The Eagles got the 2024 NFL season started on the right track with their week-one win over the Packers in Brazil. However, they looked far from a complete team and a lot of mishaps happened. If the team looks to be a true championship contender, they will need to be more sound going forward. Here’s a look into three improvement areas for the team against Atlanta on Monday night.
Three Improvement Areas for the Eagles in Week 2
Jalen Hurts
Probably the most important area of the team that needs to show improvement lands with the quarterback. Hurts was somebody who needed to make a statement in week one after being somewhat of a turnover machine in 2023. While Hurts did show flashes of brilliance throughout the game, he had a largely uneven performance. Sure, his touchdown passes to A.J. Brown and Saquon Barkley were dimes. Also, he led a clutch drive in the fourth quarter to tick down the clock and limit the Packers. However, there were also continued moments of slop.
Hurts threw two very boneheaded interceptions and also fumbled twice, with one leading to a turnover. This is continuing a scary trend from last season and if it becomes a lingering problem, then the team’s Super Bowl hopes could be in jeopardy. Hurts needs to be more aware of the fact that he doesn’t need to be playing hero ball and he has a talented enough core of skill position players who will be able to help carry the weight of the offensive load.
The Defensive Line
Overall the defense didn’t have a strong performance in Brazil. The team gave up 414 yards of offense to the Packers but the defensive line in particular was non-existent. Overall, the defensive line recorded zero sacks which is concerning because the line is usually a point of emphasis for the front office.
They also were not strong in the run game. Giving up 84 yards on 16 carries to Packers lead back Josh Jacobs. They will need more production upfront if the team is looking to be a force in 2024. What makes matters worse, the team traded away one of their lead pass rushers Haason Reddick, for the newly signed Bryce Huff and he was essentially a no-show in his Eagles debut. The pass rush getting more consistent pressure is critical for this defense to be more effective as it causes the opposition’s Quarterback to act faster and be more prone to mistakes and turnovers.
Health
This could be a more beneficial aspect of the team that we will see in the coming weeks. Especially on the defensive side, the Eagles were undermanned in week one. Devin White and starting corner Isaiah Rodgers were both sidelined due to injury. Their respective returns should provide more effectiveness on defense. Defensive Coordinator Vic Fangio already confirmed that Nakobe Dean has won the starting linebacker position over White. However, White can still be used situationally. Also, Rodgers’s eventual return would be interesting because we could see more of Quinyon Mitchell in the slot. Mitchell had a strong performance in Week 1.
Main Photo: Kirby Lee-Imagn Images
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