The Eagles also were hurt by circumstances out of their control when quarterback Jalen Hurts was in concussion protocol.
asserted
Hurts → hurt → protocol
Hurts threw an interception, backup Andy Dalton tossed an end-zone pick when Hurts was being evaluated, and the Eagles lost a fumble while forcing zero turnovers.
“You can’t sustain wins,” coach Nick Sirianni said of losing the turnover battle.
asserted
Sirianni → throw → battle
Philadelphia was whistled 10 times for 61 yards, several of which were holds against the secondary.
asserted
several → whistle → secondary
Add in some questionable decisions, including Sirianni electing not to go for it on fourth-and-1 on his own 49-yard line down 20-7 with 3:30 left in the third quarter and Dalton firing into the hands of Bears safety Dillon Thieneman on third-and-2 from the 2-yard line, and it was a recipe for defeat.
asserted
it → add → defeat
“I think we all have to own that loss right there,” Sirianni said.
asserted
Sirianni → think → loss
“I don’t think anybody coached well, I don’t think anybody played well.
asserted
anybody → think → ?
A turning point for Philadelphia came with 8:37 remaining in the second quarter of a seven-point game when D’Marco Jackson decked Hurts with a hard hit just as the quarterback was stepping out of bounds after a scramble.
asserted
quarterback → come → scramble
Jackson was flagged for unnecessary roughness while Hurts was flagged for a possible concussion by NFL spotters.
asserted
Hurts → flag → spotters
Beginning at Chicago’s 15-yard line, Dalton took over.
asserted
Dalton → begin → line
After three running plays, he threw an interception while an animated Hurts came out of the medical tent, apparently ready to play but not quite cleared to do so.
asserted
Hurts → throw → tent
“I was still waiting for the thumbs-up,” Hurts said.
asserted
Hurts → wait → up
He added that he felt fine and wished things could have been expedited.
uncertain
things → add → ?
Sirianni understood the protocol and did not second guess officials’ decision to evaluate Hurts.
asserted
Sirianni → understand → Hurts
“The health of the player is the most important thing,” he said.
asserted
he → say → player
“That was unfortunate how that possession played itself out.”
asserted
possession → play → itself
Sirianni also said that he considered calling a timeout to buy time in order to get Hurts back on the field but did not have enough information to know if it would be worth it to do so.
asserted
it → say → information
The Eagles (2-1) will have to clean things up if they want to contend for a title.
asserted
they → have → title
“This is an opportunity to learn from, and we have to choose to learn from it,” Hurts said.
asserted
Hurts → learn → it
What’s working
On the field, not much.
asserted
working → work → field
Both Hurts and Sirianni accepted blame for their part in the loss.
asserted
Hurts → accept → loss
Sirianni said he was sorry for his verbal lashing out following the hit on Hurts.
asserted
he → say → Hurts
What needs help
Just about everything.
asserted
needs → need → help
The Eagles needed Hurts to rescue them in a Week 2 win over Tennessee with a stellar final drive, but it masked struggles that showed up again against the Bears.
asserted
that → need → Bears
He was sacked twice more against the Bears, bringing the total to eight sacks for minus-45 yards this season.
asserted
He → sack → yards
The running game had some bright spots in the first half but stalled after halftime.
asserted
game → have → halftime
Defensively, the Eagles allowed backup Case Keenum to pick them apart for 247 yards and a pair of touchdowns.
asserted
Keenum → allow → touchdowns
And, of course, the penalties and turnovers didn’t help.
asserted
penalties → help → course
Hurts running in short-yardage situations continues to be a weapon for Philadelphia’s offense, and Hurts executed it to perfection for the team’s only touchdown at the end of the first half.
asserted
Hurts → run → half
He expertly managed the clock on the play, choosing to go for it from the 1-yard line rather than clock the ball and got the snap off just before the first half expired.
asserted
half → manage → snap
Vic Fangio’s unit was expected to be a strength this season but has been average at best.
asserted
unit → expect → ?
The unit has surrendered more than 100 yards on the ground in each of the three games, allowing more than 127 yards per contest, while giving up an average of 23 points per game.
asserted
unit → surrender → game
The Aporia
