Philadelphia Eagles vs. New York Jets Notebook: Contradictions, Turnovers & Lamenting Lane Johnson

The Philadelphia Eagles somehow became the NFL's last unbeaten for the second consecutive season on the day they suffered their first loss

EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. - On a day the Philadelphia Eagles lost for the first time in the 2023 season, a mind-numbing 20-14 setback to the quarterback-deficient New York Jets, the team still secured the title of NFL's last unbeaten.

That's because the San Francisco 49ers lost earlier in the day to a QB-hungry Cleveland Browns team that was without Deshaun Watson. 

Losses happen in the NFL for everyone not named the 1972 Miami Dolphins but that's the last positive spin you'll hear about the Eagles, who were uncharacteristically sloppy, losing the turnover battle 4-0 and also suffering from a rare 37-yard missed field goal from Jake Elliott, as well as two atypical drops from DeVonta Smith.

It was a perfect storm of ineptitude that culminated on 3rd-and-9 coming out of the two-minute warning with the Eagles holding onto a precarious 14-12 advantage.

Instead of running the football and draining 45 seconds off the clock for a Jets team out of timeouts, Nick Sirianni and Brian Johnson put the peddle to the metal and attempted to win the game.

Jalen Hurts had perhaps earned that trust by winning 22 of his past 23 parts but in the moment the idea evaporated when the star quarterback threw into double coverage resulting in his third interception of the game, this one by safety Tony Adams.

"He had to hold it for a tick longer," Sirianni said. "I’m going to have to see what happened there. It looked like they played some sort of cover four on that. We had a completion on that play earlier in the drive and then I’ll have to look at the tape exactly. I know Jalen’s going to want that play back, obviously. 

"I thought that was pretty much the only turnover that was on him though. We need that back in that critical time, he’s going to want that back. We want that back. If the play doesn’t work, we’re going to look at ourselves as coaches first and say, ‘Was that the right play?’ That’s part about being accountable and I know Jalen’s looking at himself in the mirror as well."

Allowing the Jets to get into the end zone in order to get the football back to tie or win never got off the ground and the frustrated Eagles were left wondering how this game could possibly be lost.

"I had an opportunity and I didn’t do my job on the play. I don’t think I made the correct read on it, but it happens," said Hurts. "It’s an opportunity for us to learn from it and grow."

LAMENTING LANE

All-Pro right tackle Lane Johnson left with a knee injury in the first quarter and never returned. Early indications are that X-rays were negative but Johnson is set to undergo an MRI Monday morning.

The Eagles are never the same when Johnson isn't on the field, going 13-23 in games he hasn't started.

While Johnson did start today, he didn't finish, and while backup Jack Driscoll is a solid player, the drop-off from Johnson is significant.

"For us, we pride ourselves on everybody being ready to step up when an opportunity’s called and you look at the guys that come in and have an opportunity to play," Sirianni said. "Everybody has to be ready. Everybody’s prepared to play and everybody has to answer that phone when the phone rings."

PLAYERS PLAY ACCOUNTABLE

There was no screaming from Sirianni post-game. In fact, the coach didn't say much all to his team after the first loss since Super Bowl LVII.

"I didn’t have to say much," Sirianni said when asked about his locker room messaging. "In fact, I didn’t say anything, our guys as soon as we got in there, they talked. A lot of different guys said different things, that’s what you want out of your team. 

"That part was a big positive because they’re holding each other accountable, they’re holding themselves accountable. I’m holding myself accountable, and so, I didn’t have to really say anything. The leaders on the football team did and we’ll keep what they said tight in there."

METLIFE MADNESS

There haven't been a ton of bad moments for Hurts but when they come they usually come at MetLife Stadium. Back in 2021, Hurts lost an ugly 13-7 game to the New York Giants when he tossed three interceptions. Today it was three more in a Bowling Shoe aesthetic against the Jets.

Hurts only threw six interceptions all last season and is now at seven through six games in 2023.

NO RUNNING ZONE

The Eagles had a grand total of zero yards in the traditional running game in the first half and D'Andre Swift, who came into the game as one of the NFL's top runners, managed just 18 yards on 10 carries and one was a nine-yard gain, meaning he gained nine total yards on the other nine carries. Swift also fumbled in the passing game where he was more effective, typing a career-high with eight receptions. 

"You’re missing two corners. Coaches definitely notice that and the way our passing game was clicking, we felt confident with that," All-Pro center Jason Kelce said. "For the most part it was there. We were moving the ball effectively. We really stalled things ourselves for the most part.

"I think it was also compounded when we weren’t as efficient running the ball. You start to add things up, it felt like the passing plays were having more success than the run plays. I don’t know what the efficiencies would say to that."

LAST MAN STANDING

With San Francisco losing to Cleveland earlier in the day, the Eagles are the last unbeaten left, standing at 6-0. Philadelphia made it to 8-0 last season before losing, also as the last unbeaten team.

AWESOME A.J.

A.J. Brown finished with seven receptions for 131 yards, his fourth consecutive game with 125 or more yards receiving. He's only the second player in franchise history to do that, joining Harold Jackson, who did it in four straight over two seasons (12/19/71-10/2/72). 

TOO MUCH TWEAKING?

Defensive coordinator Sean Desai had to do some things differently due to injuries to Jalen Carter and Darius Slay but there was too much tweaking. Up front, the Eagles went heavy 50 personnel because they were more concerned with the Jets running game than Zach Wilson.

At linebacker, Nicholas Morrow got the start with Zach Cunningham subbing in when the Eagles' got to nickel. Nakobe Dean, who was returning from four games on injured reserve with a foot injury, also rotated in and played quite a bit.

At cornerback, Josh Jobe started for Slay with Eli Ricks subbing in until the undrafted rookie was ruled out with a knee injury. Meanwhile, after Reed Blankenship left in the third quarter due to Allen Lazard's drive-killing blindside block, rookie Mekhi Garner, a cornerback by trade and practice-squad elevation, made his NFL debut at safety, a position he did play at times in college.  

That said the defense only allowed 244 total yards and 155 passing so it did its part.

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