X vs. O Week 8 Review: Eagles foil Bortles, Steelers stuff Chubb
Here's a look back at the three key matchups we identified before the weekend.
Jaguars' offense vs. Eagles' defense
Winner: Eagles
The matchup we focused on heading into this game in London was the Jacksonville Jaguars' offense - and beleaguered quarterback Blake Bortles - against the Philadelphia Eagles' defense.
While Bortles fared well in the contest statistically, completing 24-of-41 passes for 286 yards and a touchdown without an interception, it was the Eagles' defense that came up big in the second half to preserve the win. Thanks to their ability to pressure Bortles, the Eagles were able to get stops on pivotal third downs to either force punts or field-goal attempts.
On Jacksonville’s first drive of the second half the Jaguars had possession just inside Eagles territory. They were trailing by only four and facing a critical third-and-long.
When Bortles drops to throw he has to deal with pressure from blitzing linebacker Nigel Bradham (No. 53) on the inside. Bradham and edge defender Brandon Graham (No. 55) are able to move Bortles off his spot in the pocket. The quarterback then misfires on a pass over the middle, largely due to the severe duress he was under:
Despite advancing into Philadelphia territory on the drive, the Jaguars were forced to punt.
The Eagles amped up the pressure again later in the game to force a critical third-down stop. With over 13 minutes remaining and Jacksonville trailing 17-12, the Jaguars faced a first-and-10 on the Eagles’ 15-yard line. They had to settle for a field goal after three incompletions from Bortles.
On second down, Bortles tries to hit Dede Westbrook in the end zone, but safety Malcolm Jenkins was there to break up the play. Then, on third down, a four-man pass rush flushes Bortles to his left and he attempts a throw short of the sticks to David Grinnage, but the pass again falls incomplete:
By pressuring Bortles and forcing incompletions on these and other key plays, the Eagles’ defense steered the team to a pivotal victory in London.
Browns' offense vs. Steelers' defense
Winner: Steelers
At halftime, you might have thought this matchup was headed in the other direction. With the Pittsburgh Steelers leading 13-6 at the break, the Cleveland Browns' rushing offense - and specifically, Nick Chubb - was off to a solid start, as the rookie running back had racked up 52 yards on 10 carries.
However, Chubb followed that up with just 13 yards on eight carries in the second half. A big reason for the change? The play of Steelers defensive end Stephon Tuitt. The defender recorded seven tackles and was dominant against the run.
Two plays illustrate the impact Tuitt had on the Browns’ running game in the second half.
On the first play, Cleveland uses a full-house backfield, but Pittsburgh still stops Chubb behind the line. The Steelers get some initial penetration off the edge from outside linebacker Bud Dupree (No. 48), but it's Tuitt (No. 91) who finishes the job for a 4-yard loss:
Later in the third quarter, the Browns were gifted good field position after Pittsburgh failed to recover a free kick following a safety. But Tuitt again stopped Chubb for a loss early during the next possession:
The 25-year-old does a great job of scraping down the line here, then chopping Chubb down for a 1-yard loss.
The Steelers were able to turn Cleveland into a more one-dimensional team in the second half, with Tuitt leading the effort. That helped propel them to a key division win.
Vikings' offense vs. Saints' defense
Winner: Vikings
The matchup to watch in this contest was the Minnesota Vikings’ offense, and the talent of its top two wide receivers, against a New Orleans Saints pass defense that's struggled in 2018.
The Saints tried to give that unit a boost this week, pulling off a trade for former New York Giants cornerback Eli Apple. The newly acquired defender led the team with nine tackles against the Vikings.
However, Adam Thielen and Stefon Diggs still terrorized New Orleans' new-look secondary, combining for 222 receiving yards and a pair of touchdowns. But the biggest play of the game came from Saints defender PJ Williams (No. 26):
With just over six minutes remaining in the third quarter, the Vikings' offense was looking to tie the game at 20.
Facing a second-and-8, Kirk Cousins drops to pass and is pressured, so he rolls a bit to the right. He then spots Diggs (No. 14) on a shallow crossing route, but Cousins expects his receiver to keep running across the field. Instead, Diggs stops his route. Williams doesn't stop, though, and Cousins’ throw hits the cornerback right between the numbers and he has a clear path to the end zone.
On this replay angle, you can see Diggs cutting off his route, setting the stage for the game-changing turnover and score:
With their defense boosting them, the Saints earned a win in a rematch of last year’s thrilling divisional round playoff game.
An improving defense couldn't come at a better time as New Orleans prepares to square off against the unbeaten Los Angeles Rams in Week 9.
Mark Schofield writes NFL feature content for theScore. After nearly a decade of practicing law in the Washington, D.C., area Mark changed careers and started writing about football. Drawing upon more than a decade of playing quarterback, including at the collegiate level, Mark focuses his work on quarterback evaluation and offensive scheme analysis. He lives in Maryland with his wife and two children. Find him on Twitter @MarkSchofield.