Jaguars-Eagles Stock Market: Saquon's Leapfrog and DeVonta's Toe Drag

PHILADELPHIA – On paper, it didn’t look good. In practicality, it was even worse for the Jacksonville Jaguars.

That is until the Jaguars made a roaring comeback and were on the verge of an unlikely win before Trevor Lawrence’s game-sealing interception thrown to Nakobe Dean with under two minutes to go secured a 28-23 Eagles win.

Philadelphia built up a 22-0 edge in the third quarter and had amassed a 265-36 yardage advantage, holding the Jaguars to one first down with 9:25 remaining in the third quarter.

From there it was hold on for dear life when the normally reliable Jake Elliott missed a 57-yard field goal with 2:11 left in the game.

The contest was finally secured when Nakobe Dean reeled in an overthrown and inaccurate wheel route to D’Ernest Johnson with the Jags at the Eagles’ 13-yard line.

THE BULLS

SAQUON – Saquon Barkley did it in both phases but the highlight was a reverse leapfrog not seen since Jimmy Snuka was headlining for the WWF in the early 1980s although I’m told Saquon also did it in college at Penn State while playing Iowa.

Either way, it was damn impressive.

Barkley scored through the air, abusing safety Darnell Savage on a wheel route, and on the ground when Jalen Hurts caught Jacksonville sleeping on a red-and-17 and Barkley used a Cam Jurgens block that opened a whole that was almost as big as South Philadelphia as Barkley raced into the right side of the end zone untouched.

“God has blessed Saquon with some special things, Hurts said. “I really genuinely pray that he continues to use those things in the fullness of him. That’s special stuff that he’s capable of doing. We just need him to continue to be that kind of player.”

SMITTY – When the Eagles needed it and the second half was turning into a Yankees’ fifth inning, DeVonta Smith delivered in the form of a 46-yard deep shot to set up a 25-yard touchdown reception on a third-and-22 play where it was the trademarked Smitty toe-drag swag.

Both balls were perfectly thrown by Jalen Hurts as well but it was Smith’s ability to put the big play into the passing offense without A.J. Brown, who left with a knee injury that saved the Eagles’ bacon.

NAKOBE DEAN – The linebacker has been much-maligned when it comes to his coverage skills so Doug Pederson put the game in the hands of Lawrence and Johnson late in the game in the form of a wheel route.

The ball was overthrown and too far inside. Etienne did not track the ball. Even with all that Dean snared the game-sealing interception like he was the offensive player Lawrence was targeting.

THE BEARS

THE COACH’S DECISION-MAKING – In fans’ minds, Nick Sirianni left a boatload of points on the board by being over-aggressive and Jacksonville was somehow still in the game when Elliott missed from 57 with just over two minutes left.

Going for the Tush Push when Jacksonville is giving out free yards is understandable because of the team’s previous success but getting cute off of it doesn’t have the same success rate.

As far as the 4th-and-3 deep inside Jacksonville territory in the first half that has also served the Eagles well over the years and the play was there but Hurts uncorked the throw late to Brown which allowed Savage to break it up.

INJURIES – The Eagles lost Brown, who suffered a knee injury late in the first half and came out for the second but couldn’t go. Ben VanSumeren was lost to a concussion after starting the game at fullback.

CLOSING THE DOOR – It wasn’t a happy locker room after the game with numerous Eagles from Hurts on down pointing to the fact that they can’t allow opponents back in games like they did tonight.

“How we execute in those moments, how we manage those moments, and then obviously we want to end the game on our terms,” Hurts said. “I don’t think we did that … We just need to learn from it. The biggest takeaway for me is that it’s an encouraging thing because to this point, we’ve been able to learn from our mistakes, and we’ve shown that. We’ve continued to excel .

“… We can’t be foolish about it and let it be what it is. That’s not the approach. There’s no satisfaction in anything. I’m not satisfied. We had some great moments out there today, but there’s more for us to do. Don’t be a fool and not learn from your mistakes.”

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