The Philadelphia Eagles clawed out of a deep hole at the Arizona Cardinals on Sunday, but ultimately, they fell short in a 33-26 defeat that did not totally dash their playoff hopes. They’re still alive, despite their 4-9-1 record.
Here’s a look at who played how much in the loss at the Cardinals.
Quarterbacks (out of 83 offensive snaps): Jalen Hurts (83), Carson Wentz (DNP), Nate Sudfeld (inactive).
Analysis: Hurts threw for 338 yards and three touchdowns and added 63 rushing yards and a touchdown on the ground. He looked good, and he’ll get another chance to start at the Cowboys in Week 16. He’s given the Eagles the spark that coach Doug Pederson said he wanted to see from the rookie.
Read more: Jalen Hurts to start for Philadelphia Eagles at Dallas Cowboys in must-win Week 16 matchup
Running backs: Miles Sanders (69), Boston Scott (15), Corey Clement (0), Jason Huntley (inactive).
Analysis: Sanders’ success in Hurts’ second start was a little more limited with 17 carries for 64 yards. He also had a 26-yard catch-and-run that was a good things see after some of his struggles earlier this season in the passing game.
Wide receivers: Alshon Jeffery (52), Jalen Reagor (46), Greg Ward (44), Quez Watkins (28), Travis Fulgham (26), John Hightower (inactive), J.J. Arcega-Whiteside (inactive).
Analysis: Jeffery had his best game of the season with two catches for 63 yards, and he drew two other defensive pass interference penalties that covered 40 yards. That means the veteran accounted for 103 yards, which is some production the Eagles haven’t gotten from the wide receiver spot in a while. Watkins caught his first career touchdown, while Greg Ward had four catches for 15 yards and two touchdowns. Reagor’s five catches were a career high.
Read more: Eagles rewind: Special teams struggle in loss at Cardinals, stock watch, injury updates and more
Tight ends: Dallas Goedert (73), Zach Ertz (62), Richard Rodgers (0).
Analysis: Ertz had his biggest impact in quite some time with two catches for 69 yards, including a 42-yard catch and run. Hurts looked in Goedert’s direction a couple times at the end of the game, but the two could not connect. Rodgers left the game early with a shin injury and did not return.
Offensive lineman: Jason Kelce (83), Jordan Mailata (83), Isaac Seumalo (83), Nate Herbig (83), Matt Pryor (83), Luke Juriga (0), Brett Toth (0), Ross Pierschbacher (0).
Analysis: The 13th starting offensive line combination in 14 games made it through the game intact, though there were some struggles. Pryor is solid in the run game, but he struggles at times in pass protection.
Read more: Eagles fall short in another squandered opportunity: ‘It’s been disappointing’
Defensive ends (out of 68 defensive snaps): Derek Barnett (52), Brandon Graham (41), Vinny Curry (27), Genard Avery (12), Josh Sweat (4).
Analysis: Sweat left the game early with a wrist injury and did not return to action. The pass rush could not get to Cardinals quarterback Kyler Murray, even though he didn’t make too many plays with his legs. Barnett got flagged for a late hit that could have gone either way.
Defensive tackles: Fletcher Cox (56), Javon Hargrave (39), Malik Jackson (30), Raequan Williams (11).
Analysis: Cox was evaluated for a concussion at one point in the game but returned to action. Jackson had two tackles for loss, including one impressive stop in the run game.
Read more: Eagles playoff hopes remain alive despite falling into last place in the NFC East
Linebackers: Alex Singleton (66), Duke Riley (47), T.J. Edwards (20), Shaun Bradley (0), Joe Bachie (0).
Analysis: Singleton had 11 tackles, though he missed some snaps for the first time since Week 8. He plays an intense, downhill style that has been a boost for the position group.
Cornerbacks: Michael Jacquet (68), Nickell Robey-Coleman (67), Kevon Seymour (47), Jameson Houston (0), Darius Slay (inactive).
Analysis: The Eagles cobbled things together on the back end between the cornerbacks and the safeties, and all things considered, it went OK. Jacquet and Robey-Coleman had good position on impressive touchdown catches by DeAndre Hopkins and Larry Fitzgerald, respectively, and no one got utterly burned. Jacquet and Robey-Coleman also combined on a strip-sack of Murray to force a turnover.
Read more: Jalen Hurts wants to do more for Eagles: ‘I think I hate losing more than I love to win’
Safeties: Jalen Mills (68), Marcus Epps (68), K’Von Wallace (23), Elijah Riley (2), Blake Countess (0), Grayland Arnold (inactive).
Analysis: Mills didn’t leave the field, and even said he played a couple snaps at corner when Seymour was briefly shaken up. Epps, too, did not leave the field and came up with an interception in the end zone to end an Arizona drive. Murray threw for a career-high 406 yards, but the damage did not feel or look as bad as the numbers show, thanks to some timely defensive plays at all three levels.
Special teams (out of 31 special teams snaps): T.J. Edwards (25), Duke Riley (22), Shaun Bradley (20), Rudy Ford (20), Corey Clement (20), K’Von Wallace (19), Dallas Goedert (14), Joe Bachie (14), Marcus Epps (13), Alex Singleton (13), Jameson Houston (11), Jake Elliott (11), Rick Lovato (10) … Cameron Johnston (8), Blake Countess (8).
Analysis: The Eagles special teams unit lost Johnston to a concussion, had a punt blocked, got burned by a fake punt and had a miscue on an extra point that cost them the chance to take the lead. It was not a smooth outing for the group. Countess made his Eagles debut nearly five years after the team selected him in the 2016 NFL Draft.
Read more: Cardinals 33, Eagles 26: Jalen Hurts accounts for four touchdowns, but comeback falls short
Daniel Gallen covers the Philadelphia Eagles for PennLive. He can be reached at dgallen@pennlive.com. You can follow him on Twitter and Facebook. Follow PennLive’s Philadelphia Eagles coverage on Twitter, Facebook and YouTube.