Eagles-Giants snap counts: Boston Scott among practice squad heroes to step up once again

It’s time for a breakdown of the Philadelphia Eagles’ snap counts from their division-clinching 34 to 17 win over the New York Giants in Week 17 of the 2019 NFL season.

OFFENSE

• Some said Carson Wentz couldn’t make it through a 16-game season … despite the fact he previously did it in 2016. Well, now he did it again. And more importantly he led the Eagles to the playoffs this time.
• Dallas Goedert played the entire game on offense with Zach Ertz out. He was targeted 10 times and had four receptions for 65 yards, including a great leaping effort along the sideline where he managed to drag his feet for a 28-yard gain on third down.
• The state of the Eagles’ depleted offense: Joshua Perkins and Robert Davis tied for the second most snaps of any skill players. That’s just so wild. Perkins was the fourth tight end on the organizational depth chart earlier this year with Ertz, Goedert, and Alex Ellis all ahead of him. Davis was the team’s eighth option at wide receiver behind the likes of Alshon Jeffery, DeSean Jackson, Nelson Agholor, Mack Hollins, JJ Arcega-Whiteside, Jordan Matthews, and Greg Ward. Perkins had four receptions for 50 yard and one touchdown reception. Davis unfortunately had a real nice 39-yard contested catch wiped out by a holding penalty on Halapoulivaati Vaitai. Still good to see that he has some ability.
• Greg Ward missed a few snaps after getting banged up early in the game but wasn’t out for long. He helped move the chains with six catches for 43 yards.
• Boston Scott became the Eagles’ lead back after Miles Sanders suffered an ankle injury. Scott had 19 carries for 54 yards (2.8 average) and THREE RUSHING TOUCHDOWNS in addition to four receptions for 84 yards. Scott previously logged 128 yards from scrimmage against the Giants in Week 14. The shortest player on the Eagles’ roster is a Giants Killer. Go figure. Where would the Eagles be without Scott, their fifth string running back option earlier this year?
• Matt Pryor filled in at right guard after Brandon Brooks was carted off with a shoulder injury. He seemed to do okay.
• Sanders played just long enough to finish the 2019 regular season as the NFL’s rookie leader in total yards from scrimmage. The Eagles will hope he’s not too seriously banged up.
• JJ Arcega-Whiteside didn’t see a target in 17 snaps played. He was limited in practice all last week but he wasn’t listed with a game status on the final injury report.
• Deontay Burnett was only signed to the Eagles’ practice squad three weeks ago. He was only promoted to the active roster on Christmas Eve. And yet he already made an impact with a key 41-yard reception. This dude can play a little.
• Richard Rodgers only saw five offensive snaps in his first game back with the team. Some limited 13 personnel looks.
• Nate Herbig saw his first offensive NFL snaps late in the game.
• Jordan Howard only played one snap but it didn’t really count because it was the play where Big V’s holding penalty wiped out the downfield catch by Davis. The Eagles only faked a handoff to Howard on that play so he didn’t have an offensive touch in his first game back. Howard was limited in practice last week before being cleared closer to Sunday. One would think he could be ready for a bigger role in the wild card round after being even further removed from his injury and having more time to practice at 100%. Not to mention Sanders potentially missing time.

DEFENSE

• Malcolm Jenkins still hasn’t missed a single defensive snap since Week 17 of the 2017 season, two years ago now. His forced fumble on Daniel Jones was a huge momentum play that allowed the Eagles to take a 10-point led and never look back. Jenkins is invaluable to this team.
• Rasul Douglas started in place of Ronald Darby and played the entire game. He was targeted often, as evidenced by his three pass breakups. It was a classic Rasul game in that he got beat sometimes but he made plays on the ball at other times.
• Rodney McLeod had an active game flying around the field. He earned $250,000 with the Eagles making the playoffs.
• Nigel Bradham finished this game with 10 tackles and one quarterback hit. Active night for him.
• Cre’Von LeBlanc AKA Cre’Von Clutch AKA Strap had an awesome game. He had three big defensive stops with two pass breakups and one tackle on Saquon Barkley short of the chains on fourth down. Strap didn’t even play a single snap on defense OR special teams against Dallas last week! Injuries forced him into more playing time in this game and he showed up big. Second year in a row where he’s made important plays down the stretch. Strap rules.
• Sidney Jones was also forced into playing time after beginning the game on the bench behind Douglas and Avonte Maddox on the outside with LeBlanc working the nickel. Jones filled in on the outside with Maddox getting hurt. The Eagles’ 2017 second-round pick logged three passes defensed in addition to one interception towards the end of the game. It was hardly a shutdown performance considering Jones got beat a few times and bailed out by some bad throws. Still, Jones has been showing some encouraging signs and that’s great to see.
• Fletcher Cox actually didn’t record a stat in this game … save for his big fumble recovery after Jenkins punched the ball out of Daniel Jones’ hands. Cox was just a few yards short of getting a defensive touchdown.
• Derek Barnett had a real productive evening with two tackles for loss, two sacks, and four quarterback hits. Barnett finished his third regular season with 6.5 sacks in 14 games played.
• Brandon Graham was evaluated for injury at one point but came back into the game. BLG finished with three tackles for loss, one sack, and one quarterback hit. He finished his 10th regular season shy of his double-digit sack goal with only 8.5. Second highest mark of his career, though.
• Nathan Gerry had a nice tackle for loss at one point.
• Vinny Curry missed out on the one sack that would’ve earned him an extra $250,000. That’s a bummer.
• Third safety Marcus Epps saw a good chunk of playing time. His previous snap count percentage high mark was 31% back in Week 14.
• Josh Sweat didn’t log a stat.
• Timmy Jernigan has often been too quiet this season but he was active against the Giants with one tackle for loss, one sack, and one quarterback hit. That was his first sack since … all the way back in Week 1.
• Maddox had to come out of the game due to injury. He got the start on the outside in place of Mills.
• Daeshon Hall made some nice tackles on special teams. He also got hurt on the final play of the game.
• Hey, Genard Avery is alive! This was his second highest snap count total since the Eagles traded a 2020 fourth-round pick for him. His two tackles were the first stats he’s recorded since Week 9. Safe to say the trade was worth it now.
• T.J. Edwards — Six defensive snaps played, three tackles. Very efficient.

SPECIAL TEAMS

• Craig James was being evaluated for injury at one point.
• Cameron Johnston had a nice punt downed at the Giants’ 3-yard line.

DID NOT PLAY

INACTIVE: Zach Ertz, Nelson Agholor, Lane Johnson, Jalen Mills, Shareef Miller, Nate Sudfeld, Sua Opeta

ACTIVE: Josh McCown

• It remains to be seen if Ertz and Agholor can return this season. Johnson and Mills seemingly have a chance to play in the wild card round.