The reigning Super Bowl champs facing off against the Cleveland Browns in joint practices should be routine tune-ups, right? But things felt different this week down at the NovaCare Complex. The vibe shifted from controlled drills to something far more combative.
Cleveland’s media didn't mince words after watching their Browns defense dismantle the Eagles' high-powered offense.
_**"Bada—erie was in full effect,"**_ declared Browns analyst Justin Charles, referencing defensive coordinator Jim Schwartz's term for his unit's swagger. Josh Aul on the Cleveland Browns Podcast laid it out starkly: _**"This is the reigning Super Bowl champs... Their defense beat the living cr-p out of the Chiefs and Patrick Mahomes in the Super Bowl... And yet... Jalen Hurts had multiple picks thrown to our secondary."**_ Ouch!
The Cleveland voices didn't soften the blow. Aul underscored the shock value against the champs: _**"Our quarterbacks are out here—did they have great, fantastic practices? No. But at the same time, we threw zero interceptions to their great defense the last two days while Jalen Hurts had multiple picks thrown to our secondary."**_ The verdict was unified and blunt.
Aul added the final, damning layer of context about Cleveland's defensive performance: _**"Emerson’s out for the year. It’s just Denzel out there, and then it’s Cam Mitchell, Miles Harden, and some of these other guys. And we’re doing this—we are imposing our will upon this team. That’s encouraging to me.”**_ The message was clear…
Philly's elite offense got dominated by a depleted, but ferocious, Browns defense.
The narrative wasn't just about effort, though. It was about dominance against the NFL's best. Myles Garrett became the central horror movie villain for the Eagles' offensive line.
Garrett seemed otherworldly. _**"He's an alien out there,"**_ admitted Eagles center Cam Jurgens, comparing Garrett's movement to _**"a predator with some ice skates running through the grass."**_ Left tackle Jordan Mailata faced the brunt, describing a demoralizing sequence against Garrett.
_**"When you go up against the best, you're able to learn from the next rep. It's kind of like, lose, win, lose, lose, lose, win, lose, lose. That's what I felt like,"**_ Mailata admitted. Jalen Hurts found himself running for his life far too often. Even without key Browns corners, Denzel Ward blanketed DeVonta Smith _**"like he wasn't even at practice,"**_ per Mac.
The struggles weren't limited to Hurts navigating pressure, though. The Eagles' offensive rhythm sputtered as a whole.
Coach Nick Sirianni bluntly assessed: _**“Too many negative plays... It’s hard to score when you’re going backwards.”**_ Flashes emerged. A Dallas Goedert juke for a score, a Johnny Wilson contested catch… but consistency vanished. Meanwhile, Browns quarterback Joe Flacco capitalized on injuries elsewhere.
Flacco carved up the Eagles' secondary for multiple red-zone touchdowns. And the contrast felt jarring. Meanwhile, Hurts' performance drew intense scrutiny.
Hurts Facing the Harsh Spotlight
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Struggles went beyond the confirmed interceptions picked off by Cleveland's secondary. Near-misses and pressured throws defined Philly QB1’s sessions. The offensive line, missing Lane Johnson (rest) and Landon Dickerson (injury), offered shaky protection.
Consequently, Hurts rarely looked settled. This wasn't the crisp, MVP-caliber offense Philadelphia expects. The pressure got so intense it briefly boiled over into a [sideline-clearing scuffle during special teams](https://insidetheiggles.com/fight-breaks-out-at-eagles-camp-as-jalen-hurts-rocky-day-raises-concerns). A rare camp explosion hinting at underlying frustration. Bu things cooled off pretty quick.
What does this mean for the Eagles?
It’s a preseason wake-up call, loud and clear. Their vaunted offensive line got bullied. Hurts needs cleaner pockets to operate. Furthermore, the secondary battles behind standout rookie Quinyon Mitchell remain concerning. Even Reed Blankenship got burned. Cleveland exposed vulnerabilities Philadelphia must patch before Week 1.
Coach Sirianni values these intense joint sessions precisely for this reason… they reveal truths padded preseason games often hide. So, while Lombardi Trophies aren't won in August, foundations can crack.
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The Cleveland media saw a champion looking unexpectedly vulnerable. Hurts and the Eagles offense got served a hefty slice of humble pie by the Browns' ferocious defense. The Eagles just got a harsh reminder of how tough that arena can truly be. Even in practice. Now, how do they respond? Friday’s game will hopefully have some answers.