Crossing Broad
If I asked you to recall a handful of big offensive plays from the Eagles’ three-game winning streak, what’s the first one that comes to mind?
Is it DeVonta Smith’s end zone bomb from Sunday afternoon? Saquon Barkley’s big run(s) in the Meadowlands? Jalen Hurts hitting A.J. Brown down the sideline on fourth and 3, for a touchdown?
There have been a lot of those plays in recent weeks, so much so that the Birds are one of the best big play offenses in the NFL. Here’s what the Sportradar data says:
Now wait –
You’re probably sitting there thinking, “okay, these numbers are just average, they are middle of the pack.” That’s true.
What’s interesting is that the Eagles really shine when you get into the next threshold of yardage and look at things in the +20 and +30 range:
So you see the how the Eagles’ explosive numbers look better the higher the yardage goes. They aren’t just hitting the occasional 15-yard run or 18-yard pass play. They are hitting home runs, and the home runs aren’t just clearing the fence, they are going into the second deck.
What’s equally interesting is that the Eagles’ explosive play identity is being matched on the other side of the ball. They have a +11 explosive play differential, which is fifth-best in the league. That’s due in part to Vic Fangio’s defense allowing the 6th-fewest big plays (39) while only getting beat for 30+ yards twelve times through seven games. Philosophically, what has always been said about his system, and modern two-high safety looks? The whole point is not to get beat deep. To keep everything in front of you. So the Eagles are limiting their opponents in that area while excelling at it themselves. It’s part of the formula for a 5-2 record through seven weeks.
The post The Eagles Lead the NFL in Offensive Plays of 40+ Yards appeared first on Crossing Broad.
