The Eagles played arguably their best all-around game of the season in Week 14, defeating the 10-2 Saints and ending New Orleans' nine-game winnings streak. For the first time in a long time, there was a lot to like about an Eagles' performance. Unlike the last few weeks, where it was a struggle to find studs to list, this week we find ourselves reaching to find duds. Let's see who stood out in Week 14.
STUD: Jalen Hurts
It has to start with Hurts, who made his first NFL start against one of the best defenses in the NFL and produced a fantastic performance. Hurts completed 17/30 passes for 167 yards and a touchdown. One of the most impressive takeaways from Hurts' day is that he didn't take a single sack, a stunning development after what we've seen from the offensive line and Carson Wentz this season.
Hurts also made a huge impact with his legs, rushing 18 times for 106 yards. The only true smudge on his day was a late fumble that was recovered by the Saints, but all-in-all it was a great showing from the rookie. He showed incredible poise, made good decisions, and helped the Eagles' offense finally have some extended rhythm. Very impressive day from Hurts.
DUD: Jake Elliott
Elliott missed a chip-shot field goal right before halftime that served to swing momentum in addition to costing the Eagles three points. Elliott has had trouble from short distances this season, and it continued on Sunday. Professional kickers simply can't miss from that distance.
STUD: Miles Sanders
I'd argue Sanders still didn't get enough touches on Sunday, but it did seem like there was a more concerted effort to consistently get him the ball. He finished with 14 carries for 115 yards and two touchdowns. He ripped off an electric 82-yard touchdown and added four catches for 21 yards. Getting Sanders the ball consistently certainly played a role in the improved look of the offense.
DUD: Jalen Mills
This is one of those stretches, but Mills managed just two tackles and had several egregious missed tackles on Sunday. Not good enough.
STUD: Josh Sweat
Sweat filled the stat sheet with five tackles, two sacks, two QB hits and a tackle for loss. He also forced a fumble that helped seal the game for the Eagles. Sweat didn't wow us with volume on Sunday, but he made big plays in big spots. They were just the kind of clutch plays this defense, and team, has been sorely lacking.
DUD: Brandon Graham
Graham didn't do anything egregiously poor on Sunday, but he also just finished with a single tackle. It's just not enough, and on a night where a lot of the team stepped up in a big way, it lands him on the duds list.
STUD: Javon Hargrave
Hargrave has taken a decent amount of heat this year, and deservedly so. But he made an impact Sunday. He had four tackles, three QB hits, two sacks, two tackles for loss and he recovered the fumble forced by Sweat. He was a disruptive factor on Sunday.
STUD: Duke Riley
For a team that entered the game with just three interceptions, anyone who snags one deserves a stud shoutout, and Riley had an interception Sunday against the Saints. He also had six tackles and a pass defensed to round out a productive day.
STUD: Alex Singleton
Singleton wasn't perfect on Sunday. He fell down in coverage on one play and he was in coverage on the late touchdown to Jared Cook (he defended well, credit to Cook for a good catch, but still), but he also continued to make an impact. He piled up 11 tackles and a QB hit and continued to fly to the ball.
The Eagles have been desperate for contributions from the linebacking group and they got some Sunday from Singleton and Riley.
