Eagles’ Jim Schwartz, Carson Wentz trending down, Michael Bennett trending up after 21-17 loss to Panthers | Jeff McLane
Highlights and lowlights from the Eagles' 21-17 loss to the Panthers.
Who's trending up and who's trending down following the Eagles' 21-17 loss to the Panthers?
Jeff McLane breaks it down:
Jim Schwartz
DOWN — Schwartz's unit held the Panthers to just 106 total yards and zero points through almost three quarters. But it coughed up a 17-point lead in brutal fashion. Whatever Schwartz called, it didn't work. He needed to be more aggressive and wasn't.
>> JEFF McLANE: There's no defending Jim Schwartz and his unit after this one
Doug Pederson
DOWN — Since Pederson likes to golf, here's a phrase that about sums up Sunday's loss to the Panthers: "Drive for show, putt for dough." The Eagles dominated for three quarters but turtled up in the fourth. The defense choked, but Pederson's offensive play-calling was timid down the stretch.
>> READ MORE: Doug Pederson says 'the pressure is off' and 'anything is possible' following loss
Carson Wentz
DOWN — Quarterbacks are often judged based on their success rate on game-winning drives. Wentz was great for 3 1/2 quarters. But he made several poor decisions on the Eagles' last three possessions, and on the final series, he forced a third-down pass to Alshon Jeffery in the end zone and held the ball too long on fourth down.
>> CARSON WENTZ: The Eagles' QB was very good, but he can't fix all the team's issues
Cam Newton
UP — Newton deserves his share of credit for the Panthers comeback. The quarterback had completed just 8 of 15 passes for 59 yards late in the third quarter. But he connected on 17 of 24 attempts for 210 yards and two touchdowns on Carolina's final three drives.
>> Panthers 21, Eagles 17: Birds collapse in fourth quarter, cough up 17-point lead
Zach Ertz
UP — The Eagles tight end caught 9 of 11 targeted passes for 138 yards. It was his third 100-yard receiving game of the season. He made one great catch after another. To no fault of his own, Wentz targeted him only once on the Eagles' final two possessions.
>> SOCIAL MEDIA ROUNDUP: Zach Ertz climbs the Eagles' record books, Eric Reid's overturned INT and Joel Embiid meets Brian Dawkins
Ronald Darby and Jalen Mills
DOWN — Darby covered well for a stretch, but he avoided a Newton block on Jarius Wright's 34-yard end around and he bit on a Devin Funchess double move that resulted in a touchdown. Mills had a few positive plays, but he slipped on Torrey Smith's fourth-down conversion and his tackle attempt afterward was lame.
>> READ MORE: How did the Eagles manage to blow a 17-point fourth-quarter lead? The view from the other sideline.
Jordan Hicks and Nigel Bradham
DOWN — Christian McCaffrey is a tough assignment. And the Panthers run a lot of misdirection that can test the most disciplined of linebackers. But Hicks and Bradham failed to make stops when it mattered most.
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Michael Bennett
UP — The Eagles defensive end was disruptive in the first half. Bennett recorded his third sack in the last four games, forced another tackle for loss and had a couple of hits on Newton.
Eagles pass rush
SIDEWAYS — The pass rush brought the heat without much of a blitz. Fletcher Cox, Brandon Graham, and Bennett pressured Newton and kept the Panthers from throwing downfield. But the D-line was quiet in the fourth. Were they gassed?
>> READ MORE: Dexter McDougle joined the Eagles on Tuesday. He started on Sunday.
Alshon Jeffery
UP — The receiver scored the Eagles' first touchdown on a double move. He caught a back-shoulder pass. He broke a tackle and picked up yards after the catch. And he even drew a 48-yard pass-interference penalty on the final drive. But it was all for naught.
Jason Peters and Lane Johnson
SIDEWAYS — Peters (biceps) and Johnson (ankle) played through injury yet again. They helped keep Wentz clean for most of the game. But the O-line wasn't consistent enough.
>> BOB FORD: It's panic on Pattison Ave. for Eagles
Nelson Agholor
DOWN — Can we ditch some of the short passing concepts to Agholor? In four out of seven games this season, the slot receiver has averaged six yards or fewer per catch. He had six grabs against the Panthers but gained only 20 yards (3.3 average).
Eric Reid
DOWN — The Panthers safety chose Sunday, of all times, to confront Malcolm Jenkins about their differences over the Players Coalition. Afterward, he called the Eagles safety a coward, among other insults. Jenkins took the high road. Reid wasn't much better on the field.
>> MARCUS HAYES: Panthers' Eric Reid calls Eagles' Malcolm Jenkins a 'sellout'
>> READ MORE: Malcolm Jenkins, Eric Reid exchange words prior to kickoff