Eagles-Broncos Final Score: Observations from Philadelphia’s blowout win over Denver, 51-23

The Philadelphia Eagles DEFEATED the Denver Broncos on Sunday at Lincoln Financial Field by a final score of 51 to 23. The Eagles advanced to 8-1 on the 2017 NFL regular season. Read on for a recap and observations from the game. Up next for Philadelphia is a Week 10 bye. Watch the BGN Radio postgame show LIVE in the video below (click here if you can’t see it).

FIRST QUARTER

Broncos win the coin toss and elect to receive. Eagles defense up first.

Brock Osweiler hits Demaryius Thomas for a first down on the first play, but not without taking a shot. Denver head coach Vance Joseph oddly decides to call a timeout after the first snap. The Broncos try to get the run game going but no dice. 3rd-and-3 and Osweiler’s pass is incomplete. But Jalen Mills gets called for defensive holding to move the chains. Kind of seems like BS when the refs didn’t throw a flag until after they saw the pass was incomplete. Denver moves into field goal range but a holding penalty sets them back. A potential Osweiler interception goes through the hands of Rasul Douglas on second down. Could have been a pick-six. 3rd-and-17 and Osweiler completes a pass short of the sticks but Patrick Robinson breaks up the play with a big hit. Broncos settle for a 52-yard field goal from Brandon McManus. Broncos lead, 3-0.

Kenjon Barner got the “start” at running back since he was in on the first play. Carson Wentz’s first pass of the game goes for Brent Celek but gets batted away by Brandon Marshall. LeGarrette Blount runs for a yard on second down. Then Wentz hits Zach Ertz — sorry, no, he’s out, that’s Trey Burton — for a first down. Wentz keeps on the zone-read and drops a pass right in the bucket to Alshon Jeffery for a 32-yard touchdown. Just a beautiful throw. Great play-call, too. Defense totally bit on the fake handoff to Jay Ajayi. It all looked too easy, in a good way. Eagles lead, 7-3.

Vinny Curry tackles C.J. Anderson for a loss. He’s gotten so much better in that facet of his game this year. Used to be known for being poor against the run. Anderson gets hurt and has come out of the game. Then Brandon Graham joins the party with a tackle for loss. He was reading run all the way. A false start puts the Broncos at 3rd-and-13 from their own 5-yard line. Osweiler’s pass is #ShortOfTheSticks as he gets hit by Derek Barnett. Osweiler exchanged some words with Derek Barnett after the play. Broncos QB is enjoying all these hits. Denver punts.

Wentz hits Torrey Smith for a first down. Then he hits Celek, who fights through contact to move the chains. Fun to watch. Wentz tries to hit Burton deep in the end zone but the ball is overthrown. Wentz targets Jeffery on third down but the pass is immediately broken up. Philly settles for a 45-yard field goal from Jake Elliott. It’s good. Eagles lead, 10-3.

Osweiler throws a pick right to Robinson on the first play of this drive. Lol. Robinson returns it to the Eagles’ 15-yard line to put Philly’s offense in prime scoring position.

Wentz throws another touchdown on a screen pass to Corey Clement. That’s Clement’s third score of the season! Pederson doing a great job with play-calling today. Eagles lead, 17-3.

SECOND QUARTER

Barnett beats a block to notch a tackle for loss. The rookie is really heating up. Osweiler’s third down pass is nearly picked off again but two Eagles defenders bump into each other. Denver has to punt.

Ajayi gains six yards on his first Eagles carry. Nice applause from fans at the Linc. Blount gets stopped short of the marker and the Eagles have to punt.

A 44-yard punt return from the Broncos sets them up on the Eagles’ 43-yard line. Credit Corey Graham for preventing a touchdown on the play. Osweiler’s third down pass is incomplete so the Broncos settle for a 53-yard field goal. Eagles lead, 17-6.

Wentz’s first down pass is batted down. Then hit second down pass is dropped by Jeffery. Wentz draws the Broncos’ defense offside with another hard count, second time so far. Then he hits Jeffery for a first down despite the fact the wide receiver was being held by Bradley Roby. Wentz beats a blitz by dumping down to Celek for another first. Then the quarterback drew a roughing the passer penalty. Looking like it could’ve been grounding, but a Broncos defender threw the ball at Wentz after the play so it would’ve been an unsportsmanlike penalty anyway. Then Wentz throws a 27-yard pass to Burton for another touchdown. Good god. Wentz is on freaking fire. Eagles lead, 24-6.

Broncos drive their way down to field goal position. Looked like Emmanuel Sanders got away with a push-off on Joe Walker, but no call. Denver moves into goal-to-go territory. A Jaylen Watkins tackle for loss (?!) forces the Broncos into third down. Osweiler’s third down pass is incomplete. Great stop by the defense. Broncos settle for their third field goal of the day. Eagles lead, 24-9.

Wentz to Mack Hollins for an 8-yard gain. Then the Jay Train powers through for a first. Wentz draws the defense offside AGAIN. His hard count is really a weapon. Ajayi runs for a big gain. Then he runs for an even bigger gain! 46 yards to the house for a score. Good god, this Eagles offense is scary good. They’re doing all this without Ertz, Jason Peters, Darren Sproles! Against a top defense! Choo Choo. Eagles lead, 31-9.

Curry sacks Osweiler. The Eagles force the Broncos to punt with one minute remaining in the first half. Wentz hits Jeffery along the sideline. Then he tries to do the same again but the pass is dropped. End of the first half.

THIRD QUARTER

Eagles get the ball to start the second half.

Clement breaks off a 33-yard run by the gain is limited by a Jeffery holding penalty. Still a first down, but too many miscues by Alshon this year. Eagles move the ball into the red zone. Lane Johnson has to come out of the game (not good!) so Isaac Seumalo comes in at right tackle. Wentz tries running for a first on 3rd-and-8 but gets stopped short. His pass to Nelson Agholor on 4th-and-1 brings up 1st-and-goal. Wentz tosses to Clement on an option play for the easy score. This is a rout. Eagles lead, 38-9.

Broncos have nothing going. Malcolm Jenkins breaks up a pass on third down.

In-between drives: Chants of “Trust The Process” break out after the Eagles show Joel Embiid (and Justin Anderson) on the jumbotron.

Eagles have nothing going themselves. They punt.

Broncos take over and Osweiler throws another interception after Fletcher Cox pressures him. Rodney McLeod picks it off and takes it to the red zone. Brandon Graham absolutely LIT UP some sorry offensive lineman on the return.

The Eagles run a few times and then Wentz hits Jeffery in the back of the end zone. This is nuts. Elliott misses the extra point. Eagles lead, 44-9.

FOURTH QUARTER

Broncos slowly move down the field and get all the way to the 1-yard line. Osweiler connects with Thomas in the end zone on third down for the most empty score. Eagles lead, 44-16.

Standing ovation as Nick Foles enters the game with 9:41 remaining in the fourth quarter. Chance Warmack in at right guard for Brandon Brooks. Seumalo back in at right tackle with Johnson resting. Seumalo gets beat by Miller on third down and Foles is strip-sacked. Denver recovers for a touchdown. Looked to me like Miller was clearly offside, but no call. Eagles lead, 44-23.

Eagles get to 4th-and-1 after a few Clement runs. Foles airs it out to Agholor for a 35-yard gain. Great throw by the Eagles back up and nice contested catch by the receiver as well. Broncos challenge even though it’s clearly a catch, lol Vance Joseph. Clement runs in for ANOTHER Eagles touchdown. Eagles lead, 51-23.

Broncos take over and have to punt.

Wendell Smallwood makes an appearance with 2:42 remaining in the game. He runs for 26 yards. Eagles run some clock and turn the ball over on downs.

Broncos turn the ball over on downs.

Victory formation.

FINAL SCORE

Eagles win, 51-23. SEVEN IN A ROW. Just a total beatdown today. The Eagles are 8-1 heading into their bye. Life is good.

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