BALTIMORE - The Eagles opened preseason play with a night they’d like to forget, getting handled 24-7 by the Baltimore Ravens at M&T Bank Stadium in a game where the offense never found its footing and the defense spent far too much time on its heels.
The numbers told the story in blunt fashion. Philadelphia managed just six first downs, and four of them came in the final five minutes with the game already out of reach.
The Eagles finished with 159 yards, most of that coming late, while Baltimore rolled up 440. The Eagles were also penalized 10 times for 96 yards, compared with the Ravens’ 3-for-25.
Philadelphia’s only touchdown came with 2:14 left, when rookie Cole Payton connected with Erik Ezukamma on a 6-yard score.
Baltimore’s offense was led early by rookie quarterback Joe Fagnano, who went to Williamsport High School in north-central Pennsylvania and took over after Tyler Huntley. Fagnano moved the Ravens down the field against an Eagles defense that was short on experience and long on players fighting for jobs. The final score could have been worse.
There were a few bright spots on that side of the ball. Kelee Ringo erased some of the damage with an athletic interception in the end zone just before halftime after being flagged for a 16-yard pass interference penalty that had set Baltimore up inside the 5.
Shaun Wade also made a turnover happen, chasing down Elijah Sarratt after initially losing him and punching the ball loose. Ambry Thomas recovered it.
Ty Robinson continued what has been a strong stretch in camp, dropping Baltimore for a seven-yard sack after the Ravens had moved to the Eagles’ 28 on their opening drive. He was later flagged for roughing the passer in the fourth quarter.
Jeremiah Trotter kept flashing, finishing with five tackles and a sack. Arnold Ebiketie and A.J.
Epenesa also had active moments off the edge; Epenesa recorded three tackles, while Ebiketie was disruptive without showing up on the stat sheet.
But the Eagles’ offense never gave the defense much help. Andy Dalton and Tanner McKee combined for just two first downs in the first half and only 81 yards.
Dalton went 3-for-6 for 20 yards, while McKee, who handled the second and third quarters, finished 6-for-10 for 35 yards. Philadelphia failed to convert a third down all night and went three-and-out seven times.
The rough start was made worse by special teams. A 49-yard Ravens punt and a 19-yard return set Baltimore up in Eagles territory, and it took just five plays for the Ravens to strike first on Fagnano’s 16-yard touchdown pass to rookie Ja’Kobi Lane on third-and-five.
Kelee Ringo and safety Michael Carter appeared to be the ones beaten on the play. That was all Baltimore needed.
Several Eagles also had nights they’ll want to put behind them. Mac McWilliams allowed three long completions, twice for 18 and 19 yards, and was flagged twice for holding, though he did lead the team with 10 tackles.
Jake Majors was penalized for holding on one of Philadelphia’s best first-half drives and later missed a block that led to an easy sack in the third quarter. Darius Cooper, who has been a camp favorite, had a third-and-five pass go through his hands on a play that would have given the Eagles their first first down; he was targeted five times and finished with two catches for 21 yards.
Jakorian Bennett left with what appeared to be a lower-body injury, though he walked off under his own power and did not return.
For a team that needed cleaner execution across the board, the opener delivered the opposite. The Eagles may be looking for more depth at cornerback, because the group on hand struggled, even with Ringo’s interception and Wade’s forced fumble.
In Other News...
Howie Roseman Just Sent A Clear Message About The Eagles Secondary
The Eagles made a quick roster tweak after their preseason opener, bringing in cornerback Isaiah Bolden while moving on from offensive lineman Hollin Pierce. Bolden, a 2024 seventh-round pick by the New England Patriots, arrives as a depth add on the back end, while Pierce, an undrafted free agent from last year, was cut after a quiet summer that never seemed to gain much traction.
It also reads like a small but telling nod to where Philadelphia thinks it needs help most. The secondary had its issues in the preseason loss to the Ravens, and with camp still offering limited time for evaluation, the Eagles are giving themselves another body to sort through in the defensive backfield as the roster picture keeps taking shape. [Read more 🡒]
Eagles Face Tough Call On Two Rookie Defenders Fans Love
The Eagles rookie defender conversation has already become one of the more interesting camp subplots, with The Athletics Brooks Kubena and Zach Berman offering their latest 53-man roster projections on a pair of first-year players fans have been eager to track. Uar Bernard and Joshua Weru have both drawn attention during preseason, and the appeal is easy to see: Bernard has stood out for his athletic upside and what he has shown in games, while Weru has kept himself in the mix as the team sorts through the back end of the roster.
What makes this decision worth watching is how little separation there seems to be in the public view, even as the projections point in different directions. The Eagles still have to weigh upside against roster math, and that is where the tension lives for two rookies who have already given fans reason to pay attention. For now, the picture remains fluid, and the final call figures to say as much about the teams long-term planning as it does about either players immediate future. [Read more 🡒]
Eagles Bubble Players Just Made These Roster Decisions Much Harder
The preseason opener against Baltimore gave the Eagles a fresh look at the bottom of the roster, and a few players took real advantage of the stage. Defensive tackle Robinson flashed with pressures and a sack, Weru showed enough as a pass rusher to get noticed, Shipley helped the offense, and offensive linemen Ojukwu and Lampkin both held up in their roles while trying to separate themselves in a crowded competition.
Ringo also added a key interception, even with a penalty attached to the play, which is the kind of mixed rsum that can still make life difficult for the front office. When a game like this produces multiple players who can point to useful reps, it turns August into a sorting exercise, and the Eagles now have some tougher calls ahead as they try to piece together both the 53-man roster and the practice squad. [Read more 🡒]