Eagles Shake Off Bye Week Rust to Get Win Over the Browns

The Philadelphia Eagles are back, and more importantly back in the win column. In their first game in Philly since the Week 2 loss to the Atlanta Falcons, the Eagles took down the Cleveland Browns 20-16 in a game that was more lopsided than the score would indicate.

The Eagles, once again, were unable to score a point in the first quarter, marking the first time in franchise history they were unable to do so in their first five games of the season. However, luckily for the Eagles the Browns couldn’t score in the first either, thanks in large part to Moro Ojomo’s first career sack, which took the momentum of the Brown’s only offensive drive that was not a three and out of their first three.

It wouldn’t take the Eagles much longer to score though, as a Jake Elliott 49-yard field goal would give the Eagles a 3-0 lead. This kick was also the longest of Elliott’s season so far.

A.J. Brown was an early target of Jalen Hurts in his first game back since the season opener, but to no avail, starting off the game with three failed targets. This changed quickly on the Eagles’ second drive of the second quarter, where Brown caught two passes for 38 yards, including a 22-yard touchdown reception to put the Eagles up 10-0.

The Browns offense would show a little bit of life in the ensuing drive, moving the ball down the field and kicking a 43-yard field goal before the two-minute warning to bring the score to 10-3.

It was Cleveland’s special teams unit however, that really brought the Browns to life as a promising two-minute drill for the Eagles turned disastrous when Myles Garrett blocked a Jake Elliott field goal attempt and former Eagle Rodney McLeod would take it to the house, tying the game at 10-10 going into the half.

Nothing much happened in the third quarter worth talking about. The Browns started the half with the ball but missed the field goal to take the lead. This was followed by a three-and-out from each team before the Eagles retook the lead with a second Elliott field goal to put them up 13-10.

The ensuing drive from the Browns to start the fourth resulted in a game-tying 49-yard field goal.

DeVonta Smith, who had a relatively quiet game up to that point, made his presence known the next time the Eagles got the ball, taking it to the end zone for a 45 yard touchdown, giving the Eagles the 20-13 lead.

The Browns looked like they were going to respond with a touchdown of their own, getting the ball all the way down to Philadelphia’s three-yard line, but a pair of false starts forced them to take a field goal, giving the Eagles a four-point lead at 20-16.

With four minutes remaining, the Eagles just needed to stay in bounds, move the chain, and bleed the clock down, something they were unable to do in their last home game against the Falcons. The difference in that game however, was that the Eagles didn’t have A.J. Brown. This time though, Hurts connected with his number one receiver for a 40-yard reception immediately after the two-minute warning, effectively putting the game out of reach. After that all that was needed was a few QB kneels and the Eagles got the much-needed win.

Injuries

Both Dallas Goedert and Jordan Mailata exited Sunday’s game with a hamstring injury and did not return. The severity of both of these injuries is not yet known.

Up Next

The Eagles will head to the Meadowlands to take on the 2-3 New York Giants at 1 pm EST next Sunday. The game will air on FOX.

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