The 2019 season is officially halfway done. There have been a lot of highs, and a lot of lows, but the Eagles are sitting smack in the middle at 4-4. We're handing out some accolades for the Eagles who impressed so far and for some Eagles that need to step their game up.
MVP: Carson Wentz
1,821 passing yards, 14 touchdowns, four interceptions, 62.1 completion% 68.5 QBR
Carson is having a quietly good season. No, he isn't putting up the same numbers as 2017, but he doesn't have to. The running game has taken over during some of their recent wins, which has helped immensely. All Carson needs to do is manage the game, which he has been doing well. He has the second-best QBR of his career, behind the 2017 season. He isn't turning the ball over nor is he costing the team games. That is valuable in this league *cough* Jameis Winston *cough*.
Best Offensive Player: Brandon Brooks
No surprise here. Barring a horrible falloff or injury, Brooks will be an All-Pro. The o-line has been shaky at times, but Brooks has stood strong. In 6 of 8 games this season he has not allowed a single QB pressure, and he's had only one holding penalty all season. One. That's only one more than you or I have. Coming off of an Achilles injury, Brooks may be having the best season of his career and could end up winning the Comeback Player of the Year Award.
Best Defensive Player: Brandon Graham
29 tackles, five sacks, one forced fumble, two fumble recoveries, 10 QB Hits
I said in the Quarter-Season accolades article that the sacks would come for Graham, and I was right. Five sacks in four games is showing that Graham is on a roll. He has single handedly jump started this Philly pass rush, something that defense desperately needed. For somebody fans didn't think would be on the roster this year, he sure is showing why we needed him.
Biggest Surprise: Jordan Howard
443 rushing yards, five rushing touchdowns, nine receptions, 68 receiving yards, one receiving touchdown
I still can't believe the Bears gave this guy up for almost nothing. This is probably Howie Roseman's best move for the 2019 season. Everybody thought there was a reason they were so willing to move on from the 24 year old, turns out they made the wrong move, and Philadelphia capitalized on it. Howard was so so close to being the first Eagles to rush for 100 yards in 40 games, only 3 yards away against the Bills. But it is good to see the rushing attack striving, and it is thanks to this guy and...
Best Rookie: Miles Sanders
294 rushing yards, one rushing touchdown, 4.5 YPA, 19 receptions 274 receiving yards, one receiving touchdown, 851 yards from scrimmage
This one was easy. Andre Dillard is getting there but Miles has been fantastic. He has more 25+ yard receptions this year than DeAndre Hopkins and Julio Jones. He has been the Eagles most reliable deep threat since DeSean Jackson went down, and he wasn't even a receiving back at Penn State, he is still learning that part of the game. 851 total yards is the 2nd most by an Eagle in his first game, the most belonging to some dude named DeSean. This kid will be good for the Eagles for a while.
Biggest Disappointment: Sidney Jones IV
I have been holdimg out hope for this kid since he was drafted. But to be benched in favor of Craig James is inexcusable and shows just what the team views him as at this point. Jones has been given every opportunity to succeed, and has seemingly squandered all of them, couple that with all of the injuries and we are lingering in bust territory. With the Eagles secondary getting back healthy, he has once again been buried on the depth chart, and I doubt he will find his way to the surface again and become relevant.
Best Play: Miles Sanders 65 Yard Rushing TD
This play was awesome. The formation was great, credit to Jeff Stoutland for scheming it up. The Jordan Howard block to spring Sanders into open space was great. And Sanders' burst of speed was incredible. Who doesn't love seeing a rookie RBs first NFL rushing TD.
