Philadelphia Eagles vs. Miami Dolphins 10 Thoughts: Turning Point, Response & Defense
PHILADELPHIA – It was about being physical. That’s the way Sean Desai wants his unit to play.
After the Philadelphia Eagles short-circuited the Miami Dolphins’ all-world offense, every defender in the postgame locker room talked about wanting to be physical.
Clearly, the Eagles were. They played bully ball on their way to a 31-17 win at Lincoln Financial Field on Sunday night, never allowing the finesse-based Dolphins to find any offensive rhythm. The Eagles are now 6-1 ahead of a rematch against the Washington Commanders at FedEx Field on Sunday (1 p.m.).
Here are my 10 thoughts on the Eagles primetime victory:
Turning point. Darius Slay’s fourth-quarter interception at the 1-yard line as the Dolphins looked ready to tie the game at 24 was in the mix for this, but I’m going with the Eagles’ touchdown drive on the possessions after Jalen Hurts threw a pick-6 that tied the game at 17-17 with 4:02 to play in the third quarter.
The Eagles went 75 yards in just 3:47 and eight plays to retake the lead at 24-17. Hurts started it with a 12-yard run then followed that up with a 25-yard strike to DeVonta Smith to the Miami 38. The touchdown came on a 14-yard catch-and-run- from A.J. Brown, who split two defenders, shook free from them around the 9, and sprinted into the end zone.
It went down as a 14-yard touchdown catch, Brown’s third score of the season, and came with 15 seconds left in the third quarter.
The response. The last time the Eagles lost two games in a row was last year when Gardner Minshew filled in for Jalen Hurts. The Eagles had lost to the New York Jets a week ago and didn’t let the Dolphins make it two straight defeats.
“That’s what the great teams do in this league, they answer back,” said Slay. “Don’t let it dwell, don’t let it linger, and we did a great job coming out here, handling business, being physical, and going out here and competing each and every play.”
Gainwell’s balance. Kenny Gainwell’s first rushing score of the season was a highlight reel, as he twirled into the end zone from three yards away. He was hit by Miami safety Javon Holland at the 2 but somehow was able to spin away, keep one leg under him, and propel himself across the goal line. It was the 10th career rushing score of Gainwell’s career and this one gave the Eagles the final margin of victory, 31-17, with 4:46 to play in the game.
Dallas Goedert. As impressive as Gainwell’s touchdown, the tight end was just as much so. He took a little screen in the flat and turned it into a 19-yard touchdown – the first of the game – with 11:25 to go in the second quarter for a 10-3 lead. Of course, it helps when you have mammoth Jordan Mailata giving you an escort and the left tackle cleared the path by wiping out safety DeShon Elliott near the 10.
Finally, it seems offensive coordinator Brian Johnson is figuring out how to use Goedert. He had five targets, five catches, 77 yards, and his second score of the season. In the past three games, Goedert has 18 receptions for 236 yards and two touchdowns.
Philadelphia Eagles UDFA Eli Ricks had a pass breakup against Miami Dolphins receiver Tyreek Hill on fourth down that effectively ended the game in Philly's 31-17 win in Week 7.
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Lane Johnson. One of the best right tackles in the game - if not the best – gave up his first sack since Week 11 of 2020. It came at the end of the first half and prevented Philly from trying to add points before halftime after getting the ball back with 39 seconds to go in the second quarter.
“All good things have to come to an end, I guess,” said Johnson afterward.
Johnson, though, was playing on an ankle that had him battling swelling all week to be ready to play. He called Jason Kelce “tough as a shovel” prior to last week’s game when Kelce set the franchise record for most consecutive starts at 145 (it grew to 146 on Sunday). Really, though Johnson is just as tough.
Sean Desai. What the defensive coordinator and his staff are doing with a secondary that has been a revolving door due to injury is nothing short of amazing. Who would've thought the Eagles, playing two backup safeties, their fourth slot cornerback of the season - Josiah Scott, who was signed earlier in the week off the Pittsburgh Steelers practice squad – and undrafted Eli Ricks against Tyreek Hill on occasion would’ve had the success they did? Desai has done an excellent job mixing and matching his personnel on the back end.
Of course, it helps when you have terrific veteran corners in Darius Slay and James Bradberry, both of whom played all 49 defensive snaps.
Mixing and matching. Desai’s mixing and matching included playing Scott for 17 snaps, Ricks for 14 snaps, and Mekhi Garner, elevated from the practice squad for the second straight week, four snaps.
Ricks broke up a fourth-down throw to Hill on Miami's final possession, effectively ending the game.
Those 49 defensive snaps. My contention on various podcasts during the week was that if the Dolphins had 10 offensive possessions, they’d win. Miami had just eight. Even though the Eagles didn’t run the ball all that well – 99 yards – they did it enough (23 running back carries) that they owned time of possession, controlling 36:43 of the clock to the Dolphins’ 23:17.
Hill’s output. The receiver, who Slay said afterward should be the league MVP, had just 88 yards receiving, but it wasn’t his lowest output of the season. He was held to 40 yards in Week 2 vs. the New England Patriots and 58 in Week 4 vs. the Buffalo Bills.
Penalties. The Eagles didn’t commit any, aside from an offsetting personal foul variety that doesn’t count in statistics. The Dolphins had 10 penalties for 70 yards.
