The Philadelphia Eagles finished their regular season on a high note Sunday with a win over the New York Giants, and now they’re gearing up for their Wild Card matchup against the Green Bay Packers. They’ve been hot lately, winning two straight and 10 of their last 12 games heading into the playoffs.
But while things are looking good for the Eagles right now, ESPN’s Tim McManus pointed out a reason for concern that could impact them as they begin as the competition gets tougher.
McManus highlighted the Eagles’ tendency to start games slowly on the offensive side of the ball.
"The Eagles failed to score in the first quarter of their first seven games and 10 times overall during the regular season," McManus wrote on Monday. "Philadelphia improved in that area down the stretch but still ranked 21st in opening-quarter points (3.7). Falling behind against good teams in the playoffs could prove costly."
The Eagles have been a complete team outside the first quarter. The defense ranks No. 1 in the NFL in yards per game allowed (278.4) and No. 2 in points per game allowed (17.8).
The offensive side of the football has been stellar, too. They rank in the top 10 in both yards per game (367.2) and points per game (27.2).
The only area where the Eagles could improve is in the first quarter. If Jalen Hurts can help lead the offense to some early points, then Philadelphia will be a tough team to beat in the postseason.
