On Sunday afternoon at Lincoln Financial Field. The Philadelphia Eagles had a chance to wrap up the number one seed and the NFC East title against the New Orleans Saints.
Instead, they came away with a 20-10 loss and must win in next week’s finale against the New York Giants to clinch the number one seed in the NFC and win the NFC East title. The Giants beat the Colts 38-10 to clinch a wild card spot.
Philadelphia quarterback Gardner Minshew completed 18 of 32 passes for 274 yards, one touchdown, one interception that was returned for a touchdown, and one carry for no yards. Minshew was also sacked six times and fumbled the ball twice. In addition, he could not convert a fourth and one quarterback sneak that would’ve been automatic if it was Jalen Hurts. But he is not, and to compare him to Jalen would be an unfair comparison.
Minshew has made 42 of 72 completions (58.3 CMP%) for 629 yards, three touchdowns, and three interceptions in two starts this year. Minshew is not doing a bad job filling in for Hurts as he continues to recover from a shoulder injury.
The problem is Minshew is not Jalen Hurts. The system that Minshew is running is specifically for Hurts. The Eagles coaches, led by head coach Nick Sirianni and offensive coordinator Shane Steichen have done Gardner Minshew a disservice.
Back in 2017, then Eagles quarterback Carson Wentz tore his ACL in the Week 14 game against the Los Angeles Rams. Nick Foles took over for the rest of the season and led the Eagles to win their first Super Bowl championship in franchise history.
It would not have happened had Doug Pederson and his staff watched hours of tape on Nick Foles’s first run with the Eagles. They adjusted the offense to play using Foles’s strength and it worked. Foles not only won the Super Bowl but was named Super Bowl MVP.
What Doug Pederson did for Nick Foles is what Nick Sirianni should be doing for Gardner Minshew. He and his staff should have been watching all the tapes from the Jacksonville Jaguars and Washington State Cougars games to find out what works for Minshew.
Then, make those adjustments to the offense that fits Minshew. Sirianni had a couple of weeks to make those adjustments for Minshew and didn’t. If he did view the tapes, it certainly didn’t look like he made any adjustments to fit him. Had he done this after the Chicago Bears game, the Eagles probably would’ve locked up the divisional title and the first-round bye.
Even if Hurts does return in next week’s finale against the Giants. Sirianni should still develop a game plan for Minshew in case Hurts gets injured again. Minshew is a good backup quarterback and is capable of leading the Eagles to a win.
