Sam Bradford's return to football after nearly two years away from the game hasn't gone quite the way the former No. 1 overall pick was hoping it would. Through two games, the Eagles' quarterback has passed for 560 yards on 89 attempts (6.3 yards per attempt) and has thrown four interceptions to just two touchdowns. More importantly, he's yet to get on the board in the only category he cares about, the win column.
Bradford's struggles aren't entirely surprising. The Eagles' offense as a whole hasn't been able to make much happen through two games, and with the team averaging just over 2.1 yards per carry on 70 attempts so far this season opposing teams have been able to sit back and take away Philadelphia's options downfield. But even without teams stacking the box and blitzing aggressively, Bradford hasn't had the time he needs to get through his progressions, and the Eagles have been unable to get much going in the air either, save for the team's inspired second half against the Falcons in Week 1.
"I think that was Atlanta's plan, to not let anything get deep. And then tonight, Dallas did a good job of mixing up the coverage," he said after completing 23-of-37 passes for 244 yards, one touchdown and two interceptions in Sunday's 20-10 loss to the Cowboys. "They played (two safeties deep) more than we probably expected. When we struggled to run the ball, it made it easier for them to go to that."
Dropped balls, breakdowns along the offensive line and miscues between Bradford and his receivers have kept the Eagles from gaining much traction on offense. There's a level of rust that is to be expected when a quarterback misses so much time, and because of the importance of that position in setting the tempo for the rest of the team the ripple effects can be felt throughout the offense.
Asked after Sunday's game whether he attributes his early struggles more to rust, a lack of rhythm, or his own predisposition to press when his team is in a rut, Bradford admitted it's a little bit of each.
"Tonight was pretty tough, but I think the biggest thing for us as an offense is that we just have to establish a rhythm," he said. "When you go three-and-out, three-and-out, three-and-out, and you're not converting on third down, or you're not giving yourself a chance to convert on third down because you're on a third-and-long, it's just tough."
But despite the Eagles' struggles through two games, Bradford still believes the Eagles will turn things around. He's seen first-hand the potency of head coach Chip Kelly's offense, and with the talent contained within the team's star-studded backfield, it's only a matter of time before the team finds success on the ground and, by virtue, through the air.
"I think (our confidence level) is still there," Bradford said. "We still believe in ourselves. We still believe in the offense. We know that when we get things going, we can be a really good offense. I think we just need to get out of our own way."
The Eagles faced the Dallas Cowboys in their 2015 home opener at Lincoln Financial Field. View the full gallery here...
RB Darren Sproles takes the ball down the field
S Malcolm Jenkins runs the ball after the interception
HeadHouse Plaza looks amazing!
The stage is set for #BeatDallas
Fans browse the Pro Shop before entering the stadium
There's something for everyone!
Noah the Eagle is meeting fans in HeadHouse Plaza
Take your pick!
Nothing like entering the gates and seeing Swoop
FlyEaglesFly
Ready to go at the Eagles Nest!
Fans listen to the broadcast from WIP
Fans try to win at the SEPTA Bus Toss
Putting on her game face
Listening to the #BeatDallas talk
Dressing up with Eagles gear
Green screen photos are a hit!
Philly bleeds Green
The National Anthem
BeatDallas
Eagles Alum Lito Sheppard signs autographs in the SCA Club
Eagles Alum Correll Buckhalter signs autographs
Retired Navy Petty Officer First Class Generald Wilson sings the National Anthem
LS Jon Dorenbos warms up
Ready to go!
TE Zach Ertz warms up with a few catches
TE Zach Ertz is dialed in
QB Mark Sanchez launches the ball
TE Trey Burton catches the ball
DE Taylor Hart makes the tackle
LB Jordan Hicks and CB Byron Maxwell go in for the tackle
DB Walter Thurmond and DE Vinny Curry help each other out on the tackle
LB Connor Barwin tries to take down Cowboys QB Tony Romo
The Eagles defense swarms Dallas
LB Jordan Hicks makes the play
LB Kiko Alonso and S Malcolm Jenkins close in on the Cowboys
RB DeMarco Murray gets tackled on the run
After a hard hit
QB Mark Sanchez throws some warm up passes
Head Coach Chip Kelly watches practice
WR Miles Austin goes up for the ball
LB DeMeco Ryans gets ready to make the play
DE Cedric Thornton celebrates the big play
QB Sam Bradford makes the running pass
Tackle from ground level
The Eagles Drumline entertains the crowd
The Eagles Defense is fired up
Celebrations all around!
Tailgaters are ready for #BeatDallas
Turning up the volume at the tailgate
Swarming the Eagles Nest!
Who wants a cheesesteak?!
This is Eagles Country!
Ready to cheer on the Eagles
Gates are open!
The calm before the storm
The Eagles sporting black endzones for the home opener
New stadium art welcomes fans
Pregame warm-ups
The Eagles logo at the 50
The linebackers take control
LB Connor Barwin and DE Vinny Curry are fired up
DE Cedric Thornton comes through with a huge play
Incoming!
LB Jordan Hicks makes another tackle
DB Walter Thurmond and DE Vinny Curry attack
Brotherly Love
DB Walter Thurmond attempts the interception
DE Fletcher Cox gets the runner
DE Fletcher Cox dives for the ball
Chuck Bednarik's family accepts the honor
Habits Reflect The Mission
RB Ryan Mathews leads the way
The National Anthem accompanied by a flyover
A full-field flag waves during the National Anthem
The Eagles work together for the tackle
DT Bennie Logan holds on for the stop
C Jason Kelce defends QB Sam Bradford
RB DeMarco Murray makes his move around the defender
A packed Eagles Nest
RB DeMarco Murray runs through traffic
The Eagles push back
DE Cedric Thornton stops Dallas QB Tony Romo
The Eagles go for the ball
The ball comes loose!
QB Sam Bradford runs the ball
T Jason Peters squares up
QB Sam Bradford looks for the receiver
RB DeMarco Murray protects the ball
RB Darren Sproles plots his next move
WR Josh Huff collects a few yards
Weaving through the obstacles
QB Sam Bradford launches the ball
LB Jordan Hicks holds on for the stop
RB DeMarco Murray coming through
RB Darren Sproles faces off with the Cowboys defender
WR Josh Huff wards off the Dallas defender
K Cody Parkey knocks in the extra point
DB Walter Thurmond gets in the way of the runner
The National Anthem spectacle
The new Eagles entrance
The Eagles Cheerleaders take the field
Fans hoist up a #BeatDallas banner during pregame
LB DeMeco Ryans stretches for the tackle
Prepare for takeoff
The Eagles linebackers attack the pass
The focus
CB Byron Maxwell defends the pass
The Strath Haven High School Marching Band performs during halftime
The Olney Eagles greet the Philadelphia Eagles as they exit the tunnel
