Eagles in the NFL: Wild Card Weekend Recap

Six Eagles saw action in the first round of the NFL playoffs this weekend, and a couple more hope to as this postseason continues. Three of their teams have been eliminated, but five remain.

Bye Week: OL Christian Mahogany: ‘Dirtbag’ Mahogany had the week off has his #1 seed Lions await the Washington Commanders. The rookie started his first game just a few weeks ago in Week 16 and held his own for all 65 snaps. He allowed just one pressure and earned a PFF pass-blocking grade of 82.5 and 70.4 in the run game. After missing the first games of the season due to an illness, it’s impressive to see Mahogany get into the fold on one of the best team’s in the league. He would continue to log a handful of snaps in the final two weeks ago of the season.

LB Matt Milano: The Bills star linebacker had five total tackles and a sack in Buffalo’s win over Denver, and fellow Eagle Zach Allen. He was the team’s second highest graded player by PFF behind naturally Josh Allen. Milano unfortunately missed last season’s postseason with a devastating leg injury. This season, a torn bicep knocked him out for a few months as well. It’s great to see my fellow 2017 grad back out there as one of the heart and souls of the Bills defense.

WR Zay Flowers: Boston College’s all-time leading receiver was out with an injury for Baltimore’s first round matchup vs Pittsburgh. His status is up in the air for next week’s showdown at Buffalo as well. Here’s hoping Lamar Jackson’s top target and can find his way back in this postseason run. Flowers is coming off a 1000 yard year in only his second season and was named to the NFL Pro Bowl roster, the first Ravens receiver to be named to the team at the position.

TE Hunter Long: The Rams tight end had only 7 receptions on the season, but he made a bigger impact in a blowout win vs the Vikings. His stat line ended with just one catch for 13 yards, but his 42% snap count were second for the team’s tight ends. The 2021 third round draft pick has slowly making his way up in the league. An injury hampered his first season with the Rams, but he scored his first touchdown just last month in a shootout win vs the Bills. Although the team’s starting tight end should be back after leaving last night’s game, Long may have earned a few more snaps after nearly coming down with a spectacular grab on a deep shot (clearly pass interference).

S John Johnson III – Another ‘17 grad part of the legendary BC defense of 2015, Johnson returned for his second stint with the Rams just last year. He’s been on IR with a shoulder injury since Week 2, but was activated just last week and was able to log a few snaps. In his first action back, he defended one pass. He’s a veteran on a defense with a lot of young faces, who dominated in their first playoff outing together. As he continues to get back to speed, Johnson will look to make more plays next week.

OL Zion Johnson – Johnson’s Chargers were eliminated to the Houston Texans on Saturday afternoon. It was a tough outing for the team on the whole, particularly the offensive line. The 2022 first rounder started every game this season at Left Guard, grading out above average among guards. In what was expected to be more of a rebuilding year for the Chargers, the team exceeded expectations in coach Jim Harbaugh’s first season and should continue to improve in the coming years.

DE Zach Allen: Allen is coming off a second-team All-Pro season with the Denver Broncos. Although the Broncos were eliminated by the Bills, Allen made a huge impact in his second season with the Broncos after a number of seasons as a third-round pick for the Cardinals. He tallied 75 pressures, 61 tackles, 40 QB hits, 8.5 sacks, a PBU, and a safety this season. He’s now one of just five players with 40 or more QB hits since 2006 (the Watt’s, Aaron Donald, and Nick Bosa are the others). Despite the loss, Allen still had the standout performance for the team, sacking Josh Allen in the first half to give Denver a chance at tying the game before halftime.

LB Isaiah McDuffie – The Packers and Jeff Hafley were eliminated by the Eagles in the first round, but McDuffie and the team’s defense helped keep the Packers in the game. In this game, he had 8 tackles and was credited with a split sack. McDuffie finished up his fourth season since being drafted by the team, and started all 10 games he played in. He finished the regular season with 57 tackles, 0.5 sacks, and 2 passes defended. McDuffie is a free agent this season, but the team has praised his toughness playing through injury.

Good luck to the Eagles still in the playoffs!