5 Eagles' overreactions vs Ravens: The real concern on Jalen Hurts' backups; Quinyon's quest
BALTIMORE − You always start with the quarterbacks because they control everything on the field.
So on a night when Eagles coach Nick Sirianni decided to sit Jalen Hurts and most of the offensive starters because of a wet field, it certainly provided a great opportunity to see what the Eagles had behind Hurts in Kenny Pickett and Tanner McKee.
On the surface, you would think not much.
The two quarterbacks combined to go 20-for-38 for just 128 yards in the Eagles' 16-13 win over the Baltimore Ravens on Friday night. The longest completion of the night went for 11 yards. Pickett and McKee combined for a passer rating of 68.8 going against a Ravens' team that rested most of its starters.
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Sure, there were some good things. Pickett and McKee each led a touchdown drive, albeit at the speed of an inchworm. Pickett's (ahem) charge in the second quarter took 15 plays and used up 8 minutes, 50 seconds. McKee's drive in the third quarter took 17 plays and used up 7:31.
That was about the extent of the offense until the final minutes. The Eagles took over in a tie game with 5:46 left, and needed 14 plays to go 35 yards before Jake Elliott's 50-yard field goal attempt with 16 seconds left hit the upright and bounced out.
Edge rusher Patrick Johnson gave Elliott a reprieve when his strip-sack set Elliott up for the game-winning 49-yard field goal as time expired.
It was a wild finish, and it was ugly. Except in Sirianni's eyes.
"We were moving the ball nicely when Kenny was in," Sirianni said. "It was not his fault that there were a couple of penalties that stalled drives that weren’t necessarily him. I thought when Tanner was in, he did a good job getting into some checks, really being in control of the operation.
"I thought they were both in complete control while they were in, and made some big throws. There are going to be plays that they want back."
Sure, it would be nice to see what Pickett and McKee could do throwing to A.J. Brown and DeVonta Smith, as opposed to, say, Ainias Smith and Joseph Ngata, two players trying to make the 53-man roster.
And if it's any consolation, the Eagles' backup QBs were better than the Ravens' backups to Lamar Jackson. The Ravens' QBs, led by journeyman Josh Johnson, combined to go 10-for-22 for 99 yards with a passer rating of 58.7.
All of this drives home the main point: Both the Eagles and Ravens consider themselves Super Bowl contenders because of their starting quarterbacks in Hurts and Jackson. They are not Super Bowl contenders when their backups are in the game.
That, of course, is pretty much the case for any team.
But it was still somewhat disappointing that Pickett, a first-round pick of the Steelers in 2022, couldn't change that narrative, going 14 of 22 for just 89 yards. Just like it was disappointing that McKee, given an opening, couldn't prove that he could challenge Pickett to be Hurts' backup. McKee was 6 of 16 for 39 yards.
Then again, there were good things. Sirianni mentioned Pickett's out-route to John Ross that showed his arm strength, and McKee's clutch throw to Ainias Smith that converted a third down on the final drive.
And both Pickett and McKee raved about the offense brought in by new coordinator Kellen Moore.
"I think it’s really quarterback friendly," McKee said. "It allows our guys to show our potential. It takes advantages of one-on-ones. But, also if (the defense) is in a zone, there’s really good spacing concepts that I think we have. I just think it is very well balanced. I think you can see that when we wanted to run the ball, we ran the ball a bunch. When we wanted to pass, the pass was there."
For the Eagles, however, that will have to be projected onto Hurts working with Brown and Smith, along with Saquon Barkley. We likely won't see that until the season opener in Brazil.
Here are four other overreactions:
The quintessential Quinyon Mitchell
It's easy to get excited about first-round pick Quinyon Mitchell, a cornerback, who nearly had an interception in the first quarter.
Mitchell started at outside corner, then moved inside to nickel on passing downs, and acquitted himself well. He played the entire first half, and was not overmatched at all.
It was telling that Mitchell said he was "mad at myself" for not picking off the pass over the middle intended for Malik Cunningham in the first quarter.
"Just playing the nickel position, I gotta talk more, I gotta communicate more," Mitchell said. "I just gotta know my assignments. Each and every day, I try to get better and learn from my mistakes."
The Eagles rookie who showed the most
It was an impressive first game for just about all of the Eagles' rookies. In addition to Mitchell, edge rusher Jalyx Hunt had 3 solo tackles, linebacker Jeremiah Trotter had a sack and led the Eagles with 5 tackles, and running back Will Shipley scored a touchdown on a 7-yard pass from Pickett.
"That play has been so successful for us throughout camp," Shipley said about his TD. "As soon as it was called I knew what the outcome was gonna be. I'm grateful that was the call. Kenny (Pickett) made a great pass, everyone did their job, and I was able to walk into the end zone."
But don't overlook the play of left guard Trevor Keegan, the Eagles' fifth-round pick. He started in place of Landon Dickerson, showing that he's ahead of veterans Matt Hennessy and Nick Gates, among others. Keegan played the entire first half and was mistake-free.
Jalen Carter: Ravens QB's worst nightmare
Ravens QB Josh Johnson must have nightmares of Eagles defensive tackle Jalen Carter. Last year, Carter was the Eagles' first-round pick when they faced the Ravens in the preseason opener. Carter got in for one play, and had Johnson wrapped up for a sack before Johnson managed to throw the ball away.
On Friday, Carter played just one series. This time, he bulled his way toward Johnson, then batted down his pass on 2nd-and-10. On the next play, Mitchell nearly picked off Johnson, forcing a Ravens punt.
Don't worry about Jake Elliott
Remember, it's preseason for kickers too. So on the Eagles' first touchdown, Jake Elliott's extra-point attempt hit the upright and bounced back onto the field. Then with 16 seconds left in a tie game, Elliott again hit the upright on a 50-yard attempt.
Not to worry. On the Ravens' first play, Patrick Johnson sacked Ravens QB Emory Jones, forcing a fumble that Johnson recovered with 10 seconds left. Elliott came back onto the field and drilled the game-winning 49-yard field goal.
Did Elliott thank Johnson for giving him another chance?
"Jake doesn’t need to say anything to me. He’s saved out butts plenty of times," Johnson said. "I’m just glad one of us can actually do it for him."
Contact Martin Frank at mfrank@delawareonline.com. Follow on X @Mfranknfl.