Observations: Eagles vs. Jets

Here’s what we saw during the Eagles’ 24-18 loss to the Jets Thursday in the preseason finale:

* Matt Barkley got the start and went 4-of-9 for 45 yards with an interception (20.4 QB rating). He was wild early, throwing several balls high and off the mark. Barkley was intercepted on his second pass of the night, as his offering to Josh Huff down the right sideline was short and picked by Darrin Walls.

After a pair of misfires on the second series, Barkley absorbed a heavy hit from linebacker Trevor Reilly and delivered a strike to Trey Burton for a 21-yard pick-up. That drive ended in a Kip Smith field goal. Cody Parkey continues to nurse a groin injury and did not play.

* Tim Tebow played the second and fourth quarter and ended 11-of-17 for 189 yards with two touchdowns and an interception (117.0 rating) while rushing four times for 32 yards. He connected on a quick pass to Raheem Mostert and threw a nice ball to Seyi Ajirotutu that couldn’t be hauled in on his first drive, but floated one high to Mostert and fired incomplete to Rasheed Bailey to force the punt.

The offense was set up near the Jets goal line after a nice interception by Jaylen Watkins on a Matt Flynn ball intended for Walter Powell. Mostert was stopped three straight times, however, and the Eagles settled for another field goal.

Tebow engineered a touchdown drive in the final moments of the half, capped by a nice ball to Bailey in the corner of the end zone with 23 ticks on the clock for the score.

He followed that up with a bomb down the middle to Freddie Martino for a 45-yard pick-up early in the fourth quarter, but forced a ball to Quron Pratt four plays later and was intercepted.

Tebow’s second TD toss of the night came on the next possession. He escaped a blitz, rolled to his left and found Martino, who did a good job of toeing the sideline to stay in bounds.

* Mostert was the team’s top offensive performer. He led the Eagles in rushing (69 yards on 15 attempts) and receiving (8 catches, 93 yards). The rookie out of Purdue also handed kick return duties, averaging 26 yards per attempt.

* If you’re searching for hints about how the lower portion of the roster might shake out, the starting offensive line (from left to right) went: Matt Tobin, Josh Andrews, David Molk, John Moffitt, Dennis Kelly. Mostert was the first running back in, and the receivers were Josh Huff, Seyi Ajirotutu and Maehl. Burton got the nod at tight end.

* On defense, Taylor Hart, Beau Allen and Brandon Bair started up front. Watkins and Eric Rowe were the corners, E.J. Biggers came in at nickel while Ed Reynolds and Chris Maragos manned the safety spots. At linebacker, Brad Jones and Bryan Braman were on the outside, and Jordan Hicks and Kiko Alonso were the inside ‘backers.

* Alonso only played one series but made his presence felt. Making his first appearance of the preseason, the 25-year-old was credited with a pair of tackles and was in on a couple other plays. He made back-to-back stops on Zac Stacy, then flew in to finish off a Biggers takedown of receiver Quincy Enuwa, who promptly limped off the field.

* Rowe slipped while in coverage and was beat by Walter Powell for a big gain. Powell got the better of him later in the second quarter as well.

* Watkins had the pick, but also yielded a touchdown pass to Chris Owusa in the first. The secondary seemed shaky overall.

* Braman came clean off the edge and registered a sack on Flynn in the second quarter. He had five tackles, a TFL and a QB hit.

* Jerome Couplin was attended to by trainers after a third-quarter punt.