Going against a tough Panthers team on Sunday night was a big enough challenge but the Eagles made it even tougher on themselves.
The Birds dropped eight passes in the 27-16 loss. One would have been a touchdown and one turned into an interception. Jordan Matthews called his drops "embarrassing" (see story) but he wasn't the only culprit. Five different players dropped a pass and two Eagles dropped two passes, adding to some ugly stats.
"I don't think it's talent," Eagles head coach Chip Kelly said on Monday. "I just think it's sometimes a concentration issue with some of those guys. I think sometimes they may actually be thinking too much instead of just relaxing and going to play. Some of them need to just take a big, deep breath and do what we know they can do. And they have made some big-time catches in games for us and can continue to do that for us. But I think sometimes they are overthinking a little bit."
Since the drops were such a big problem on Sunday night, we took a look at all eight:
1. The first drop came on the fourth snap of the game. On this one, Bradford threw a little swing pass to DeMarco Murray, who clearly heard some footsteps. Luke Kuechly was breaking hard on the play. It's likely if Murray caught this ball, he would have been tackled immediately. Just three plays before, Murray caught a similar pass for a two-yard gain.
2. The next drop was the interception on the Eagles' second drive. On this play, Bradford was under duress but still got the throw off. It wasn't a perfect pass but Bradford still got it in the tight window. Matthews needed to reach back a little bit but still should have pulled in this ball between two defenders.
NFL
3. The third drop of the game came on a 3rd-and-16 from near midfield. Bradford avoided the rush, stepped up in the pocket and hit Murray in stride. Murray dropped his second pass in the first quarter. It looked like Murray stuttered before the ball got to him.
It's hard to believe this play ended up being an incomplete pass but it was.
4. On the first drive of the second quarter, Matthews dropped his second pass on the night. On this one, Matthews lined up in the slot with Bradford in shotgun on 3rd-and-9. Matthews ran an out route and had a step on Charles Tillman. Bradford threw a great pass on the money but Matthews just dropped it. This was a much better pass than the one Matthews dropped earlier in the game.
If Matthews catches the ball, he has a chance to fall forward for a first down and extend the drive.
5. The fifth drop of the game came on a 1st-and-10, with 28 seconds left in the first half, and Darren Sproles was the culprit. He came out of the backfield and ran a quick out and couldn't pull in the pass. The Eagles ended up kicking a field goal after three incompletions.
On this play, Sproles had a step on Thomas Davis and if he caught the ball, might have been able to turn the corner.
6. This is the almost-touchdown to Josh Huff in the back of the end zone in the third quarter. This was probably the biggest drop of the night because it lost the Eagles points. The field goal after this play made the game 21-16. If the Eagles scored a touchdown, they would have been down 21-19 before the PAT or two-point conversion. This could have helped them tie the game.
7. Zach Ertz joined the party on a 3rd-and-9 with 2:05 left in the game. The Eagles were down eight points, so they still had a chance to drive down the field and tie the game. They just couldn't catch the ball.
8. On the first play after the two-minute warning, Miles Austin became the sixth different Eagle to drop a pass. On 4th-and-9, Austin ran an out route and if he caught the ball, it would have been a first down.
The pass was a little high but it's one he needs to pull in.