Eagles suddenly look ordinary on offense

ROB MAADDI
AP Pro Football Writer

PHILADELPHIA (AP) — Needing only a yard to score the go-ahead touchdown late in the fourth quarter, the Philadelphia Eagles failed twice.

Not so prolific.

Nick Foles struggled, LeSean McCoy hasn’t been a factor and the rest of an offense that previously scored at will suddenly looks ordinary. A 26-21 loss to San Francisco on Sunday underscored many of Philadelphia’s problems.

“I think some people are pressing and trying to make things out of something that isn’t there right now at every position,” coach Chip Kelly said Monday. “I think everybody has just got to kind of settle down and go back to playing football.”

Two special teams touchdowns and one defensive score gave the Eagles a 21-10 lead they couldn’t hold against the 49ers because an offense that averaged 33.7 points in the first three weeks was shut out.

The Eagles (3-1) didn’t even cross into San Francisco territory in the first 55 minutes. That’s when they drove to the 1 only to have Foles throw two incomplete passes on third and fourth down.

McCoy, an All-Pro last year, didn’t even get a crack at the end zone after his 4-yard run to the 1. Kelly figured his makeshift offensive line wasn’t going to get a strong push after seeing it get knocked around all game.

“We weren’t really getting a ton of push at the point of attack,” Kelly said. “I didn’t think we were going to be able to pound it in in that situation.”

McCoy led the NFL in rushing last year and the Eagles were first overall, but the run game was brutal the first month. McCoy has 192 yards and is averaging 2.7 per carry. Losing All-Pro guard Evan Mathis and center Jason Kelce to injuries along with not having right tackle Lane Johnson in the lineup because of a suspension is the main reason why McCoy has no room to run.

“I don’t think we’ve been able to spring him,” Kelly said. “We haven’t gotten him to the second level. We’re losing some battles at the line of scrimmage, so obviously it’s about getting going and getting started.”

Foles led the NFL in yards passing through the first three games, but continues to miss open receivers. He had two interceptions and now has thrown four picks, doubling his season total from last year. The line has had trouble protecting him and he has taken several hard hits.

“We’re going to be fine,” Foles said. “You’re going to go through things like this in life. You’re going to have a rough game, and I have all the confidence in the world because I know my teammates. I know the guys that are on the O-line, and we’re going to learn and we’re going to be better for it because they’re not going to beat themselves down. They’re going to look at this as an opportunity to get better.”

Johnson, the No. 4 overall pick in 2013, returns this week. If the other starting linemen were healthy, he may have eased his way back. Now, the Eagles need him to jump right in.

“We haven’t seen him for a month,” Kelly said. “He told me he was in Dallas working out. He looked good, so it’s just the unknown. We haven’t seen him in four weeks, so where is he at and how does he process things, how quickly does he get back into the swing of things, where is he from a health standpoint?”

The Eagles host St. Louis (1-2) this week. The Rams are coming off a bye.

NOTES: OL Kevin Graf was released to make room for Johnson. … Kelly said McCoy is healthy and isn’t receiving treatment for any injuries. McCoy hurt his toe in the preseason. … The Eagles held the ball for only 17:43 vs. San Francisco. They’re last in time of possession at 24:22.

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AP NFL websites: www.pro32.ap.org and www.twitter.com/AP_NFL

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Follow Rob Maaddi on Twitter: https://twitter.com/AP_RobMaaddi

Copyright 2014 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

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