Sean Mannion got a clean first test in Week 1, but the leash gets shorter fast in Philadelphia.
The Eagles opened with a 24-22 win over the Washington Commanders, and the offense put up 318 total yards with 136 on the ground. That’s a respectable debut for Mannion as offensive coordinator, and it was enough to earn him a pass from fans after one game.
Week 2 against the Tennessee Titans brings a different kind of expectation. This one is supposed to look better.
A lot better.
There were encouraging signs in the opener, especially in how the offense looked different from last year. The pre-snap motion created big plays, and Jalen Hurts delivered three passes of 30 or more yards in the win. The Eagles also managed to get points on the board and score a touchdown even after some rough stretches, which marked a step forward.
But the problems were real, too. Saquon Barkley was hit behind the line of scrimmage seven times, and 42 of his 83 rushing yards came on one run that required him to break multiple tackles.
The offense also sputtered with five drives ending in three-and-outs, and that helped drag down the time-of-possession battle. Philadelphia had the ball for just over 26 minutes.
Those issues are exactly the kind of thing Eagles fans remember from Kevin Patullo’s time as offensive coordinator. The old formula leaned on first- and second-down runs, then asked the passing game to clean things up on third down.
Mannion got credit in Week 1 because the offense at least looked more varied and more explosive in spots. Now comes the part where that has to show up consistently.
The matchup with Tennessee should give him a chance to do it. The Titans allowed the New York Jets offense to pile up 367 total yards, including 152 on the ground. That opens the door for Mannion to get aggressive with the run game, especially by feeding Barkley and Tank Bigsby on outside zone looks.
It also gives the Eagles room to use Hurts more creatively. More QB-designed runs and more play-action could help get him moving again. Hurts finished with 46 rushing yards, mostly from scrambling and picking up yards on his own.
Mannion got through the first week without a mess. That part is done.
Now he has to show the Eagles can look sharper, produce more yards and put more points on the board against a Titans team Philadelphia should handle. Even a quiet win may not satisfy people for long.
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Eagles Rookies Suddenly Carry Two Early Concerns Into Titans Game
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The more immediate concern may be up front, where Landon Dickersons move to injured reserve opens the door for rookie Micah Morris to take on a more important backup role. Philadelphia is weighing its options at left guard, and Morris suddenly looks like the kind of depth piece who could be asked to do more sooner than expected. For an offense built on stability in the trenches, his readiness is now part of the conversation. [Read more 🡒]