Five Straight Losses: Eagles Stock Report Finds Defensive Concerns Rising, Offense Showing Life Ahead of Week 8

Defense gives up key yards

The Eagles fell 38-21 to the Cowboys on Monday night, their fifth straight loss after opening the season 2-0. Dallas gained 416 total yards and scored 18 unanswered points after Philadelphia took a 21-20 lead early in the third quarter.

Cowboys running back Javonte Williams rushed for a career-high 155 yards, while CeeDee Lamb caused problems for Philadelphia’s cornerbacks. Dallas entered the game ranked 31st in the NFL in rushing, averaging 76 yards per game.

Coach Nick Sirianni said the defense needed to improve its coaching, execution, tackling and ability to get off blocks. Dallas is now 3-4, while Philadelphia is 2-5 and third in the NFC East.

Offense finds a rhythm

Trailing 20-14 at halftime, Philadelphia used a faster pace to open the third quarter. The 17-play, 84-yard drive lasted more than nine minutes and produced the team’s first third-quarter touchdown of the season.

Makai Lemon scored his first NFL touchdown on the drive. With DeVonta Smith and Dontayvion Wicks sidelined by injuries, Lemon caught a career-high seven passes for 67 yards.

Saquon Barkley returned to the backfield and finished with 62 yards and a touchdown on seven carries. He appeared to aggravate a hamstring issue and experienced back tightness; backup Dameon Pierce added 47 yards and a touchdown before leaving with an injury in the fourth quarter.

Special teams and fans

After Britain Covey suffered a knee injury, Pierce and Elijah Mitchell handled kickoff returns. Both struggled with Brandon Aubrey’s kicks, leaving Philadelphia’s offense with long fields on multiple occasions.

Fans honored owner Jeffrey Lurie during his halftime induction into the team’s Hall of Fame. Some had wondered whether they might boo him amid criticism over how the team handled Jalen Hurts’s health, but the crowd showed its support.

The article says Lurie and general manager Howie Roseman had not addressed Hurts’s condition. It also notes that Lurie was not made available to reporters, unlike the usual practice for Hall of Fame inductees.

Philadelphia faces division games

Washington, which is 1-4-1, will host the Eagles in Week 8. Philadelphia will then host the Giants on Nov. 8 to close a three-game stretch against NFC East opponents. The Giants are 4-2-1, ahead of Philadelphia in the division, while Dallas also sits above the Eagles.