Eagles Wrap Up Preseason with Gritty 19-17 Win Over Jets, But Questions Linger
The Philadelphia Eagles closed out their preseason slate Friday night with a 19-17 victory over the New York Jets at MetLife Stadium. Sure, it’s just exhibition football, but when you’re coming off a Super Bowl championship, even the meaningless games carry a little extra weight. And boy, did this one reveal some interesting storylines as roster cuts loom on Tuesday.
Let’s be honest here, watching mostly backup players duke it out in late August isn’t exactly appointment television. But for the guys fighting for their NFL lives, this was Game 7 of the NBA Finals. The Eagles finished their preseason 2-1, which sounds nice until you remember these games matter about as much as your fantasy football draft position.
Jake Elliott Silences the Doubters (For Now)
Perhaps the most encouraging development of the night came from kicker Jake Elliott, who looked like his old, reliable self by nailing field goals from 51 and 53 yards in the first half. After going a dismal 1-for-7 from 50-plus yards during the regular season last year, Elliott desperately needed to show he still has that cannon attached to his right leg.
The real story, though, might be the social media roasting he delivered to Eagles Network analyst Ross Tucker. When Tucker thought he coined the nickname “Jake the Make” during the broadcast, the Eagles’ social media team quickly reminded him that fans have been using that moniker for years. Elliott’s response was perfect: “Ross got to stay up on the social media game, I guess.”
Nothing like a kicker with some attitude. We’ll take it.
Kyle McCord’s Growing Pains Continue
If there’s one position group that should keep Eagles fans up at night, it’s quarterback depth. With Tanner McKee nursing a finger injury, rookie Kyle McCord got the start and… well, let’s just say he’s got some work to do.
McCord completed 15 of 35 passes for 136 yards and threw an ugly interception in the first quarter, a reckless heave into double coverage that had no business leaving his hand. His 42.1 passer rating tells the whole story. Sure, he’s a sixth-round pick learning on the fly, but when you’re potentially one Jalen Hurts injury away from disaster, those kinds of performances don’t exactly inspire confidence.
“Every single day is a new adventure,” McCord said postgame, which sounds like something you’d say after a bad day at the office, not a football field.
Roster Battle Royal Heating Up
With Tuesday’s roster cutdown deadline approaching, several players used Friday night as their final audition. Running back Montrell Johnson showed some burst with 15 carries for 57 yards and a touchdown, making a strong case for a practice squad spot. Meanwhile, cornerback Parry Nickerson made a spectacular diving interception that had his teammates chanting “P-Nick” in the background.
The 30-year-old Nickerson knows the drill – he’s been through this rodeo before. “It’s going to be an emotional roller coaster,” he said. “I’m going to leave it in God’s hands and let’s see where the chips fall.”
That’s about as real as it gets in August football.
Defense Shows Some Bite
While the offense sputtered at times, the Eagles’ defense generated three takeaways, including interceptions by Nickerson and safety Lewis Cine. Linebacker Patrick Johnson continued his annual preseason surge with a solid sack, because apparently he’s contractually obligated to look good in meaningless games.
The most crucial play might have been linebacker Dallas Gant’s goal-line stand on a two-point conversion attempt late in the fourth quarter. The Jets had rallied from a 19-3 deficit and were on the verge of tying the game when Gant stuffed the conversion attempt.
Sometimes it’s the players you’ve never heard of who make the biggest difference.
Looking Ahead to What Actually Matters
As the preseason confetti gets swept away (do they even have confetti for preseason wins?), the real work begins. The Eagles must trim their roster from 90 to 53 players by Tuesday afternoon, and several borderline guys made compelling cases to stick around.
More importantly, the regular season opener against the Dallas Cowboys on September 4th is rapidly approaching. The Eagles will need their starters healthy and their depth chart sorted out if they want to defend their championship.
Friday night’s win was nice and all, but championship teams are built in September through February, not August. The preseason is over, gentlemen. Time to get back to work.
