When information broke that Kenny Pickett was nonetheless questionable for the Eagles Week 18 recreation towards the New York Giants, it referred to as your entire recreation plan into query.
Now granted, the distinction between Pickett and his backup, Tanner McKee, is marginal at finest from a taking part in type standpoint. Pickett is perhaps a tad extra athletic, McKee is a couple of inches taller, and one might quibble over who has a greater arm between the Pitt and Stanford merchandise – my cash is on McKee – however neither has Jalen Hurts’ athleticism and consequently, they’d each have to more-or-less win video games by the air as an alternative of on the bottom.
Moreover, with Saquon Barkley already a assured out for the sport – barring a miracle – whereas gamers like AJ Brown, DeVonta Smith, Lane Johnson, and extra will most likely trip the bench within the contest, the Eagles will not be taking part in with a full deck of playing cards both, wit their QB pressured to win behind a line loaded up with reserves and a set of playmakers headlined by Jahan Dotson, Britain Covey, Johnny Wilson, Grant Calcaterra, and Will Shipley.
Is {that a} powerful ask, throwing a B-Group of gamers towards a Giants offense that simply went off to the tune of a 45-point explosion versus a seven-win Indianapolis Colts group? Drew Lock, ignored for Tommy DeVito at occasions in 2024, unloaded the chamber with a 309-yard, four-touchdown efficiency whereas dashing New York’s dream of the number-one decide within the 2025 NFL Draft.
Might New York enable the present Giants brass to screw issues up even additional with one other win, borderline guaranteeing that they cannot safe a top-tier quarterback within the top-5? Or will John Mara understand that it could be silly to permit Brian Daboll and Lock to win his group one other recreation when neither man will doubtless be with the group in 2025?
What occurs when two groups are attempting to not win by making a concerted effort to not put their finest stuff on the sector? Effectively, in Week 18, followers are going to search out out, even when it might look downright ugly at first is claimed and performed.
1. Vic Fangio’s protection shuts down Drew Lock
So, how was Lock in a position to go off towards the Colts in Week 17?
Effectively, a part of it’s as a result of Indianapolis actually would not have a superb passing protection. Rating twenty sixth within the NFL by 17 weeks of motion, the Colts have allowed 3,693 yards on the season by the air, or roughly 230.8 yards per recreation. They’ve allowed no less than 200 yards by the air in 4 of their final 5 video games and actually dropped the ball towards the Giants to successfully remove themselves from the playoffs.
Oh, what a distinction every week could make.
In Week 18, Lock will probably be dealing with off towards the most effective passing protection within the NFL, with Fangio’s protection permitting nearly a thousand fewer yards by the air when in comparison with the Colts over the identical pattern dimension. The Eagles have been hit at occasions by groups that know find out how to exploit their weaknesses, together with of their Week 16 loss to the Washington Commaners. However by 17 weeks, just one group, Baker Mayfield and his Tampa Bay Buccaneers, have thrown for over 300 yards, with two groups, the Dallas Cowboys in Week 10 and the Giants in Week 7, every ending out their video games with beneath 50 internet passing yards.
Might Lock nonetheless overcome Daniel Jones’ efficiency from earlier this season? Yeah, that must be simple, as he solely must put up a 3rd of his manufacturing from Week 17 to hit that mark in Week 18. However will the Eagles give up their second 300-yard passing recreation of the yr within the closing common season recreation of the yr? Yeah, that feels unlikely, because the Eagles, even with a secondary of Kelee Ringo, Isaiah Rodgers, Avonte Maddox, Tristin McCollum, and Sydney Brown – give or take – as an alternative of the standard starters, have a robust sufficient scheme to maintain the Giants in verify.
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2. Some Eagles participant steps as much as earn a bigger position within the playoffs
Do you bear in mind when Shake Milton received actually sizzling for the Philadelphia 76ers a couple of years again in a recreation towards the LA Clippers and rode that momentum into the playoffs? Whereas he ultimately fell off, having by no means fairly reached that degree once more, and has finally been moved a number of occasions since, together with in a commerce with Dorian Finney-Smith to the Los Angeles Lakers for D’Angelo Russell and Maxwell Lewis, for a time, Milton regarded like a star and the 76ers street that wave to nice impact.
Why, it’s possible you’ll ask, is that related to the 2024 Eagles? Effectively, as a result of Philadelphia’s soccer group wants somebody to step up in the identical manner, as they’re one performer away from being actually robust contenders within the playoffs.
That is proper, whereas the Eagles have a robust speeding recreation with Barkley within the offensive backfield, Dallas Goedert at tight finish, and the 1-2 punch of Brown and Smith at huge receiver, they actually haven’t got a ton behind them, no less than when it comes to confirmed expertise. However who might it’s? Might it’s Kenneth Gainwell, sizzling off of his huge drive towards the Pittsburgh Steelers? Or perhaps Jahan Dotson, who has severely underperformed versus expectations in 2024 however nonetheless ranks third on the group when it comes to huge receiver snaps? Might Wilson lastly grow to be the purple zone power followers anticipated, contemplating his generational dimension? Or perhaps somebody fully out of left discipline like Ainias Smith or EJ Jenkins, who’ve performed all of nothing in 2024?
For my cash, the almost certainly Shake on this Eagles group is Calcaterra, who has actually shined in 2024 when the ball has been positioned in his arms. If the Eagles can get some good play out of the SMU product in Week 18, who is aware of, perhaps the Eagles will lastly play a recreation from principally 12 personnel, which might optimize their speeding skills whereas concurrently giving Kellen Moore most optionality between Calcaterra and Goedert.
3. The Eagles safe the win in Week 18
Might Nick Sirianni’s squad take their fourth lack of the season in Week 18 to the Giants? Sure, if Daboll decides he needs to essentially stick it to his soon-to-be former employer, that may be one heck of a approach to throw up the birds towards the Birds whereas Barkley watches alongside from the sidelines.
With that being stated, if Daboll places the pedal to the metallic in Week 18 and actually goes for the kill shot in an in depth recreation down the stretch, Mara may simply run all the way down to the sidelines and hearth his head coach on the spot, forcing Lock to name his personal recreation in a real blue tank job.
No, this recreation is one the Giants have to lose, and if issues are even remotely shut, New York has to begin subbing out established stars for deep reserves within the pursuit of touchdown a greater draft place and a brand new franchise quarterback. Happily, New York’s doubtless loss is the Eagles’ acquire, as they’ll be capable of roll into the playoffs with momentum at their again on the expense of their division rivals. Consider Barkley, Brown, and hopefully Hurts being wholesome for Tremendous Wildcard Weekend, and the Eagles actually do get to have their cake and eat it too mere miles away from the Metropolis of Brotherly Love.