November 15, 2021
In their Week 10 win over the Denver Broncos, the Philadelphia Eagles played 64 snaps on offense, and 58 on defense. Let's just get right to the snap counts, and some notes.
• 64 snaps: Jalen Hurts
Analysis: Hurts had his best half of the season (and his professional career, for that matter) to open the game against the Broncos. He hung tight in the pocket and went through his progressions, he found the open receivers, and delivered the ball accurately to them. In the second half, the Eagles basically just ran it a lot, and Hurts cooled off. Still, this was his best game, and something he can build on.
• 24 snaps: Jordan Howard
• 20 snaps each: Boston Scott and Kenny Gainwell
Analysis: Miles Sanders will come off of injured reserve this week, and Nick Sirianni will have to decide if he will return as the RB1, or just a role player. In Sanders' absence, the Eagles have averaged 209(!) rushing yards per game. If Sanders is the RB1 once again, he will be under pressure to perform the way that Howard and Scott have the last three weeks.
• 57 snaps: Quez Watkins
• 54 snaps: DeVonta Smith
• 50 snaps: Jalen Reagor
• 6 snaps: Greg Ward
• 1 snap: J.J. Arcega-Whiteside
Analysis: Smith is on pace for 71 catches, 1025 yards, and 7 TDs. His contested catch over former Bama teammate Patrick Surtain was the Eagles' catch of the season.
The birthday boy climbed a Mile High to catch this one@DeVontaSmith_6 | #PHIvsDEN pic.twitter.com/fNqeHTqnjI
— Philadelphia Eagles (@Eagles) November 14, 2021
Over the past few years, have you found yourself watching other games around the league and seeing wide receivers make plays that Eagles receivers never make? Well, now they have a guy who can make those plays.
• 42 snaps: Jack Stoll
• 27 snaps: Tyree Jackson
• 13 snaps: Dallas Goedert
Analysis: Goedert left with a concussion after this hit to the head:
Dallas Goedert has been ruled out with a concussion after this possible illegal hit
— John Clark (@JClarkNBCS) November 14, 2021
pic.twitter.com/x0itr8UCLe
I did not feel that this was a dirty play by Broncos safety Justin Simmons (31), as Simmons was coming in with his shoulder, and Goedert's target area changed when the Ronald Darby (21) tripped him up. I view this as sort of an accidental head shot.
• 64 snaps each: Jordan Mailata, Lane Johnson, and Jack Driscoll
• 63 snaps: Jason Kelce
• 57 snaps: Landon Dickerson
• 7 snaps each: Sua Opeta and Nate Herbig
Analysis: The O-line only allowed one sack and they physically dominated a Broncos defense that was previously seventh-best in the NFL against the run.
• 50 snaps: Javon Hargrave
• 48 snaps: Derek Barnett
• 46 snaps: Fletcher Cox
• 37 snaps: Josh Sweat
• 21 snaps: Milton Williams
• 13 snaps: Hassan Ridgeway
• 10 snaps: Ryan Kerrigan
• 9 snaps: Tarron Jackson
Analysis: Barnett cannot return to this team in 2022.
• 54 snaps: T.J. Edwards
• 40 snaps: Davion Taylor
• 15 snaps: Genard Avery
• 10 snaps: Alex Singleton
• 2 snaps: Patrick Johnson
Analysis: During the offseason, we took a look at all of Taylor's snaps during the 2020 season. Spoiler: It was ugly. Taylor was not playable. He was lost, and was going to be easily identifiable player that offensive coordinators would attempt to expose. The concern was that it was going to be hard to get him the snaps he needed in real games so that he could get better. In one year, while Taylor still has a long way to go, he has also come a long way. He is at least a playable player now, and is improving with more playing time.
On Sunday, Taylor had two forced fumbles, one of which preceded Darius Slay's TD return. I imagine his performance on Sunday will do wonders for his confidence.
• 57 snaps: Steve Nelson
• 52 snaps: Rodney McLeod
• 49 snaps: Anthony Harris
• 48 snaps: Avonte Maddox
• 46 snaps: Darius Slay
• 20 snaps: Marcus Epps
• 11 snaps: Zech McPhearson
Analysis: Yes, we all saw Slay's fumble return TD, but the Eagles also did a great job on the Broncos' underrated trio of receivers:
| Broncos receivers | Targets | Rec | Yards | YPC | TD |
| Jerry Jeudy | 9 | 6 | 48 | 8.0 | 0 |
| Courtland Sutton | 3 | 2 | 29 | 14.5 | 0 |
| Tim Patrick | 6 | 3 | 14 | 4.7 | 0 |
| TOTAL | 18 | 11 | 91 | 8.3 | 0 |
That would be 5.1 yards per target. This group has been the pleasant surprise of the 2021 season.
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