Shaquille Leonard: “I’m here to prove that I can still make plays after the Colts wrote me off.
After the game, linebacker Shaquille Leonard talked to reporters about his former team, even though he had seven tackles, two tackles for loss, and a sack on Monday to help the Eagles win their first game since he signed with the team.
Leonard was cut by the Colts early in the season, and when it became evident that he would not be climbing the depth chart again, they released the three-time All-Pro in November. After having an impact against the Giants, Leonard stated that the opportunity to show the Colts wrong about him motivates him.
They dismissed me and disparaged my name. I’m here to demonstrate that I am still capable of playing and making plays,” Leonard stated, as reported by Josh Tolentino of the Philadelphia Inquirer.
The Eagles will be grateful for anything Leonard can do in the upcoming weeks, and they will be hoping that the evidence continues to mount well into the postseason.
Following the team’s Week 12 loss to the Giants, Patriots quarterback Mac Jones was benched and hasn’t appeared on the field since.
However, offensive coordinator Bill O’Brien stated on Tuesday that he believes the 2021 No. 15 overall pick will still be available.
“I’m pleased with Mac Jones. I truly do,” O’Brien stated, as reported by ESPN’s Mike Reiss. “Mac Jones seems like a smart guy to me. He labors incredibly hard. He has truly performed admirably in this role as a helpful teammate.
“Look, these are common occurrences during the course of many careers. There are highs and lows for you. He’s taken the proper approach to it. I have faith in Mac. I have no doubt that Mac will be fine.
Jones had a strong rookie season, but in 2022 and 2023 he regressed and got worse. Jones has completed 65 percent of his passes for 2,120 yards this season in 11 games, with 10 touchdowns and 12 interceptions.
Since Bailey Zappe assumed the starting quarterback role, New England is 2-2.
The Eagles’ 17-point lead at halftime had shrunk to two points; Adoree’ Jackson’s 76-yard pick-6 just moments before had given the Giants tremendous momentum; a minute into the fourth quarter, the Eagles found themselves backed up on their own 26-yard line and faced a third-and-20.
Not perfect.
Because there are too many negative outcomes possible in this situation—a sack, a fumble, an interception—many play callers choose not to even attempt to get a first down.
It appeared that D’Andre Swift would run up the middle for four yards, that Braden Mann would come out to punt, and that the Giants would recover the ball down two somewhere near their own 30-yard line. All you had to do was hope the defense could make a stop.
Nick Sirianni remarked, “There aren’t many plays you can draw up on third and 20,” following the Eagles’ comeback victory over the Giants on Monday night, 33-25.
The Eagles had actually gone 0-for-11 on third downs of 20 yards or more since Sirianni took over as head coach.
The Eagles’ last successful third-and-20 (or longer) came late in 2020, near the conclusion of Doug Pederson’s coaching career, when Jalen Hurts found none other than Quez Watkins for a 32-yard touchdown in a Glendale, Arizona, loss to the Cards.
The Eagles have converted 7% of their plays on third down and 20 or more since 1994, the first year Stathead began tracking conversions by down and distance. Across the league, it is a 5%
However, we are discussing Jalen Hurts, who is capable of doing things that average people would never even attempt.
Hurts got to work after realizing there was a three-possession lead reduced to two points.
He retreated all the way to the 15, assessed the field, and when he saw no open receiver, he stepped up in the pocket and avoided a few Giants pass rushers. Then he shot deep down the right sideline toward A.J. Brown while he was still on the run.
Hurts made enough of a throw to get Brown the ball, just missing Isaiah Simmons’ leaping reach by a few inches.
