Eagles vs. Panthers: The good, the bad, and the ugly

This version of the Eagles was able to beat the three-win Carolina Panthers on Sunday at Lincoln Financial Field, 22-16, after five lead changes, to win their ninth-straight game and push their record to 11-2.

The Eagles are in command of the NFC East and still find themselves chasing the NFC-leading Detroit Lions (12-1) by a game.

The ninth-straight victory ties an Eagles’ franchise record for the longest winning streak in franchise history with the 1949, 1960, 2003 and 2017 teams, three of four of which won NFL championships (1949, 1960 and 2017).

Against the Panthers, Jalen Hurts was a competent 14-for-21 for 108 yards and two touchdowns, while rushing for another. Saquon Barkley broke Shady McCoy’s Eagles’ single-season rushing record with 124 yards rushing on 20 carries, giving him a single-season total of 1,623 yards, surpassing the previous mark of McCoy’s 1,607 rushing yards, set in 2013

Barkley created the new standard on his 17th carry of the game, going nine yards with 7:56 remaining to play.

The Eagles won the game, although did they look better than the previous month? Or did they regress during the most important time of the season?

It was a sloppy, inconsistent performance that merited better from a team that is deemed among the NFL’s elite right now. The Eagles entered the game as 13-point favorites and were fortunate to catch the Panthers’ improving Bryce Young at this stage of his career.

This was a game gauged when looking at the scoreboard was not enough, not enough when it comes to maintaining a playing standard the Eagles need to build in December for their playoff drive in January.

If you cannot play well against the Carolina Panthers, just imagine what the Detroit Lions will do against you?

There was some good in clutch moments, some bad, and the ugly that could ultimately lead to the Eagles’ undoing in an unimpressive 22-16 victory over the stumbling Carolina Panthers.

The Good

Cornerback Darius Slay defending Adam Thielen on the play of the game batting the ball away with his left hand, with 37 seconds left on a fourth-and-nine at the Eagles’ 37. Bryce Young had scrambled free and eyed Thielen across the field, so, too, did Slay. Earlier in the fourth quarter, Slay defended Xavier Legette on Carolina’s fourth-and-two at the Eagles’ 27 with 8:35 to play. Thielen and Legette crisscrossed, but if you notice on the replay, Slay may have gotten away with a little bit of a hold with his left hand on Legette’s jersey, and pulling an old veteran move with his right hand hooked behind Legette away from the officials. The Eagles got the ball back because of the play at their 27.

Avonte Maddox sliding centerfield catch of Braden Mann’s 38-yard punt at the Carolina 3 with 2:58 to play.

Hurts’ crucial 15-yard completion to A.J. Brown on a third-and-13 at the Carolina 38 with 4:49 to play.

Tight end Grant Calcaterra scoring his first NFL touchdown on a third-and-goal for a 4-yard score and a 22-16 Eagles’ lead, after a Saquon Barkley two-point conversion. Hurts showed patience on the fourth play of the fourth quarter, noticing his primaries were covered, and checked down to Calcaterra running through the middle of the end zone.

Hurts’ season-long 35-yard run on a scramble on the final play of the third quarter on a third-and-10 at the Panthers’ 44. It looked as if the Panthers had Hurts locked in. As the pocket was closing around Hurts, he saw an opening and took it up the middle of the field to the Carolina nine.

Defensive tackle Jalen Carter showing his high football IQ, reading the screen on a second-and-eight from the Eagles’ 17 on Carolina’s first drive of the second half. Carter snuffed out the screen and jumped on Chuba Hubbard for a five-yard loss back to the 22. It was Carter’s third tackle overall and second tackle for loss. Unfortunately, the Eagles wasted the play when they failed to stop the Panthers.

Saquon Barkley’s 18-yard run on the Eagles’ second play of the second half, taking the ball out to the Eagles’ 48. It was a play made possible by the push from left guard Landon Dickerson, who literally shoved Carolina defensive end A’Shawn Robinson 20 yards up the field. Barkley ran right behind Dickerson.

Receiver DeVonta Smith snaring a four-yard TD pass to close an underwhelming first half to give the Eagles a 14-10 lead. Smith beat Carolina safety Jordan Fuller racing across the field right-to-left and Hurts hit him in stride in the front corner of the end zone. The Eagles were fortunate they were not flagged for offensive pass interference on Jahan Dotson on a rub route inside.

Safety C.J. Gardner-Johnson has turned into a hitter this season, something he was not exactly noted for in his first stint as an Eagle. Gardner-Johnson came up and landed a brutal hit on Xavier Legette on Carolina’s third-and-10 at the Panthers’ 47 with 13:32 left in the first quarter. Gardner-Johnson’s timing was perfect, laying a left shoulder into Legette just seconds after the ball arrived, knocking it free. It forced Carolina to punt on its first possession. Gardner-Johnson later got hurt, went into the medical tent, and then emerged to pick off a Bryce Young pass for the first time in 127 passes. The interception, with 1:50 left in the half, set up DeVonta Smith’s four-yard TD reception from Hurts with :14 remaining in the half.

The Eagles’ third drive. Before then, the Eagles had run off eight plays for a total of 11 yards taking a scant 4:57 off the clock.

Linebacker Zack Baun making a great play, as he has all season, taking down Bryce Young for a seven-yard sack on a third-and-7 at the Carolina 45 on the Panthers second drive, forcing a punt. Baun later took down Hubbard for a three-yard loss on Carolina’s scoring drive on a first-and-goal at the Eagles’ six. Baun tracked down Hubbard on a second-and-four at midfield for a one-yard loss with 11:06 left to play.

Cornerback Kelee Ringo taking down Rasheer Blackshear for one yard on the Eagles’ second punt of the game.

Kenneth Gainwell’s season-long 20-yard run on the Eagles’ third play of the game to the Eagles’ 42 on a second-and-13. The Eagles, however, failed to use it.

The Bad

Kicker Jake Elliott missing a 52-yard field goal wide right that would have culminated the Eagles’ first drive of the second half with 10:42 left in the third quarter. It is now becoming a frightening revelation that Elliott may not be reliable beyond 50 yards, as he was last season and throughout his career. Last year, Elliott made 7 of 8 from 50 yards and beyond. This season, he is 0 for 5 this year from 50-plus. An unreliable Elliott bodes trouble ahead in the postseason. Nick Sirianni showed little faith in Elliott with 3:05 to play, and instead of letting Elliott try a 53-yard field goal, Sirianni opted to take a delay penalty and pin the Panthers.

Cornerback Cooper DeJean getting beat by Adam Thielen for 24 yards to the Eagles’ 23 on Carolina’s first play of its third drive. It led to Carolina getting on the board first, when Eddy Pineiro kicked a 38-yard field goal with 1:09 left in the first quarter. DeJean has had a great season, but he was schooled by the veteran Thielen, who had three third-down conversions and had DeJean chasing him all afternoon.

With 8:14 left in the first quarter, Gardner-Johnson going down with a possible concussion, forcing Avonte Maddox in at safety to be paired with Tristin McCollum, making his first NFL start. It placed the Eagles in serious jeopardy of being exploited on the back end. Fortunately, with 11:41 left in the half, Gardner-Johnson returned. With 9:35 left in the game, CJGJ was writhing on the ground again after running into his teammate, Baun, as they converged on Hubbard. Maddox came back in to replace Gardner-Johnson. With 2:58, Gardner-Johnson came back again. He has been ripped numerous times here for the right reasons, but this time, he deserves serious kudos for toughness and grit.

Hurts not seeing his receivers fast enough on the Eagles’ third-and-18 on their first drive of the game.

Tackle Lane Johnson, of all people, getting flagged for holding on the Eagles’ first play of the game. It put the Eagles in a first-and-18 hole.

The Ugly

The Eagles allowing Young to complete a 31-yard pass to Legette on a third-and-11 from the Carolina 2 with 2:34 to play. Josh Sweat failed to bring Young down with his arms wrapped around him. Then, on the same drive, allowing the Panthers to convert a fourth-and-seven in the last minute on a 13-yard completion to Thielen at the Eagles’ 38.

With 3:19 to play, Hurts’ delay-of-game penalty at the Carolina 41. It should not happen at that stage of the game, nor in Hurts’ stage of his career. He is supposed to manage the game better. The penalty forced the Eagles into a fourth-and-eight with 3:05 to play.

The Eagles’ defense on Carolina’s opening drive of the second half. The Panthers rolled 58 yards over 12 plays, and then had defensive tackle Thomas Booker IV blown up, followed by Baun in the end zone by Panthers’ center Cade Mays for the Hubbard TD and a 16-14 Panthers’ lead with 2:49 left in the third quarter.

The Eagles’ defense on Carolina’s fourth drive. The Panthers entered the game ranked No. 30 in the NFL in offense. Young led the Panthers down the field on a 14-play, 69-yard drive that took up 7:48. Gardner-Johnson got beat by tight end Tommy Treble on a fourth-and-goal from the three to make it 10-7 Carolina with 4:00 left in the half.

The Eagles’ first quarter—again. They have failed to score a touchdown on their opening drive in 13 regular-season games this season. Their six points in the first quarter is the lowest in the NFL. The Eagles average an NFL-low 1.4 points in the first quarter this season, with two field goals, one turnover and 10 punts after going three-and-out on their second possession. Against Carolina, the Eagles had 0 yards passing in the first quarter.

Edge rusher Nolan Smith losing contain and failing to shed the block by Treble allowing Chuba Hubbard to ramble for 15 yards on the Panthers’ first play of their second drive to the Carolina 39 with 10:21 left in the first quarter.

Joseph Santoliquito is a hall of fame, award-winning sportswriter based in the Philadelphia area who has written feature stories for SI.com, ESPN.com, NFL.com, MLB.com, Deadspin and The Philadelphia Inquirer/Daily News. In 2006, he was nominated for an Emmy Award for a special project piece for ESPN.com called “Love at First Beep.” He is most noted for his award-winning ESPN.com feature on high school wrestler A.J. Detwiler in February 2006, which appeared on SportsCenter. In 2015, he was elected president of the Boxing Writers Association of America.