Eagles-Titans: What we learned from the overtime loss

NASHVILLE – The Eagles snatched defeat from the jaws of victory and fell to the Titans, 26-23, in overtime Sunday. Here's what we learned:

1. The Eagles are still an enigma, Part II. Last week's victory over the Colts didn't move the needle much in terms of defining the identity of the 2018 Eagles. I think the same could be said of Sunday's loss. They seem to be plodding along in search of their character. Not having Carson Wentz for the first two games played a factor. There have been an assortment of other injuries, as well. And there was just far too much turnover – as there is with every NFL team – to expect this squad to pick up where last year's left off in the Super Bowl.

Some of the new pieces haven't contributed as much as the Eagles hoped, and the same could be said of some returning ones, too. The offense has been inconsistent with both Wentz and Nick Foles at the controls. The offensive line has struggled in pass protection. The Eagles have been middle-of-the-road on third down (40 percent) and in the red zone (57.1 pct.), a year after they finished eighth in third-down conversions (41.8 pct.) and first in red-zone touchdowns (65.5 pct.). They're only a quarter into the season, and the sample just isn't large enough to make any sweeping proclamations.

If there's been a consistent issue on defense, it's that Jim Schwartz's unit is significantly worse on the road than at home. In 34 regular-season games under Schwartz, the Eagles have allowed an average of 14 points at home and 24 points on the road. I don't think the disparity can be explained in one sentence, or even one paragraph, but it's a real thing.

2. Doug Pederson isn't immune to having below-average games. The Eagles coach has had worse games, but none were from last season. Pederson pushed all the right buttons in 2017 and, of course, deserves the benefit of doubt. But he made some curious calls and might have altered the outcome with more balance on offense.

His run call with 11 seconds left before halftime was inexplicable. He said he thought he could get the first down – it was third-and-3 – call timeout with eight seconds left, and have enough time for one shot in the end zone. I don't know any rushes that take just three seconds, though, and when Jay Ajayi got the handoff, it took eight seconds for the play to be run. Why not throw there? Give yourself a chance to score a touchdown with Wentz dealing and Alshon Jeffery, Zach Ertz and Dallas Goedert as big red-zone targets.

>> READ MORE: Following loss to Titans, Doug Pederson confronts his first crisis as Eagles head coach | Bob Ford

I don't know if Pederson leaned too heavily on the pass. He had Wentz drop 56 times vs. 20 rushes for a 74-26 pass-run ratio. The Eagles gained 432 total yards and averaged 5.7 yards per play. That's good. But maybe Pederson could have shortened the game some in the third and fourth quarter after the Titans narrowed the lead to 17-10.

Now is not the time to panic. Pederson is as steady as she goes, so I don't see him wavering. The Eagles are 2-2, not 0-4. The season is a marathon. But the Eagles are making uncharacteristic errors and it's on the coach to get them cleaned up. "The mistakes we're making are all fixable," Pederson said.

3.  The offensive line is struggling. Wentz has been sacked nine times and hit an additional 18 times in two games. That's too many for any quarterback, let alone one less than nine months removed from major knee surgery. The offensive line isn't solely to blame for the pressure. "There's times I hold onto the ball too long," Wentz said. The Titans also dialed up blitzes on naked drops when there was simply little the line or Wentz could do. Hat tip to Tennessee coach Mike Vrabel and his staff, but Pederson was unable to counter an aggressive rush with his play calling.

>> READ MORE: Offensive line can't protect Carson Wentz, allows four more sacks in loss to Titans

But the offensive line, considered the NFL's best last season, has been subpar through four games. Right tackle Lane Johnson raised the level of his play last season, but he hasn't been able to elevate his blocking the last two weeks. Titans outside linebacker Harold Landry toasted him with an outside rush and forced a fumble after sacking Wentz. "I don't think I kicked far enough," Johnson said. "He got the edge and got the strip sack." Left tackle Jason Peters gave up a sack to defensive tackle Jurrell Casey. Center Jason Kelce is clearly battling a knee injury and doesn't look as athletic. Guards Brandon Brooks and Stefen Wisniewski have been uneven. The Eagles appeared to tighten up as the game progressed, but there's needs to be consistency.

4. Offenses are going to attack Jalen Mills deep until he can stop it. I'll defend Mills more than most. He's a solid NFL cornerback. He makes plays in front and tackles well. He has a short memory and competes.

But long speed has been and will be an issue. If he plays press, he's susceptible to deep passes. If he plays off, he'll sometimes give too much cushion. His technique is often dependent upon his confidence in covering a receiver down the field. To be fair, Mills wasn't solely responsible for every deep pass thrown in his direction, even if he's in man coverage. If there's a single-high safety and his responsibility is the deep middle on a post route, then it's the safety's responsibility to cover or at least help. But Mills is clearly struggling on balls thrown over his head.

I wrote more about the issues plaguing the secondary in my column off the game. Mills is just one piece of the puzzle. But I would consider giving Sidney Jones a look outside. He won't solve all the problems. He had issues Sunday, as well, and the same could be said of Ronald Darby on the other side. But if Schwartz intends on keeping Mills outside, he must be prepared for quarterbacks to test the cornerback continually over the top.

5. The Eagles will miss Rodney McLeod. The safety was an underrated part of the defense. He plays a position in which he could go long stretches without being involved, and yet, he could still be performing at a high level. Having McLeod cover centerfield gives Malcolm Jenkins leeway to play spots where he's more effective. But he's now likely done for the season after MCL knee surgery.

Corey Graham is McLeod's immediate replacement, but he doesn't have the speed to cover as much ground. Schwartz had rookie corner Avonte Maddox play free safety in some nickel and dime groupings. He did OK, but his inexperience – he said he never played the position until Sunday – was evident during the Titans' game-winning drive. Unless the Eagles are willing to sign another safety, or make a trade, Schwartz will have to get by with the guys he has on the roster now. Deiondre' Hall is the third safety, but Schwartz didn't trust enough to put him out there Sunday. Dealing for the Seahawks' Earl Thomas made some sense. But he suffered a broken leg Sunday, so that pipe dream is dead.

6. Alshon Jeffery makes a difference. And yet, the Eagles still lost. Jeffery, back after offseason shoulder surgery, caught eight passes (among nine targets) for 105 yards and a touchdown. It was his first 100-yard receiving game since joining the Eagles last season.

>> READ MORE: Alshon Jeffery put up the best numbers of his Eagles career

Jeffery caught a 31-yard fade on a perfectly thrown toss by Wentz. He caught a back-shoulder pass. He reeled in a contested heave in the end zone for a 16-yard touchdown. And he drew coverage away from other receivers on multiple plays. There was a stretch in the third and fourth quarters when Wentz seemed to forget Jeffery. I don't know if it was the way the Titans were shadowing him or the plays Pederson was calling. But Jeffery and Ertz (10 catches for 112 yards) need to be Wentz's top two targets.

7. Nelson Agholor looked like the 2015-16 Agholor. The slot receiver was targeted 12 times and caught only five passes for 22 yards. Agholor had at least three drops. He saw a Wentz bullet on third-and-long clank off his mitts. And he bricked a couple of short crossers.

Agholor is averaging only 6.7 yards per reception this season. He didn't play poorly in the first three games, so Sunday was likely an anomaly. But he needs to be more reliable, and Pederson needs to be more creative in using the shifty receiver.

8. Carson Wentz can't win games on his own. The quarterback had a strong debut last week, and he looked great for most of Sunday. He completed 33 of 50 passes for 348 yards and tossed two touchdowns. Wentz had several elite throws. He was composed throughout.

Was he without fault? No. He threw the ball away on third-and-3 at the end of the fourth quarter when maybe he should have been a little more aggressive. I don't think it was an egregious decision. The Eagles didn't have a right call for the Titans defense and rather than force something, Wentz took the three points. On the road, Pederson might have wanted him to pull the trigger there and avoid overtime.

>> READ MORE: Carson Wentz looks sharper, but the Eagles lose anyway

In the extra frame, Wentz drove the offense to the Tennessee 17, mostly on the ground. But the Eagles stalled, and on third down, the quarterback forced a throw to Ertz and was nearly picked off. As well as Wentz played, it wasn't enough. But the Eagles should feel positive about their quarterback just two games into his return.

9. The offensive personnel remains a work in progress. With Jeffery's return, Pederson went with a lot of "11" personnel a week after going heavy at tight end. That meant that Jordan Matthews (47 of 78 snaps) was on the field a lot. His 56-yard touchdown catch jump-started the Eagles, but he was targeted only two more times and dropped one pass.

Goedert wasn't neglected (31 snaps, two catches for 13 yards) but he wasn't featured as much. I've called for more of the rookie tight end. Pederson must have thought the Eagles had more advantages on the outside, but Ertz and Goedert were tough assignments for Titans defenders.

10. And a few leftovers: Cameron Johnston has a big foot, and when given the opportunity to boot away can kick with the best of them. But he still struggles situationally. He had three punts bounce into or in the end zone for touchbacks. Two ended up inside the 20, but he's yet to down a punt inside an opponent's 5-yard line. … DeAndre Carter, signed off the practice squad Saturday after McLeod was placed on injured reserve, gave the Eagles a bolt with a 42-yard punt return late in the game. Too bad the offense could capitalize with only a field goal. … Defensive end Derek Barnett has 2 1/2 sacks in his last two games. Michael Bennett and Haloti Ngata recorded their first sacks with the Eagles.