SANTA CLARA, Calif. -- The improbable became the impossible for the Philadelphia Eagles on Sunday.
The Eagles were perhaps the most unlikely 3-0 team in NFL history, based on their unprecedented string of second-half comebacks after trailing in each first half. By coming back and winning those games, the Eagles put a coat of camouflage paint on serious problems.
Those problems were clearly on display in Sunday’s 26-21 loss to the San Francisco 49ers.
The Niners were 1-2 coming in, but they are still the team that has been to the playoffs in all three seasons under coach Jim Harbaugh. Against an elite NFC contender, the Eagles were unable to overcome their deficiencies. Worst of all, for them, their biggest issue was their greatest strength last year. Coach Chip Kelly, who benefited from a healthy offensive line and a strong running game, was suddenly calling plays and managing a game without either of those elements in place.
“We got whupped up front,” Kelly said. “We’re not very good up front right now. We’ve got a lot of guys banged up. That’s not an excuse. That’s just the reality of it. Offensively, we didn’t do anything.”
How bad was it? LeSean McCoy, who led the NFL in rushing last season, carried the ball 10 times for 17 yards. That’s a 1.7-yard average with a long gain of 5 yards. Last week, with McCoy stopped by Washington’s defense, quarterback Nick Foles was able to compensate. Not this time. Foles completed 21 of 43 passes for 195 yards. His passer rating was 42.3.
“We weren’t good enough offensively,” Kelly said, a tough admission for an offensive coach with a reputation for creativity.
“It was frustrating,” tight end Brent Celek said. “Kind of embarrassing. As an offense, we have to execute better. That’s unacceptable, especially when defense and special teams were playing well.”
The Eagles scored all of their points in the first half. They had two special-teams touchdowns: a punt blocked by backup tight end Trey Burton and recovered in the end zone by wide receiver Brad Smith and an 82-yard punt return by Darren Sproles. Safety Malcolm Jenkins added a 53-yard interception return for another score.
After scoring 74 second-half points in their three victories, the Eagles were held scoreless in the second half by the Niners. Their first possession ended with Zach Ertz fumbling the ball away. The Niners converted that turnover into a touchdown.
“It’s inexcusable and I take full responsibility,” Ertz said.
For all that, the Eagles were again in position to stage a comeback. With the Niners up 26-21, the Eagles got the ball on their own 9-yard line. Foles hit Jeremy Maclin four times for 59 yards. A throw to Jordan Matthews gave the Eagles a first down at the 49ers’ 6-yard line.
“No doubt we were going to win,” left tackle Jason Peters said. “No doubt, no doubt.”
But four shots -- three passes and a run -- got the Eagles to the 1–yard line. They could not punch it in. There was no comeback, not this time.
“When you’re a great team, you do expect to score,” Celek said. “The fact that we didn’t stinks.”
Whether the Eagles are a great team will be determined during the rest of the season. They are definitely a flawed team, and those flaws kept them from remaining an undefeated team.
