Eagles offensive line fails as Giants sack rookie quarterback seven times
Philadelphia's front line struggled to protect Joe Milton III and open running lanes in a 19-11 defeat, extending their losing streak to seven games.
By Charlotte Dubois ·
The Philadelphia Eagles’ offensive line collapsed on Sunday, surrendering seven sacks and allowing the New York Giants to dominate the line of scrimmage in a 19-11 loss. The unit, once the foundation of a championship roster, now fails to protect its quarterback or create consistent paths for the running backs.
Rookie quarterback Joe Milton III started his first NFL game against a Giants defense that had recorded only nine sacks for the entire season prior to Sunday. The Eagles' protection failed immediately, with Milton being sacked seven times and hit 11 times. The Giants nearly matched their season total in a single afternoon.
The running game suffered the same fate. Saquon Barkley gained 22 yards on 13 carries, while Elijah Mitchell added six yards on three attempts. Barkley acknowledged the failure in a postgame interview, stating, "We definitely didn’t establish the run today.. I just wasn’t good enough today." He emphasized the need to use the upcoming bye week to heal and reset.
Coach Nick Sirianni noted on Monday that the quarterback and center share responsibility for protection calls, a complex task given the unit's inexperience. Center Drew Kendall explained that the team is transitioning to a new zone-blocking scheme while retaining elements of the old system. "We’re still trying to figure that out a little bit," Kendall said. "We’re doing a little bit of both."
Personnel changes have disrupted the unit's chemistry. Right tackle Lane Johnson retired, center Cam Jurgens was traded, and left guard Landon Dickerson has battled injuries. Rookie right tackle Markel Bell, a third-round pick, has stepped into the lineup and faces a steep learning curve. Bell pointed to communication as the core issue, noting that similar terminology in the new system leads to mistakes in the huddle.
All-Pro left tackle Jordan Mailata, the unit's most stable player, called for better execution. "It needs to be better. No one’s coming to save us," Mailata said. He labeled the recent communication errors as "bad ball" and "unacceptable." Sirianni defended Bell's performance, stating the rookie played solidly despite the pressure, viewing the struggles as part of necessary growth.
The Eagles sit at 2-7 with seven consecutive losses. They will host Pittsburgh on Nov. 22 before traveling to Dallas for the Thanksgiving Day game. Mailata, Dickerson, Kendall, Tyler Steen, and Bell will remain the starting offensive line.
