PHILADELPHIA − And then there was one.
The Eagles are looking to remain the last unbeaten team in the NFL as they take their 3-0 record into their game against the Jacksonville Jaguars on Sunday. They have the opportunity to go 4-0 for the first time since 2004. That team started 7-0 and reached the Super Bowl.
But to do it, the Eagles will have to spoil the homecoming of former head coach Doug Pederson, who led the Eagles to the only Super Bowl win in franchise history, in 2017.
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The game will be televised on CBS at 1 p.m. Spero Dedes, Jay Feely and Aditi Kinkhabwala will be providing coverage.
Here are 3 things that I’ll be watching today:
- Pederson’s reception: It seems like a slam dunk that Pederson will receive a standing ovation from the Lincoln Financial Field crowd. After all, he coached the Eagles to the only Super Bowl victory in franchise history. And that should far outweigh the travesty of the 2020 season that ended with an embarrassing fourth-quarter tank job. As Pederson put it during the week: “I was with the Chiefs and coach (Andy) Reid, we came back (in 2013), and he got a standing ovation, so hopefully it’s in that realm. But look, it’s Philly, anything’s possible with these fans.” Then he laughed.
- Avonte Maddox’s injury: Cornerbacks Darius Slay and James Bradberry get most of the acclaim because they play on the outside, often guarding the opponent’s top receivers. But Maddox, who plays the nickel, covers the slot receivers, and that just so happens to be where Jaguars receiver Christian Kirk is most effective. Kirk leads the Jaguars with 267 receiving yards. Maddox, however, isn’t playing because of an ankle injury suffered in practice. Josiah Scott would most likely replace Maddox. So expect Kirk to line up in the slot even more.
- Jalen Hurts vs. Trevor Lawrence: No, they won’t be going directly against each other on the field. But the two quarterbacks are among the top QBs in the NFL through the first three games. And it’s a fascinating matchup. Hurts was named the NFC Offensive Player of the Month while Lawrence, the No. 1 overall pick in the 2021 draft, was named the AFC’s Offensive Player of the Week.
Injury report
As for injuries, Maddox and RB Boston Scott (ribs) have been ruled out for the Eagles. RB Trey Sermon will likely replace Scott on the game-day roster. It would be Sermon’s Eagles debut if he gets in the game. The Eagles claimed Sermon off waivers before the season started after he was the 49ers’ third-round pick in 2021.
Everyone else on the 53-man roster is eligible to play.
The Jaguars list four players as questionable in WR Zay Jones (ankle), CB Shaquill Griffin (hip), OLB K’Lavon Chaisson (ankle) and OL Cole Van Lanen (hamstring). All four were limited in practice Friday. Jones leads the Jaguars with 19 receptions this season.
Contact Martin Frank at mfrank@delawareonline.com. Follow on Twitter @Mfranknfl.
