Game ball, three stars, and snap count analysis: Week 18, Eagles vs. Giants

In their Week 18 win over the New York Giants, the Philadelphia Eagles played 68 snaps on offense and 53 on defense. Locked into the 2 seed, the Eagles rested starters. The following players did not play at all:

QB Jalen Hurts QB Kenny Pickett QB Ian Book RB Saquon Barkley WR A.J. Brown WR DeVonta Smith LT Jordan Mailata LG Landon Dickerson C Cam Jurgens RG Mekhi Becton RT Lane Johnson EDGE Nolan Smith EDGE Josh Sweat DT Jalen Carter LB Nakobe Dean LB Zack Baun CB Darius Slay CB Quinyon Mitchell CB Cooper DeJean S Chauncey Gardner-Johnson S Reed Blankenship

No surprises there.

Quarterback

• 68 snaps: Tanner McKee

Notes: McKee was 27 of 41 for 269 yards, 2 TDs, and 0 INTs, though a couple of throws were near-INTs. Like he did a week ago, McKee looked poised and prepared, calmly operating the offense from the pocket. Overall if we're awarding a thumbs up or thumbs down on his performance, it was a clear thumbs up 👍.

Other "resting starter" quarterback performances from around the league:

• Mitch Trubisky, Bills: 15 of 21 for 101 yards, 1 TD, 0 INT

• Mike White, Bills: 3 of 11 for 28 yards, 0 TD, 0 INT

• Davis Mills, Texans: 12 of 22 for 128 yards, 0 TD, 0 INT

• Carson Wentz, Chiefs: 10 of 17 for 98 yards, 0 TD, 0 INT

• Jimmy Garoppolo, Rams: 27 of 41 for 334 yards, 2 TDs, 1 INT

Running back

• 36 snaps: Will Shipley

• 33 snaps: Kenny Gainwell

Notes: Gainwell's season yards per carry took a hit, as he carried 11 times for 14 yards. Shipley ran 10 times for 32 yards. He had a nice catch and run in which he showed off some explosiveness.

Obviously, they were playing behind the Eagles' second string offensive line.

Wide receiver

• 65 snaps: Johnny Wilson

• 64 snaps: Jahan Dotson

• 47 snaps: Ainias Smith

Notes: McKee spread the ball around:

• Jahan Dotson: 11 targets, 7 catches, 94 yards

• Ainias Smith: 6 targets, 4 catches, 35 yards, 1 TD

• Johnny Wilson: 5 targets, 3 catches, 24 yards

Dotson got some separation, and showed a little something after the catch. Smith grabbed his first career TD.

Smith looked kind of helpless at times during training camp, but he has made some strides during his rookie season.

Tight end

• 51 snaps: E.J. Jenkins

• 23 snaps: Grant Calcaterra

• 13 snaps: Dallas Goedert

Notes: Goedert's participation was a mild surprise. He only played 13 snaps, and he got 6 targets. He caught 4 passes for 55 yards. His contributions as a receiver and blocker will be welcomed for the Eagles' playoff run.

E.J. Jenkins scored his first career TD:

Good body control to get into the end zone after the catch.

Offensive line

• 68 snaps each: Fred Johnson, Nick Gates, Jack Driscoll, and Darian Kinnard

• 40 snaps: Tyler Steen

• 35 snaps: Trevor Keegan

Notes: From left to right:

LT: Fred Johnson

LG: Tyler Steen and Trevor Keegan

C: Nick Gates

RG: Jack Driscoll

RT Darian Kinnard

I'd have liked to have seen more Keegan, but it also made sense to get Steen some work.

Edge defenders

• 46 snaps: Bryce Huff

• 41 snaps: Charles Harris

• 18 snaps: Jalyx Hunt

Notes: If we're reading these snap counts similarly to a preseason game, Hunt is ahead of Huff in the edge rusher pecking order.

Interior defensive line

• 44 snaps: Moro Ojomo

• 39 snaps: Thomas Booker

• 21 snaps: Jordan Davis

• 15 snaps: Milton Williams

Notes: Williams and Davis had to play a little simply because the Eagles needed bodies. Davis had 5 tackles on his 21 snaps.

Linebacker

• 53 snaps: Jeremiah Trotter, Jr. and Oren Burks

Notes: Burks had 17 tackles, and Trotter had 11. The Eagles have obviously gotten far better play from Zack Baun and Nakobe Dean than they did from their linebackers in 2023, but they also have decent depth at the position, too, especially if we're considering that Ben VanSumeren (IR) is also part of this group.

Cornerback and safety

• 53 snaps each: Kelee Ringo and Tristin McCollum

• 52 snaps: Avonte Maddox

• 42 snaps each: Isaiah Rodgers and Sydney Brown

• 11 snaps: Eli Ricks

Notes: Brown had the game-sealing INT:

Brown threw his body around on some big hits (love his clear enthusiasm for football), but he also missed some tackles. The trick for Brown in 2025 and beyond will be to hustle with the same ferocity while also playing with better technique.

Three stars 🤩

I've always liked the hockey tradition of awarding "stars" to each of the three best players in a game, so let's apply that to Eagles games.

⭐⭐⭐:

🌟🌟:

✨: LB Oren Burks

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