Instant Observations: Saints 28, Eagles 13

Here’s what we saw during the Eagles’ 28-13 loss to the Saints Monday night.

OFFENSE

* It’s time to stop talking about this team and pretending it just needs minor tweaks. The Eagles have a -50 point differential on the season. That’s the worst mark in the entire NFC. The Saints had allowed at least 24 points in every game this season. The Eagles scored 13.

* ESPN analyst Trent Dilfer said before the game that the Eagles’ offensive line is as bad as there is in the NFL. They went on to make him look pretty smart, allowing seven sacks on the night. On the first series, rookie Dennis Kelly gave up a couple hits on Vick. Later, he missed a block on a shovel pass in the red zone. But Kelly was not alone. King Dunlap got beat multiple times too, giving up hits on Vick. And Todd Herremans missed a block too before leaving the game in the first half with a foot/ankle injury and was replaced by Demetress Bell. Bell was horrible throughout.

* Michael Vick went 22-for-41 for 272 yards a touchdown and a red-zone interception. Vick’s pick was intended for Brent Celek but bounced off the tight end’s hand. Saints cornerback Patrick Robinson returned it for a 98-yard touchdown.

* The Eagles ran it effectively throughout with 29 rushes for 221 yards. LeSean McCoy carried 19 times for 119 yards. Bryce Brown carried four times for 49 yards, including a big 40-yard scamper in the first half.

* The Eagles ran 24 offensive plays to the Saints’ six in the first quarter, yet they trailed, 7-0.

* Riley Cooper was called for a personal foul unnecessary roughness penalty for his block on Roman Harper in the second. Jeremy Maclin was called for an illegal block in the back, negating a long McCoy run.

* There was plenty of blame to go around for the Eagles. Part of that is on the coaches. Who can explain how it made sense to go with an empty backfield so many times?

* Vick hit DeSean Jackson for a 77-yard touchdown off play-action in the third. The Saints blew the coverage and left the wide receiver wide-open.

* Chris Polk forced a fumble on kickoff coverage, setting up an Eagles field goal in the third.

* The Eagles nearly had a touchdown on a trick special-teams play. Brandon Boykin threw it across the field to Cooper, but it was a forward pass, and the play came back.

* The Eagles got in the red zone five times and failed to produce a touchdown. Brent Celek contributed a fumble down there in the fourth quarter.

DEFENSE

* Drew Brees completed 21 of 27 passes for 239 yards and a pair of touchdowns. The Saints scored touchdowns on two of their first three and three of their first six possessions.

* New Orleans averaged 5.6 yards per carry (25 carries for 140 yards). The Saints scored on a 22-yard Chris Ivory run in the first. Brandon Graham got caught inside, Mychal Kendricks got blocked by an offensive lineman at the second level, Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie showed little interest in getting off his block, and David Sims missed a tackle. Other than that, the Eagles defended the play perfectly.

* Later, Marques Colston beat Nnamdi Asomugha for a 1-yard touchdown. Asomugha got picked by the official, which seemed just about right.

* Graham came up with a sack, forced fumble and fumble recovery in the red zone in the third to set up the Eagles’ only touchdown.

* Darryl Tapp missed the game for the birth of his child. But Vinny Curry was still inactive. Mike Patterson saw his first action of the season.

* Todd Bowles called a good blitz on the Saints’ first possession. Trent Cole got a free shot at Brees, but missed, and he hit Lance Moore for a big gain.

* The Eagles had two sacks. In addition to Graham’s, Jason Babin forced a fumble, but New Orleans recovered.

* Rough series for Kendricks in the third. He was whistled for pass interference and then missed a tackle on the Jimmy Graham touchdown.

Follow Sheil Kapadia on Twitter and e-mail him at skapadia@phillymag.com.
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