Eagles dominate Raiders in all phases, end losing streak in first shutout since 2018

PHILADELPHIA — “Get-well game” might be an understatement.

The PhiladelphiaEagles clobbered the lowly Las Vegas Raiders, 31-0, on a cold, windy Sunday afternoon at Lincoln Financial Field. Vic Fangio’s defense dominated, posting the Eagles’ first shutout since Dec. 30, 2018 (a 24-0 victory over Washington).

At long last, the Eagles played clean, complementary football. Jalen Hurts rebounded from his five-turnover performance last week against the Los Angeles Chargers, going 12 for 15 for 175 yards and three touchdowns for a near-perfect 154.9 passer rating.

Here’s our instant analysis from the Eagles’ Week 15 win that brought their three-game losing streak to a halt:

Offensive identity

Don’t look now, but the Eagles might be starting to establish an identity.

Nick Sirianni and Kevin Patullo leaned into under-center runs and run-pass option plays from shotgun to great success, allowing the offense to sustain drives. The Eagles also set up some play-action passes off of their under-center looks.

Hurts even kept the ball on some of those option plays, adding 39 yards on seven carries (most of which were designed). He got shaken up on a zone-read keeper at the end of the third quarter when he got hit by former Eagles linebacker Devin White, but he immediately returned to action.

In the passing game, Hurts got all of his favorite targets involved. Dallas Goedert took a 4-yard pitch on a run-pass option for a touchdown in the first quarter that made it 7-0. The 30-year-old tight end scored on another shovel pass in the third quarter, putting the Eagles up 24-0.

Goedert nearly had another touchdown catch in the second quarter, but he dropped the pass, ultimately leading to the Eagles settling for a 27-yard field goal to go up 10-0. He finished the afternoon with six receptions for a team-high 70 yards and the two touchdowns.

Hurts also got his staple deep ball going. Late in the first quarter, he connected with DeVonta Smith on a play-action pass down the left sideline for 50 yards. Fred Johnson (and Saquon Barkley) helped keep Maxx Crosby away from Hurts in the pocket, although Johnson arguably got a bit grabby against the four-time Pro Bowl defensive end.

The fifth-year starting quarterback hit A.J. Brown, aligned in the slot, with a 27-yard touchdown pass deep over the middle of the field on the first play of the fourth quarter. The Eagles went up, 31-0, further solidifying their biggest lead of the season.

Brown made other critical plays on third down, drawing a defensive pass interference call against Raiders cornerback Eric Stokes on the opening series to help keep the drive alive. He also caught a 14-yard pass on a slant on third-and-8 in the third quarter that ultimately helped set up Goedert’s second touchdown.

Like last week against Chargers, Barkley got going on the ground on under-center runs. He followed a pulling Landon Dickerson on a 17-yard under center run in the third quarter that led to Brown’s touchdown. Barkley’s touchdown carry in the second quarter, though, came on a shotgun handoff up the middle, putting the Eagles up by 17.

Old man Graham

With Jalen Carter missing time due to shoulder injuries, 37-year-old Brandon Graham has been spending more time lining up at defensive tackle.

He was dominant in the role on Sunday. Graham posted two sacks, his first since coming out of retirement in late October. He beat right guard Caleb Rogers on both plays to get to quarterback and ex-Eagles backup Kenny Pickett. One of those sacks was essentially wiped off the board when Cooper DeJean incurred an unnecessary roughness call on the same play in the first quarter.

But Graham made up for it in the second quarter with his second sack, forcing the Raiders to go three-and-out for a second time. The Raiders would ultimately go three-and-out five times.

Defensive dominance

Graham’s performance was just one part of the defense’s dominant day against the Raiders. Pickett was sacked four times, twice by Graham, once by Moro Ojomoand once by Nolan Smith.

Even the edge rushers who didn’t earn sacks made noise. Jaelan Phillips batted a pass at the line of scrimmage on fourth-and-7 on the Raiders’ opening drive, causing Pickett to throw an incomplete pass and turning the ball over on downs. Phillips, whom the Eagles acquired from the Miami Dolphins at the trade deadline, has three pass deflections in the last three weeks.

In the second quarter on third-and-7, Jalyx Hunt breezed past the left side of the Raiders offensive line on a stunt and hit Pickett. The Raiders quarterback threw an incomplete pass for running back Ashton Jeanty, leading Las Vegas to punt.

The back seven took advantage of the Eagles’ dominance up front. With the left side of the Raiders offensive line getting pushed back, Pickett threw an interception to Zack Baun a pass intended for Raiders tight end Brock Bowers in the third quarter.

Injury report

Tight end Cam Latu went to the tent late in the fourth quarter with an apparent arm injury.