Philadelphia Eagles: Studs and duds from Week 5 vs. Steelers

Sanders and Slay:

Stud: RB Miles Sanders

The way that Sanders has blossomed despite a rather porous offensive line is to be commended. Imagine how good he could be if everyone on the line was healthy rather than playing with a bunch of backups. 11 carries for 80 yards and two touchdowns is impressive, given that the Steelers were among the league’s best against the run.

The former Penn State product has been one of the few bright spots for the Eagles given the tumultuous start to the season. In a league where the offenses are mostly attempting to attack through the air, the Eagles’ reliance on Sanders on the ground has helped take pressure off of Carson Wentz who now has nine interceptions in five games.

Sanders will need to have a few more games like this if the Eagles are hoping to gain some wins in a clustered division.

Dud: CB Darius Slay

Two pass interferences by a cornerback that’s been known for exceptional play combined with an entire secondary let-down proved to be a reason for failure. Slay was brought to Philadelphia in an attempt to revamp a weak area only for them to be exposed even further.

When Chase Claypool puts up four touchdowns on a secondary in which Slay the unquestioned leader, it only adds to the pressure on the front line as they can only do but so much when attacking the quarterback at full speed. There’s no doubt Slay had a bad day, especially with all the penalties that he drew against the Steelers.

Slay will have to step it up if he wants to gain his Pro-Bowl form back, the form that made him a valuable asset that the Eagles invested heavily in with high hopes.