Eagles vs. Jaguars: Breaking down 3 key matchups for Sunday’s contest
On Sunday, the Eagles will welcome home an old friend. Super Bowl winning HC Doug Pederson will return to Lincoln Financial Field as the new head man of the Jacksonville Jaguars.
Both Philly and Jacksonville have been surprise teams through the first three weeks of the NFL season. The Eagles are the only undefeated team remaining, sitting atop the NFC East with a 3-0 record. Jacksonville has one blemish on their record, but they’ve outscored their opponents 62-14 over the past two weeks and have sole possession of the AFC South.
With both teams vying for legitimacy in this early portion of the NFL season, Pederson’s return to Philly should be a good one.
Let’s take a look at three of the key matchups heading into this Week 4 contest and determine which team holds the advantage.
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Eagles rushing attack vs. Jaguars No. 1 rush defense
Philly’s rushing attack has been solid so far this season, but it hasn’t been dominant like it was throughout most of the 2021 campaign. As it stands, the Eagles rank seventh in total rushing yards (451), 16th in yards per attempt (4.4), and first in rushing touchdowns (6).
Regardless of those good-not-great stats, Nick Sirianni’s offense still has all the makings of a team that can pound the rock at will. Their offensive line is one of the best in the league, Jalen Hurts is a dynamic playmaker outside of the pocket, and the backfield trio of Miles Sanders, Boston Scott, and Kenneth Gainwell can hang with the best of them. Though it’s important to note that Scott will be out for Sunday’s contest.
Facing the Jaguars No. 1 rush defense this week, the Eagles’ ground game will have their work cut out for them. Jacksonville has allowed just 55 rushing yards per game and they’re just one of three teams who have yet to surrender a rushing touchdown. Their 3.1 yards per attempt allowed ranks fourth in the league.
One of the biggest factors in Jacksonville’s defensive resurgence has been rookie linebacker Devin Lloyd. The first-round backer is an early candidate for Defensive Rookie of the Year, tallying 24 combined tackles and two interceptions through three games. His Pro Football Focus run defense grade (88.5) ranks second-best in the league out of 77 qualifying backers.
Couple the rookie LB with a stout front-four that consists two first round picks in Josh Allen and Travon Walker, and it’s no wonder why Jacksonville’s run defense has been so stingy this year.
It’s crazy to think the Eagles won’t have an advantage over their opponent in the ground game, but that may be the case this week. Jacksonville has thoroughly contained some of the best running backs in the league this season, including 2021 rushing champ Jonathan Taylor, who only managed five yards on four carries in the first half of their Week 2 contest.
There’s still a chance the Eagles can put up some solid numbers on the ground against the Jags. I wholeheartedly believe this running game can gash any defense. But based on what we’ve seen so far this season, it’s hard to deny that Jacksonville has the personnel required to slow down the Birds’ ground game.
Advantage: Jaguars
Christian Kirk vs. Eagles secondary
Now that nickel corner Avonte Maddox has officially been ruled out for Sunday’s game, defending slot receiver Christian Kirk just got a lot more difficult.
The Eagles have a few options to replace Maddox in the lineup. They could go with the next man up mentality and insert Josiah Scott. The 23-year-old backup has appeared in 22 games during his three-year career but has never started.
Their best option, however, may be moving CJ Gardner-Johnson up from his safety spot into the nickel. Prior to joining the Eagles, Gardner-Johnson spent most of his time as the primary slot corner in New Orleans. Last season as a starting nickel, the former Saint recorded a career-high three interceptions while allowing a 68.2 completion percentage and an 80.6 passer rating when targeted.
CGJ should have no issues transitioning back to nickel for a game or two. Nevertheless, facing Kirk will be no easy feat.
Kirk has been Trevor Lawrence’s favorite target this season, hauling in 18 receptions for 267 yards (14.8 YPR) while finding the endzone three time. His 78.1 PFF receiving grade ranks 12th-best out of 96 qualifying wideouts.
Pederson has done a masterful job creating matchup advantages with Kirk. He’ll often send Kirk in motion in order to match him up with a linebacker or safety. More often than not, Kirk is going to win that battle.
Pederson treats his offensive game plan like a chess match, with Kirk serving as his queen. It’ll be up to Jonathan Gannon to get creative in order to avoid the matchup disadvantages Pederson is going to try and put him in.
As a whole, the Eagles pass defense has been stellar in 2022. Here’s a look at how their pass defense has fared through three games:
- Total passing yards allowed: 560 (6th)
- Touchdowns allowed: 3 (T-2nd)
- Interceptions: 4 (T-3rd)
- Yards per completion: 8.9 (1st)
- Completion percentage: 57.9% (4th)
- Passer rating: 66.5 (2nd)
Regardless of who starts at nickel for the Eagles, they’re well equipped to slow down any passing attack. If they could contain Justin Jefferson in Week 2, they should be able to scheme up ways to slow down Christian Kirk as well.
Advantage: Eagles
Jordan Mailata and Lane Johnson vs. Josh Allen and Travon Walker
As mentioned earlier, the Jaguars have a stout front-four with a dynamic edge rushing duo in Josh Allen and Travon Walker.
Allen, a 2019 first-round selection, has been on a tear to start his 2022 season. He’s racked up eight combined tackles, seven quarterback hits, along with two sacks and forced fumbles a piece. His 90.7 PFF defensive grade ranks sixth-best in the league among 102 edge rushers.
Allen’s running mate and the first overall pick from this year’s NFL Draft, Travon Walker, has been solid through his first three career starts. He managed to get a sack and an interception in his first career start against Washington and has continued his stellar play up to this point.
The pass rushing tandem has combined for 23 total pressures, 13 hurries, and three sacks. Unfortunately for Walker and Allen, they’re about to face arguably the best offensive tackle duo in the league.
Jordan Mailata and Lane Johnson have done a great job keeping Hurts upright this season. The tandem has combined to allow just one sack and eight pressures; neither of them have given up a quarterback hit on the season. Johnson specifically has once again been a pass blocking wizard this season, posting zeroes across the board in sacks, pressures, and QB hits.
The guy hasn’t surrendered a single QB hit since Week 7 of last year. Pretty insane stuff from No. 65.
Simply put, no pass rushing tandem has bested Johnson/Mailata since the two have started opposite of each other. In Week 2, they successfully contained Minnesota’s edge rushing duo of Danielle Hunter and Za’Darius Smith. They should be able to do the same this week.
Advantage: Eagles
Mandatory Credit: The Associated Press
