The panic meter has a fresh face this week, and it’s the Philadelphia Eagles who suddenly look like they’re teetering.
A team that wasn’t even on the radar a couple weeks ago is now sitting at 7/10 after back-to-back blows. First came the ugly Week 3 loss to the Chicago Bears.
Then Philadelphia handed away a 10-point fourth-quarter lead against the Los Angeles Rams and slipped to 2-2. That’s the kind of stretch that changes the mood fast.
The injury situation isn’t helping. DeVonta Smith, Saquon Barkley, Zack Baun, Dallas Goedert, Quinyon Mitchell, Jonathan Greenard and Landon Dickerson are all questionable for Week 5, and that’s only half of the injury report.
Then came another jolt: star right tackle Lane Johnson announced his retirement. On the field, the offense has gone ice cold, with the Eagles failing to convert on third down in their last 17 tries.
Through four games, they’re 30th in offensive success rate and 27th in defensive success rate. That’s not a small slump.
That’s a team with real problems.
Baltimore is in a much calmer spot despite the scare around Lamar Jackson. Jackson left Week 4 against the Tennessee Titans with an ankle injury and could miss multiple weeks, but the Ravens are still 3-1 and have Tyler Huntley ready to step in.
Huntley is in his sixth season with Baltimore and went 2-0 filling in for Jackson last year. With Derrick Henry in the mix, the Ravens can lean on ball control while Jackson is sidelined, and the schedule ahead looks workable with the Atlanta Falcons, Cleveland Browns and Cincinnati Bengals coming up.
Then there’s Houston, and this is where the panic meter goes all the way up to 9.9/10. The Texans were a trendy Super Bowl pick before the season, but after another late collapse against the Dallas Cowboys in Week 4, they’re staring at 0-4. That puts them in brutal company: in NFL history, only one team - the 1992 San Diego Chargers - has reached the playoffs after starting 0-4.
There is at least a path to something better in the weeks ahead. Five of Houston’s next six games are against the Titans, New York Giants, Los Angeles Chargers, Browns and Indianapolis Colts. The problem is simple: the Texans can’t waste any of those chances.
In Other News...
Ravens May Need A Different Formula To Stun The Falcons
Baltimore heads into its matchup with Atlanta having to navigate a far different kind of challenge than usual, with the Ravens installed as underdogs against a team built around a punishing run game and a sturdy defense. For a roster already dealing with multiple injuries, the margin for error looks thin, and the familiar formula of leaning on explosive offense may not be available in the same way this week.
The bigger concern is how Baltimore pieces together its offense if the line is not at full strength, because the Ravens could be forced to shuffle personnel and lean on a group that has not had much time to settle in. On the other side, the defense will need to be sharper against the Falcons ground attack than it has been against more conventional opponents, which means the Ravens may have to win this game with adjustments, discipline and a plan that looks a little different than the one fans are used to seeing. [Read more 🡒]
Ravens May Be Counting On Chidobe Awuzie Sooner Than Expected
Chidobe Awuzie did not look like a major part of the Ravens early-season defensive plan after re-signing with the team this offseason, but his usage changed in a hurry in Week 4. With Marlon Humphrey banged up, Baltimore needed more from Awuzie against Tennessee, and the veteran corners workload grew enough to put him back in the mix as a possible answer on the back end.
Jesse Minter has already made it clear he wants to expand Awuzies role if the opportunity keeps presenting itself, and that makes Sundays game against the Falcons worth watching closely from Baltimores perspective. Humphreys health remains part of the equation, but Awuzies performance in Week 5 could help decide whether this was a temporary bump in snaps or the start of a larger shift in how the Ravens use him. [Read more 🡒]
Ravens Face A Major Week 5 Question With Zay Flowers
Zay Flowers showed up on the injury report as a limited participant in practice, a reminder that Baltimores passing game may need to keep one eye on availability as it moves through the week. The Ravens have leaned on Flowers as an important part of their offense, so even a small practice limitation can carry extra weight when the schedule points toward Atlanta in Week 5.
The concern is not just the foot issue. Flowers has also been managing a lingering hamstring injury, which adds another layer to the decision on how hard to push him if he is not fully healthy. For a team that wants its offense clicking, the question is no longer whether Flowers matters, but how much the Ravens are willing to ask of him if the body does not cooperate. [Read more 🡒]