The key 20-yard completion from Ben Roethlisberger to Antonio Brown on 3rd-and-12 is probably seared into your brain by this point. But it’s important to revisit, given the way in which it came to pass.
As it turns out, the success of the play is tied directly to a sequence in the first quarter. This is an example of exceptional quarterback awareness, and a reminder of how important it is to keep opposing offenses guessing.
The Eagles need to figure out how to handle Ben Roethlisberger on third down.
Through three games, Roethlisberger is 27-of-36 for 354 yards with five touchdowns and zero interceptions on third down, good for a 145.1 quarterback rating. One of the big reasons behind his success is the ability to extend the play with his legs.
“It’s hard, especially when you’ve got guys like that out there that are shifty, you’ve just got to read them down and stay on them,” said Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie. ”Make sure you press and keep your eyes on him because you know they’re going to move with him. We’ve been working on that a little bit in practice; the scramble drill and just staying with him.”
Most Popular at Phillymag.com
Sheil Kapadia has been writing about the Eagles since 2008. His previous Philly.com blog, Moving the Chains, was named one of the best in the state by the Associated Press. Sheil's main joys in life are family, football and finding good parking spots.
Tim McManus is a bulldog reporter with a nose for news and story angles that will get people talking. He'll talk about it himself on 97.5 The Fanatic, where he serves as a host and Eagles beat reporter. Tim, an award-winning journalist, will be with the team around the clock.
