Some encouraging signs from the Eagles' secondary, Mike Mamula vs. Derek Barnett and an underrated Eagles running back.
And of course a Travis Fulgham stat, but you already knew that was coming!
It's this weekend's Roob's 10 Random Eagles Observations!
Stay in the game with the latest updates on your beloved Philadelphia sports teams! Sign up here for our All Access Daily newsletter.
1. This time last year, the Eagles had allowed seven pass plays of at least 45 yards, including five touchdowns. This year, they're one of only two NFL teams that's allowed none. First time since the 2004 Super Bowl season the Eagles haven't allowed a 45-yard pass play the first half of a season. For all the injuries in the secondary, that says a lot about both the coverage in the back end and the pass rush up front. The Eagles are actually 4th in the NFL in pass defense and 3rd in passing yards allowed per play. That's without Malcolm Jenkins, with Jalen Mills in a new position, with Will Parks missing five games and Avonte Maddox missing three games. Darius Slay doesn't have any INTs, but he's played lights out in coverage — the best CB play the Eagles have gotten since Asante Samuel's heyday. And Marquand Manuel was a huge addition as secondary coach. The Eagles are on pace to allow their fewest passing yards since 2008 and the days of Dawk, Asante, Sheldon, Lito and Q. This group needs to start getting some takeaways, but there's a lot to like about the way they're playing.
2. With 435 yards, Travis Fulgham already has the 5th-most career receiving yards in Eagles history by a 6th-round pick. In just five games, he trails only Wilbert Montgomery [2,447], Rod Ramsey [624], Heath Sherman [608] and Cecil Martin [491]. He'll be No. 2 in the next few weeks.
3. Here are this year's NFL leaders in receiving yards per game. The Eagles missed out on a couple of these guys, but finding Fulgham on the waiver wire at least helps minimize the disaster of bypassing Metcalf or McLaurin:
112.5 ... Davante Adams
NFL
98.5 ... D.K. Metcalf
91.8 ... DeAndre Hopkins
91.1 ... Julio Jones
90.3 ... Stefan Diggs
87.0 ... Travis Fulgham
86.5 ... Terry McLaurin
4. This is surprising, but Carson Wentz is the only NFL quarterback to complete a pass of 25 yards or more to 10 different players (four to Travis Fulgham, two to John Hightower and DeSean Jackson, and one each to Jalen Reagor, J.J. Arcega-Whiteside, Dallas Goedert, Richard Rodgers, Zach Ertz, Greg Ward and Miles Sanders).
5. How underrated was Correll Buckhalter? His 4.5 rushing average in an Eagles uniform is 4th-highest in franchise history by a running back, behind only Shady [4.7], Brian Westbrook [4.6] and Charlie Garner [4.6]. Dude overcame three ACLs that wiped out his 2002, 2004 and 2005 seasons and played another five years with no dropoff in production. Really good player.
6. Mike Mamula averaged one sack every 2.4 games as an Eagle. Derek Barnett is averaging one sack every 2.4 games as an Eagle.
7. The Eagles have more 6th-round picks on their roster than 1st-round picks. Seven 1st-round picks (including Andre Dillard, who's on IR) but 10 6th-round picks, including Jason Kelce, Will Parks, Boston Scott and Travis Fulgham.
8. A couple former Eagles who've really carved out nice careers for themselves are Damion Square and Dennis Kelly. Square made the Eagles in 2013 as an undrafted free agent defensive tackle and played in 10 games as a rookie. After a brief stop with the Chiefs in 2014, he landed with the Chargers and is now in his 8th NFL season and 7th with the Chargers. He's a part-time starter and rotational defensive lineman and has made himself nearly $10 million. Not bad for a street free agent. Kelly, Square's teammate in 2013, was a backup offensive lineman here before the Eagles traded him to the Titans for Dorial Green-Beckham before the 2016 season. DGB was coming off a decent rookie year — 32 catches for 549 yards — and Kelly was a rarely used backup guard. The trade seemed one-sided and in the end, it was. DGB played one miserable year for the Eagles in 2016 and Kelly is now in his 9th NFL season and 5th with the Titans. He's made nearly $14 million in his career. Not bad for a 5th-round pick!
9. Did you know a former Eagle holds the NFL record for most career rushing attempts without a touchdown? Meet Emmett Mortell, who had 247 rushing attempts for the Eagles from 1937 through 1939 without a touchdown. He did, however, throw nine TD passes. Mortell, who grew up outside Green Bay in Appleton, Wisc., and played at Wisconsin, married an area woman and settled in Ivyland, Bucks County, where he lived until he died in 2000.
10. Carson Wentz turns 28 next month. When Donovan McNabb turned 28, he had already won five playoff games.