The Philadelphia Eagles' preseason opener against the Baltimore Ravens was a tale of two halves, with the first half being a dreary affair and the second half offering some glimmers of hope. The Eagles' 24-7 loss to the Ravens was expected, given the lack of starting players on the field, but there were still some noteworthy observations and position battles to keep an eye on.
One of the most intriguing battles is at the backup quarterback position. Andy Dalton and Tanner McKee both struggled, with Dalton completing 3 of 6 passes for 20 yards and a 57.6 passer rating, and McKee going 6 of 10 for 35 yards and a 66.7 passer rating. This outing reflected what we've seen from the QB2 battle in training camp thus far; no real separation between these two. The Eagles' offense mustered just 100 yards on their first 31 plays before Cole Payton finally led a scoring drive later in the fourth quarter, which is a cause for concern.
The safety position is another area of interest. Marcus Epps, who hasn't been injured to our knowledge, did not dress for this game while Michael Carter II did. Advantage: Epps, who has been taking most of the first-team safety reps in camp. The Eagles' defense showed some promise, with Jeremiah Trotter Jr. and Jihaad Campbell starting at linebacker and Ty Robinson making a play to sack Huntley. However, Kelee Ringo and Michael Carter II were seemingly beat in coverage on the Ravens' first touchdown, which is a concern.
The punt and kick returners also got their chance to shine. Britain Covey was first up at punt returner, whilequez Watkins and Elijah Moore were first up at kick returner. The Eagles' offense struggled to find any rhythm, with three-and-outs and punts dominating the first half. However, the second half offered some glimmers of hope, with Cole Payton leading a scoring drive and Erik Ezukanma catching a touchdown pass.
The Eagles' injury news is also worth noting. Jakorian Bennett got banged up on the Ravens' first drive and spent some time in the medical tent before heading into the tunnel. This is a concern, as the Eagles will need to stay healthy as the season progresses. Overall, the Eagles' preseason opener was a mixed bag, with some promising signs and some areas that need improvement. The team will need to continue to work on their offense and defense as the preseason progresses, with the goal of being ready for the regular season.
