The Eagles don’t need a masterpiece to start Sunday, but they do need something cleaner than the churn they lived through in their 24-22 win over Washington. The opening drive is where they can settle the whole operation down: get Saquon Barkley rolling, ease a new left guard into the mix, and avoid the kind of long-yardage mess that forces an offense to dig itself out play after play.
That first possession also comes with a real test up front. Tennessee’s defense has Jeffery Simmons, and he’s the kind of problem who can wreck a plan from a few different spots on the line. On top of that, Philadelphia is breaking in a new starter at left guard after placing Landon Dickerson on injured reserve.
One obvious way to keep the Titans from teeing off is to hand Barkley the ball early and see what kind of resistance Tennessee actually has. The Jets ran for 152 yards against this defense, and the Eagles would be smart to probe that soft spot before asking a reworked protection unit to survive obvious passing downs.
Barkley went for 83 yards in Week 1, and one of his best moments was a 42-yard burst. Outside zone can still be part of the menu, but Sean Mannion can also lean on duo, inside zone and downhill runs to make Simmons work without letting him sit on the same look snap after snap.
Philadelphia also has to be deliberate about whoever lines up at left guard, whether that’s Fred Johnson, Drew Kendall or Willie Lampkin. Mannion should not be putting that player in immediate one-on-one passing stress. Quick throws, play-action and movement can help Jalen Hurts stay away from a collapsing interior, and Cam Jurgens and Jordan Mailata can help depending on where Simmons is lined up.
The bigger goal, though, is simple: stay on schedule. Against Washington, missed assignments, penalties and negative runs kept the Eagles buried in third-and-long far too often.
They did convert third-and-17 and third-and-18, but that’s not a sustainable way to move the football. A solid opening drive should keep the down and distance manageable, get DeVonta Smith and Dallas Goedert involved, and include at least one shot at Tennessee’s secondary.
In Other News...
Titans Secondary Problems Just Put One Trade Possibility In Focus
The Titans first look at their secondary in Week 1 left plenty to sort through, with the group struggling to handle the Jets and Geno Smith finding too much success. That kind of opener tends to sharpen the conversation around roster help quickly, especially for a defense that needs more stability on the back end.
Joey Porter Jr. has emerged as a possible name to watch for Tennessee, given the uncertainty around his situation in Pittsburgh and the idea that he may not suit up for the Steelers again. A proven corner would immediately add competition to the Titans secondary, and if the front office decides the unit needs a jolt sooner rather than later, this is the kind of move that fits the discussion. [Read more 🡒]
Titans Already Have One Early Trust Problem Fans Can Feel
The Titans opened the season with the kind of performance that can linger with a fan base already worn down by recent struggles. A loss to the Jets brought back familiar frustration, and while rookie quarterback Cam Ward did find the end zone, his day was otherwise uneven as Tennessee spent much of the afternoon chasing the game.
Anthony Hill Jr. offered a rare bright spot on a rough opening weekend, leading the league with 16 tackles in Week 1 and giving the defense a player to point to early. But the bigger concern sits on the other side of the ball, where Brian Daboll's offense had a hard time generating yards or points, leaving Tennessee with an early trust issue that goes beyond one bad Sunday. [Read more 🡒]
Jets Win Suddenly Looks Even Bigger For Cam Ward's Rough Start
The Titans Week 1 loss to the Jets has taken on a little more weight now that the conversation around Cam Ward has shifted so quickly into his next challenge. Wards debut raised enough concern to leave Tennessee looking for a steadier answer under center, and the scrutiny only grows with the Eagles up next and one of the leagues tougher defenses waiting on the other side.
ESPN analyst Seth Walder pushed the discussion into sharper territory by predicting Ward could throw at least three interceptions against Philadelphia, a scenario that would be a jolt for any rookie quarterback. Ward has generally steered clear of multiple-pick games in his career, which is why the projection stands out as more of a warning sign than a forecast, but it still adds another layer of pressure to a start that already feels important for Tennessee. [Read more 🡒]