Open Thread: Eagles Vs. Colts

A little taste of football today as the Eagles open the preseason against the Colts. We’ll pop in with some updates and thoughts from time to time. Feel free to join the conversation in the comments section.

4:08 – And that’ll do it. The Eagles defeat the Colts 36-10, stay tuned for our postgame coverage. The Eagles will be back in action on Saturday when they face off against the Baltimore Ravens.

3:59 – Tim Tebow keeps the ball on the read option and dives for the pylon. Refs go under the hood, but the call stands. Cody Parkey makes the extra point and with 2:02 remaining in the game, the Eagles lead the Colts, 36-10.

3:56 – Bryan Braman wraps up Bryan Bennett on an option keeper, forces the ball out, then German suplexes the quarterback just for good measure. Randall Evans recovers the fumble and the Eagles take over in the red zone.

3:53 – Ed Reynolds continue to impress. After almost intercepting a pass on first down and getting a pass breakup on second down, he picks off Bennett again and returns the ball to the Colts 12-yard-line. Tebow and company can’t move the ball, losing 10 yards, but Parkey responds by making a 40-yard field goal. Eagles up 29-10 with under five minutes remaining.

3:41 – Ed Reynolds intercepts Bryan Bennett and returns the 21-yard-line. Tebow completes his first pass of the drive for eight yards, but gets sacked on third down for the third consecutive drive. Luckily, an unnecessary roughness penalty gives the Eagles an automatic first down. Tebow’s pass to Freddie Martino on third down is dropped. Another punt by Smith, and this time he pins the Colts inside their own 20 at the 13-yard-line with a 52-yard punt..

3:37 – Earl Okine plants Tebow into the turf on third down to force a three-and-out. Tebow has looked very shaky during these last two drive. Kip Smith’s second punt goes just 38 yards, giving the Colts possession on the Eagles 43-yard-line.

3:31 – As Tebow comes out for his third drive, Reuben Frank uncovers this nugget regarding the Eagles offense today:

The Colts have no pass plays longer than 20 yards. 5 Eagles have at least one 20-yard catch – Agholor, Matthews, Austin, Burton and Mostert.

— Reuben Frank (@RoobCSN) August 16, 2015

3:27 – On third and five, Tebow scrambles around and ends up being sacked for a loss of 13 years. Rookie Kip Smith comes in to punt, and his kick goes 43 yards. Colts takeover on their own 44.

3:22 – Rasheed Bailey makes a circus catch to close out the third quarter. Eagles will start the fourth with the ball on their own 26.

3:18 – Brian Mihalik picks up the Eagles first sack of the day, dragging down Bryan Bennett on third down to force a punt. Eagles take over on their own eight after a block in the back penalty on Jaylen Watkins.

3:13 – The drive stalls inside the red zone and Parkey misses a 34-yard field goal. It’s been a rough day for him as he already missed an extra point in the first half. Eagles still holding at 26-10 with just under three minutes to go in the third quarter.

3:08 – Tebow converts a third and long with a completion to  wide-open Eric Tomlinson and hits the TE two plays later for another first down. Then just for good measure he finds him again on the next play for a pickup of 12 and gets a roughing the passer penalty. Tebow chant breaks out.

3:04 – Here comes Tebow. Barkley finishes the day 12-20, 192 yards and a pick.

3:03 – Former Chip Kelly protege Bryan Bennett comes in to quarterback the Colts and gets the team to the 9-yard-line before handing the ball off to Josh Robinson who makes Jaylen Watkins whiff on a tackle on his way to the end zone. Eagles 26, Colts 10, with 7:08 remaining in the third quarter.

2:47 – Raheem Mostert takes a swing pass from Barkley, jukes around a diving linebacker and races 40 yards upfield before being tripped up from behind. Parkey makes a 48-yard field goal and the Eagles increase their lead to 23 less than two minutes into the second half. John Buccigross adds his thoughts on the Chip Kelly’s scheme:

It doesn’t matter who plays Quarterback for the Eagles in Chip Kelly offense. #pitch #catch #repeat

— John Buccigross (@Buccigross) August 16, 2015

2:30 – Barner returns Pat McAfee’s 65-yard punt for 92 yards and a touchdown. Parkey squibs the kick and the clock runs down to zero. At the half, Eagles 23, Colts 3.

2:25 – Cody Parkey knocks home a 40-yard field goal to extend the Eagles lead to 16-3. On third down, Barkley’s attempted fade to Seyi Ajirotutu sails just past his outstretched hands. Duron Carter returns Parkey’s kickoff 24 yards to the Colts 19-yard-line. 1:09 to go in the first half.

2:11 Eagles turn the ball over on downs after Kenjon Barner is stopped inches short on a 4th and 4 rushing attempt. Colts get the ball back at their own 11-yard-line. 6:23 left in the first half.

2:05 – Marcus Smith is having a good day as he stops a run for no gain. Earlier the second-year player got good pressure on the QB and had a pass breakup. Eagles still lead 13-3 with 8:28 remaining in the second quarter

1:58 – Nelson Agholor ends the Eagles latest drive with a really bad drop. Here’s some injury note from Zach Berman:

Jordan DeWalt-Ondijo is walking into locker room. Eagles really thin on OLB depth after Long, Hepburn injuries. Curious what they do. — Zach Berman (@ZBerm) August 16, 2015

1:51 – Barkley has his pass tipped at the line of scrimmage by Bjoern Werner and it is intercepted by Amarlo Herrera. Colts ball at their own 44. 1:50 – Eric Rowe gets beat over the middle by Phillip Dorsett, but recovers to force a fumble that is recovered by Chris Prosinski. Eagles ball at their own 38.

1:43 – Barkley has a pair of nice throws down the field to Jordan Matthews and Miles Austin to setup a nine-yard Kenjon Barner touchdown run. The drive spans five plays, 76 yards and just 1:15 on the clock. Parkey misses the extra point, Eagles lead 13-3 with under a minute to go in the first. Andrew Brandt sums up the Barkley hype:

In a couple weeks Eagles will be referring potential trade partners to that Barkley drive. #INDvsPHI — Andrew Brandt (@adbrandt) August 16, 2015

1:39 – The Eagles sub in their second-team defense and they promptly force a three-and-out. The run defense has been particularly stout, allowing just 15 yards so far. Matt Barkley now leads the offense on the field. Sanchez finishes the day 2-7 for 52 yards and 1 touchdown.

1:35 – Nelson Agholor goes up and makes a great catch on a screen pass from Sanchez and takes it to the house to cap off an 8-play, 80-yard drive for the Eagles. Parkey makes the extra point and his kickoff goes for a touch back. Eagles lead 7-3 with 3:27 left in the first quarter.

1:24 – Adam Vinatieri makes a 32-yard field goal to finish off a 13-play drive for Indianapolis. Raheem Mostert takes a knee in the back of the end zone for a touch back. Colts lead, 3-0 with 5:40 remaining in the first. Speaking of Mostert, here’s an interesting note from Geoff Mosher:

Interesting nugget about Mostert, who played at Purdue (in Indiana). Colts evaluated Mostert as a cornerback. Loved his speed. — Geoff Mosher (@GeoffMosherCSN) August 16, 2015

1:20 – Colts sub out Andrew Luck for Matt Hasselbeck halfway through their second drive. Luck finishes the day 5-6 with 43 yards.

1:14 – Eagles go three-and-out on their first possession. Sanchez goes 0-2, but picks up nine yards on a backwards screen pass to Cooper. Trey Burton got behind the defense on first down, but Sanchez under threw him and the pass was broken up. Colts ball at their own 28 with 11:41 to go in the first quarter.

1:09 – Colts receive the opening kickoff and pick up a pair of first downs, but their drive stalls at their own 41. Riley Cooper lets the punt bounce into the end zone for a touch back. Eagles ball with 12:28 to go in the first quarter.