan Howard finally saw a heavy workload, leading the Birds with 15 carries, averaging 5.8 yards per attempt and scoring 2 rushing touchdowns along with catching a third on a wheel route. This was the game fans had been begging to see since the season opener and it did not disappoint.
Miles Sanders appeared to carry the ball with the mindset of clinging on for dear life that night and a fired-up offensive line (more on that shortly) helped propel him to a career-night in terms of rushing yards.
The Green Bay game showed to restore hope in the Eagles backfield, balancing an offense against a ruthless defense and ridiculous odds on the road. For that reason alone, the grade increases from what would've been a confusing 'D', to a much higher score.
Grade: C+
Offensive line
In a similar vein to the running backs, the Green Bay game has saved this grade. They didn't allow a single sack on Carson Wentz and only 2 QB hits, paving the way for a whopping 176 rushing yards.
This comes after allowing 7 sacks through the opening three games, a play that was scrutinized for 'lack of effort', and some poor run blocking.
It has to be said that the Eagles offensive line didn't play a single snap together during preseason, so maybe it just took a little time to gel as it once did during the Andy Reid era.
Either way, we all know how much talent and potential this line has and we're finally beginning to see the true representation of that...even if it took 3 weeks of stress.
Grade: C
Tight End
The Eagles sorely missed Dallas Goedert as a run-blocker and it showed upon his return. The man was a force to be reckoned with but as a receiver, drops have plagued his game...that was until his red-zone TD snag on Thursday night.
As for Zach Ertz, it's business as usual. The elite tight end has 255 receiving yards through 4 games but is still without a score up to this point.
You get the feeling that keeping a third tight end (Richard Rodgers had he not been injured) would've been supremely beneficial for a group that's paper-thin when it comes to depth. Either way, when they're rolling, the pairing of Ertz and Goedert are just as impressive as they were last year.
Grade: C+
Wide receiver
After an explosive season-opener, missing Alshon and D-Jax really hurt this offense. Mack Hollins became an OPI machine, JJ Arcega-Whiteside was unable to provide anything productive outside of a couple of catches for minimal yardage, and then there was the whole 'drop' saga.
Nelson Agholor rebounded from those wobbles strongly, which was just as well considering how much the group was struggling. Agholor put the group on his back until Jeffery's return, which even then was less than spectacular due to the #1 wideout being less than 100%. Although, he did catch a red zone touchdown.
We can only grade off what we've seen, and it's been a bang-average season so far because of the injuries and inconsistencies that have plagued the unit. The potential is there when the group is fully healthy however and a few more weeks like the season opener will see this grade soar into the stratosphere.
Grade: C
Defensive grades continued on the page below.
Mandatory Credit: Jeff Hanisch-USA TODAY Sports
Defensive tackle
Timmy Jernigan and Malik Jackson both played really well...until they suffered injuries. In fairness, Akeem Spence has played very well, as has Hassan Ridgeway.
The man shouldering the load has been Fletcher Cox, who has 2 QB hits and 1 TFL on the season but has been held without a sack thus far.
While the whole pass-rush has been able to bake the cake, they've all suffered from an inability to put the icing on and create the finished product. However, conceding just 97 yards on the ground in 4 games is simply outstanding and can largely be attributed to the run-stuffing prowess of the defensive tackles.
Grade: C+
Defensive end
We're finally seeing some flashes of explosiveness from Josh Sweat after a quiet preseason, but while the finished product, like the DT's, isn't there yet, one cannot fault this unit for its hustle.
Derek Barnett and Brandon Graham are doing all they can to force QB hurries and rank toward the top of the league in pressures. Strip-sacks and Derek Barnett go together like Jam and Cream (I'm British, remember) and sealing the edge has become a specialty for this paring.
The numbers aren't sexy, the analytics are good-looking, but the film is straight-up saucy. Limited by quarterbacks getting the ball out at a rapid rate, this unit is doing all it can with the setbacks it will naturally encounter.
Grade: B+
Linebacker
Nigel Bradham has been woefully inconsistent, Zach Brown is beginning to settle in nicely, and Nate Gerry will demonstrate the Football IQ of Belichick on one play, before losing it the next.
As far as tackling goes, Bradham and Brown have combined for 41, which is about as good as you could ask for, but it's the positioning that's becoming a concern for the former. As run defenders shooting gaps, they've been excellent, but Brown is rapidly becoming the most consistent linebacker in a very light corps.
Grade: C
Cornerback
The less said about Ronald Darby the better. The Eagles secondary has been torched over the first four games and have yet to survive four quarters without allowing a receiver to break over the 100+ yard mark.
The good news is, in a bitter twist of fate, that Rasul Douglas and Sidney Jones seemed more reliable...somewhat. Schwartz looked more insistent on allowing them to play press-man against Green Bay, something that ultimately hurt Sidney Jones against Devante Adams, but that's the risk you run.
It's really hard to grade the corners, because are we grading the players themselves, or the schematic setbacks they naturally have to burden? I think it's unfair to bury the whole unit under the Bus, but in the same breath, the numbers don't lie. Yes, there have been glimpses of excellence, but without Avonte Maddox or Sidney Jones, the position is scarily light on depth and it doesn't look as though fortunes will change anytime soon.
Grade: C-
Safety
Rodney McLeod is the team's MVP...and I whole-heartedly believe that. I said before the season that if the Eagles get a version of Rodney McLeod back that played even half as well as he did in 2018, the secondary would be transformed. The latter part might not be true, but he's certainly holding it together.
Malcolm Jenkins has been in-and-around the ball as he always is, but Andrew Sendejo is playing with a little too much chaos right now. The hit that injured Maddox was on him and it's not the first time he's cost the team.
Overall, the unit is playing well and had it not been for Sendejo flying around the field like a rogue RC car, the grade would be even higher.
Grade: B-
Special teams
Jake Elliott has been money, Cameron Johnston has a leg made of Iron and Miles Sanders returned a kick for significant yardage. Yay.
But...
Clement fumbled on a kickoff return to start the second half two weeks ago, and the Eagles allowed a kickoff return for a touchdown against Detroit.
Some good, some bad, some ugly.
Grade: C-
What would you grade this team through four games? Let us know in the comments!
Mandatory Credit: Jeff Hanisch-USA TODAY Sports
