Welcome to The Monday Morning Mashup! In this column, I will share all of the things from NFL Sunday that I think are worth your time. It may be good things, it may be bad things, it may be plays or play calls or players, but it will all be rooted in my love for this beautiful, ugly, fascinating, frustrating game we call football.
Jump to:
First Things First: The Philadelphia Eagles are settling in.
If you only remember one thing from this Sunday, this is what it should be.
The Philadelphia Eagles have faced all types of challenges this season. 60% of their offensive line has been hurt. 100% of their top pass catchers have been hurt. They were blown out by the Buccaneers and lost to the Falcons on a late drive. The Eagles found themselves in Cincinnati after two wins against the struggling Giants and Browns where their defense looked improved, but their passing offense was sputtering. After a 33-17 win over the Bengals on Sunday, the Eagles are once again flying high.
Jalen Hurts had a 98th percentile EPA/dropback (0.67) in the Eagles win over the Bengals
Hurts had success throwing over the middle of the field, pushing the ball down the field, and making tight window throws pic.twitter.com/e6jFXOH23O
— Shawn Syed (@SyedSchemes) October 27, 2024
Despite Philadelphia continuing an impressive streak of not scoring in the first quarter of any game this year, Jalen Hurts played his best game of the season. Hurts made throws over the middle of the field, off play action, and into tight windows. His performance earned him 0.67 EPA/dropback, which is good for a 98th percentile performance. That does not include his three rushing touchdowns; two of his touchdowns were on push sneaks, but one was on a zone read where Hurts showed speed to the edge.
Even with Hurts’s great day, the Eagles offense is continuing a shift in its identity. They have been dabbling in under center usage before setting a season high in under center snaps (21) against the Bengals. They continue to lean on Saquon Barkley, who had 22 carries in this game, and an attacking run game. They want to force defenses to get heavy on the inside to deal with the run and take selective shots on the outside. The offensive design can leave a thin margin for error, but when Hurts is pressing the right buttons, the offense is a force. The throws over the middle of the field and on in-breaking routes should be an encouraging sign that this team can lean on those types of plays that stress defenses that must prioritize dealing with All-Galaxy wide receiver A.J. Brown outside the numbers.
The Bengals were 10/13 on 3rd downs but the Eagles defense had splash plays in short yardage and forced two turnovers.
Philadelphia also held Cincinnati to a 33% early down success rate, which was good for a 10th percentile performance pic.twitter.com/q2MbHVZG3G
— Shawn Syed (@SyedSchemes) October 27, 2024
Vic Fangio’s defense is also hitting its stride as the Eagles have allowed just two offensive touchdowns in three games. The Eagles defense struggled to deal with the run game in Week 2 vs. Atlanta before shutting down the Saints on the ground in Week 3. They were beat by quick passes in Week 4 but took all the air out of their coverage against the Browns and Giants. Against the Bengals, the Eagles defense dominated on early downs even though the Bengals were 10/13 on third downs. Philadelphia made just enough splash plays on the defensive end between key stops on third and fourth down, a forced fumble, and an interception.
The Eagles offense and defense are both getting things right, even with injuries to Darius Slay and Lane Johnson (Johnson returned after his injury) in this game. Quinyon Mitchell is discouraging offenses from looking his way, Cooper DeJean brings a physical element to the nickel position, and Jalen Hurts is back on an upward trend. Philadelphia will host the Jacksonville Jaguars next week before playing the Cowboys and Commanders in division games. The next two games will teach us more about the Eagles and show us if they can sustain this level of play before a potential matchup for the NFC East lead.
The Matter Meter
How much does what we saw on Sunday actually matter?
It Definitely Matters: The Detroit Lions aren’t stopping any time soon.
If I told you that Jared Goff had 85 passing yards and was sacked four times, surely you did not think the Lions beat the Titans 52-14. The Lions had 262 combined punt and kick return yards, caught two interceptions, and forced two fumbles. They also had touchdown drives of 23, 25, 12, 22, and 26 yards respectively. In a way this was not a banner day for the offense as Detroit lived on short fields. Still, their 5/5 red zone day continues a trend that Ben Johnson is designing his way through. After going 1/7 in the red zone in their lone loss of the season in Week 2, the Lions offense has been a brilliant 16/18.
After going 1/7 in the red zone in Week 2, Detroit has been 16/18 in the red zone including four 100% success games
Ben Johnson draws up great plays every week with no end in sight pic.twitter.com/5ncB1qZp6u
— Shawn Syed (@SyedSchemes) October 27, 2024
Ben Johnson continues drawing up plays that lead to open receivers, but he does so in a way that ties back to the rest of his offensive system. The motions he uses are not only tied to his special play calls. Instead, they appear in base concepts, on changeups, and help the team score points. The unit is a well-oiled machine, and the team now seems to have another weapon in their special teams return game.
KALIF RAYMOND 90-YARD PUNT RETURN TD.
📺: #TENvsDET on FOX
📱: https://t.co/waVpO909ge pic.twitter.com/sMcRUfaDCX— NFL (@NFL) October 27, 2024
It Matters: The Ravens are a very good team but couldn’t generate enough pressure against the Browns.
The Baltimore Ravens entered Week 8 playing like the best team in football. Lamar Jackson had been playing better than his most recent MVP season, and the defense was figuring it out at all three levels. The Ravens left Week 8 with a loss at the hand of Jameis Winston and a few questions that require an answer.
Jameis Winston spent much his day in clean pockets and was able to make throws in rhythm
Winston’s 0.27 EPA/play was a 78th percentile performance pic.twitter.com/4KJxKxYBHi
— Shawn Syed (@SyedSchemes) October 27, 2024
To be fair, there were some odd happenings in this game. The Ravens were stopped on a 4th and 1, missed a field goal late in the game, dropped a game winning interception, and multiple dropped passes on the offensive end led to a 2/10 third down day. I am not sounding alarm bells on the Ravens offense as Lamar Jackson is still a magician, and they should be able to run the ball on other defenses.
The Jameis Winston highlight reel above, though, shows that the Ravens defense has a pressure issue. They were able to generate two pressures and a strip sack with Kyle Hamilton off the edge, but their defensive fronts aren’t frustrating quarterbacks the way they did last year. The Ravens rank 25th in pressure rate heading into Week 9 after finishing ninth in the same metric a season ago. Baltimore finds itself in a spot where they can absolutely challenge Kansas City late in the post season, but they may look for some extra pass rush depth as the trade deadline approaches.
It Didn’t Matter Today, but It Might Matter Later: The Houston Texans have another injury to deal with.
All I want is to have no concerns about the Houston Texans. I love the way C.J. Stroud plays the quarterback position. They run an offense from a top coaching tree. DeMeco Ryans is a certified Good Head Coach. Still, I find myself worrying more about the Texans offense who now face another injury as Stefon Diggs exited Sunday’s win over the Colts.
The Texans offensive line has had some issues over the last few weeks, and Stroud was under pressure on almost 60% of his dropbacks. He also had his second-highest time to throw in a game this season. The combination of pressure and covered receivers made this a tough day for Stroud even though he produced a 59th percentile EPA/dropback.
Joe Mixon added 102 yards on the ground but had a rushing success rate of just 35%. Still, I find myself believing in Stroud’s in-pocket playmaking and DeMeco Ryans finding ways to generate pressure on opposing quarterbacks. The Texans have a quick turnaround as they take their commanding lead in the AFC South to New York for a Thursday night matchup with the Jets before a great Sunday night showdown with the Detroit Lions.
And the Award Goes to…
Here are some very real, very important awards handed out by an esteemed committee based on Week 8’s performances.
Play of the Day, and Probably the Year: Jayden Daniels, Noah Brown, Washington Commanders
The end of the Bears-Commanders game was full of shenanigans. After a defensive back and forth, the Bears drove the ball all the way to the one-yard line late in the 4th quarter with a chance to take a lead. The Bears then dialed up an inside run to an offensive lineman that ended up in a fumble. The Commanders followed that up with three and out before the Bears drove the ball back down the field and scored to take a 15-12 lead with 25 seconds left. After an incompletion, pass over the middle, and throw to the sidelines, we were gifted a game-ending play that may end up as the best play of the entire NFL season.
A;FK;JD;KJF;LAKEJFLKJVAL;KEJL;JF;EFJ;LFAKJ
JAYDEN DANIELS HAIL MARY! @COMMANDERS WIN! pic.twitter.com/BsQ0Z84Rko
— NFL (@NFL) October 27, 2024
Jayden Daniels won his first meeting with Caleb Williams in a matchup we can hopefully see many times in the future. Williams was pressured throughout the game and was able to produce enough on Chicago’s last two drives to take a lead. Daniels had an outstanding final play but also was able to continue his pocket management for scrambles, play extensions, and third down conversions.
Jayden Daniels has been able to maneuver within the pocket, scramble, and extend plays to find receivers down the field this season pic.twitter.com/15sQdrjxms
— Shawn Syed (@SyedSchemes) October 28, 2024
Play Call of the Day: Matt LaFleur, Green Bay Packers
REEEEEEEEED!#GBvsJAX pic.twitter.com/oGewT53OaM
— Green Bay Packers (@packers) October 27, 2024
With a tied game, a backup quarterback, and time ticking down, Matt LaFleur called one of his favorite plays to help create an explosive play. The Packers ran Leak, a play that tries to sell a zone run one way and a boot the other way as a player tries to sneak back across the line and up the field. Jayden Reed sold a block to the left before making his way into open space as he helped set up a game-winning field goal for the Packers.
Green Bay is now on a four-game win streak and will prepare to host the Detroit Lions. The big issue here is Jordan Love’s injury limited his mobility and led to him missing time in this game. Though early reports are optimisic that the injury won’t be a long-term problem, the next game on the schedule is one that will require the best that Love has to offer.
Punt Coverage Gold Star: Greg Dortch, Arizona Cardinals
We love a nice punt/punt cover pic.twitter.com/aJw5J6W3Im
— Shawn Syed (@SyedSchemes) October 28, 2024
The early season has handed us too many clips of punts that could have been downed but ended up as touchbacks. The first clip above was a beautiful job by Greg Dortch to get his heels in front of the end zone, be in an athletic position to deal with the punt’s bounce, and bat the ball back into the field.
The Cardinals ended up winning a tight game against the Dolphins 28-27 in Tua Tagovailoa’s return to play. Most of Tua’s production came on shorter, quick passes as his numbers dropped off on plays that extended past 2.5 seconds. Kyler Murray, on the other hand, was happy to send the ball down field as Marvin Harrison, Jr. and Trey McBride both went over 100 receiving yards.
Kyler Murray was 10/13 for 192 yards and 2 touchdowns on throws 10+ yards down the field, per NFL Pro
Trey McBride had 9 catches for 124 yards on 11 targets, and Marvin Harrison Jr. had 6 catches for 111 yards and a TD on 7 targets pic.twitter.com/18L4TQVVKc
— Shawn Syed (@SyedSchemes) October 27, 2024
Best Performance by an NFC South Team: Atlanta Falcons
Kirk Cousins was 6/8 for 94 yards and 2 TDs when under pressure, per NFL Pro.
He also produced a 94th percentile EPA/dropback (0.52) pic.twitter.com/AuBxPeYWPZ
— Shawn Syed (@SyedSchemes) October 27, 2024
The NFC South is a division full of injuries and oddities. The Panthers fell to the Broncos in Week 8 after Bryce Young filled in for Andy Dalton. The New Orleans Saints scored just eight points in Los Angeles and lost their sixth straight game. The Buccaneers and Falcons faced off in Tampa Bay and Kirk Cousins helped vault Atlanta to the top of the division. Cousins rebounded from a tough performance against the Seahawks as he played well under pressure and finished a season sweep of the Bucs. Cousins started the season slow, but Atlanta is up to 4-0 in the division and could be in line for a playoff berth.
Special thanks to NFL Pro and RBSDM.com for stat references!
