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PHILADELPHIA – Offensive back Jay Ajayi was bewildered by the decision not to rely on the ground game, particularly early in Sunday's 23-21 loss to the Minnesota Vikings, who brought the defending champions back to 2-3 on the season.
"Obviously, we want to be able to start the ball early and start at the beginning of the match, and if I remember correctly, maybe we had three litters at the end of the first quarter," he told reporters afterwards. .
Even if Washington loses Monday night and falls to 0.500, it will be the first place of an East NFC in which nothing is ever simple, predictable or routine.
It's not time to hit the panic button in Philadelphia, but a defeat against the Vikings Sunday and a 2-3 start have raised legitimate concerns.
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"With the offensive line we have in this team, running the ball like that does not make sense to me."
Ajayi, who plays with a cross fracture in the back, did not receive his first postponement until the second quarter, and the Eagles scored only four significant points in the first half as they were 17-3.
Coach Doug Pederson ended up calling 35 assists for 17 assists despite coming close to five yards per ground run.
That was a similar story last week, with the Eagles scoring 50 assists at 22 rushes (5.3 yards per attempt) in a 26-23 loss to the Titans. The Eagles were shorthanded in the half-defensive position. Darren Sproles (hamstrings) and Corey Clement (quad) were injured.
Quarterback Carson Wentz has averaged 41 returns per game since returning from a multiple ligament knee surgery in the third week, and suffered his share of punishment. He was sacked 12 times and absorbed 27 QB tubes in three workouts this season.
The offensive line has not been as reliable as expected in pass protection, and Wentz sometimes holds the ball too long.
"Obviously, you want to eliminate as much as possible, reduce the number of results," Pederson said. "Quarterback active, you know he's going to move and did good games [Sunday] with his legs and found holes to run and throw. "
The Eagles entered the race to start the second half against Minnesota and immediately won, but Ajayi missed the line of five Vikings to spoil the opportunity.
"I can not do that," Ajayi said. "I'm proud to be an elite, I want to be an elite, I want to be the best, you can not do that when your team is counting on you."
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