Eagles pass rush, including $51 million free agent, nonexistent in loss to Falcons

Ryan OLeary

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Eagles pass rush, including $51 million free agent, nonexistent in loss to Falcons image

Philadelphia Eagles pass rushers had to be licking their chops entering Monday night’s Week 2 game against the Atlanta Falcons.

Quarterback Kirk Cousins looked rusty, uncomfortable and played like his cleats were stuck in the mud in what was a miserable Week 1 showing against the Pittsburgh Steelers. If ever there was an opportunity to get struggling Eagles EDGE rusher Bryce Huff going, this was it.

But the pass rush overall was generally nonexistent throughout the game, particularly from the outside, in a brutal 22-21 loss for Philadelphia. The Eagles had a first down from the Atlanta 17 with 1:56 remaining, leading 18-15, and couldn’t put the Falcons away.

While the offense played its own role in the setback, the Eagles' lack of pressure will be heavily scrutinized this week. They officially hit Cousins just twice in the entire game, including a sack by defensive tackle Milton Williams that forced a Falcons field goal in the third quarter. But Cousins’ bright white jersey was mostly clean, especially on a game-winning drive that saw Atlanta march 70 yards in six plays. Cousins was 5-for-6 passing on the drive, ending it with an easy 7-yard scoring toss to Drake London.

Huff, Philly’s counter to the Haason Reddick trade, entered Monday night’s game looking to make a statement after failing to impact the Eagles’ 34-29 win over the Green Bay Packers in Week 1. But Monday night was more of the same for a player Philly signed to a three-year, $51 million contract in the offseason, as he was continually swallowed up by the Falcons stout offensive line. Huff hasn’t even made a solo tackle in these first two games. 

Nolan Smith had a rather unproductive 23 defensive snaps himself in this game. Veteran Brandon Graham was quiet outside of the Falcons’ final drive of the first half. Defensive coordinator Vic Fangio likes to rotate his EDGE players throughout the game, but aside from Josh Sweat, the Eagles are getting hardly anything from that group.

Head coach Nick Sirianni downplayed the issue post-game, but through two games, the Eagles are sorely missing Reddick's presence on the outside.

“I think sometimes you have to earn the right to rush,” Sirianni said, “meaning you have to have them in passing situations. It didn’t seem like we had some passing situations today. They were in third-and-manageable or second-and-manageable … when they’re ahead of the sticks, that makes it a little bit harder on the pass rush. So we’ll look at the tape of this game and see what it is.”

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Ryan OLeary

Ryan OLeary Photo

Ryan O'Leary has spent his entire professional career in sports multimedia, working as journalist, editor, podcaster, and in live events as a content manager and show emcee. His career highlights include working as a podcast host and audio editor for USA TODAY Sports Media Group, where he led a series of NFL podcasts for the company’s top-performing NFL sites. A born and raised New Englander, Ryan’s career kicked-off in newspapers after graduating from the University of New Hampshire with a degree in journalism. He developed an affinity for small-town youth, high school and college sports, while also realizing his childhood dream of covering the Patriots in multiple AFC Championship Games. Ryan enjoys kicking it with family and friends, beating his dad and brother in chess, and arguing with anyone crazy enough to insist that Tom Brady isn’t the GOAT.