Four first-half turnovers and an overall lack of offensive rhythm kept the Eagles off the scoreboard in a 5-0 loss to the Cleveland Browns on Thursday night at FirstEnergy Stadium.
The loss dropped the Eagles to 0-3 in the preseason.
Quarterback Nick Foles completed 13 of 17 passes for 127 yards but had two crucial interceptions and was sacked in the end zone for a safety in what was a difficult first half of work.
Wide receiver DeAndre Carter led the way receiving with four catches for 73 yards and running back Wendell Smallwood led all rushers with 53 yards on 12 carries.
A bright spot for the Eagles was the play of the first-team defense, which picked up three sacks and forced two turnovers on downs in the first half. The defense as a whole allowed just three points all game.
"It's not what you want obviously in the third preseason week," head coach Doug Pederson told reporters after the game. "We're still keeping things very vanilla and we still want to evaluate and make sure we've got the right guys in the right spots. But now we've got one more preseason game and then we turn our attention to Atlanta, Week 1."
The first-team defense made quick work of Browns quarterback Tyrod Taylor and Cleveland's first-team offense to start the game. Foles and the Eagles' first-team offense then gained a couple first downs before being stalled just past midfield and turning the ball over on downs.
The Browns took the ball at their own 35-yard line and drove to the goal line before the Eagles' defense stopped the Browns on four straight plays to force a turnover on downs of their own.
Two plays into the Eagles' ensuing possession, Foles tripped over his own feet in the end zone and was touched down by Browns defensive end Myles Garrett, giving Cleveland a safety and a 2-0 lead.
Taylor suffered an injury during the Eagles' goal-line stand, which forced the No. 1 overall pick, Baker Mayfield, into the game earlier than expected.
The Browns were able to move the ball into Philadelphia territory, but were unable to move any farther and turned the ball over on downs once again. But on the third play of the Eagles' ensuing possession, Garrett got to Foles again, this time knocking the ball out of the QB's hands for a fumble that was recovered by the home team at the Eagles' 35-yard line.
The Eagles' defense managed to hold the Browns to a field goal to put the score at 5-0 eight seconds into the second quarter.
However, the turnover bug struck the Eagles again two plays into their next possession as another Foles interception set the Browns up at the Eagles' 45-yard line. With Taylor back in control for the Browns, a 7-yard sack by defensive tackle Haloti Ngata highlighted the next drive as the Eagles forced a three-and-out.
The Eagles' offense looked like it found a rhythm on the next drive as a 29-yard third-down pass to Carter and two 14-yard runs by Smallwood brought the Eagles to the Cleveland 27. But the Eagles turned the ball over for the third consecutive possession after running back Matt Jones fumbled after catching a pass out of the backfield.
The Eagles' defense stepped up again as a sack by linebacker Jordan Hicks forced another Cleveland punt. The offense then followed with more of the same as a nine-play, 66-yard drive ended with a red zone interception by Foles. The Eagles went to the locker room at halftime down 5-0 with four turnovers.
Nate Sudfeld started the second half at quarterback for the Eagles, but not much changed. The defenses took over the game, forcing punts on the Browns' first two possessions and the Eagles' first three.
On the first possession of the fourth quarter, the Browns drove into the red zone before rookie cornerback Avonte Maddox continued the defensive dominance with an interception of Mayfield that he returned to the Cleveland 48. The Eagles looked set to finally get on the board on the ensuing drive but a 33-yard missed field goal by kicker Jake Elliott with less than eight minutes to play.
After two drives by the Browns and one by the Eagles ended in punts, Sudfeld and the Eagles' offense got the ball back at their own 20-yard line with 1:53 left in the game. Ten plays later, the Eagles were stalled at their 45 as time ran out.
Check out all of the best photos from Philadelphia Eagles vs. Cleveland Browns at FirstEnergy Stadium on August 23, 2018.
Philadelphia Eagles vs. Cleveland Browns at FirstEnergy Stadium on August 23, 2018
Philadelphia Eagles vs. Cleveland Browns at FirstEnergy Stadium on August 23, 2018
Philadelphia Eagles vs. Cleveland Browns at FirstEnergy Stadium on August 23, 2018
T Jason Peters
Philadelphia Eagles vs. Cleveland Browns at FirstEnergy Stadium on August 23, 2018
T Lane Johnson
Philadelphia Eagles vs. Cleveland Browns at FirstEnergy Stadium on August 23, 2018
Clyde Simmons, Chairman & CEO Jeffrey Lurie
Philadelphia Eagles vs. Cleveland Browns at FirstEnergy Stadium on August 23, 2018
QB Nate Sudfeld
Philadelphia Eagles vs. Cleveland Browns at FirstEnergy Stadium on August 23, 2018
Philadelphia Eagles vs. Cleveland Browns at FirstEnergy Stadium on August 23, 2018
T Jason Peters
Philadelphia Eagles vs. Cleveland Browns at FirstEnergy Stadium on August 23, 2018
Philadelphia Eagles vs. Cleveland Browns at FirstEnergy Stadium on August 23, 2018
TE Zach Ertz
Philadelphia Eagles vs. Cleveland Browns at FirstEnergy Stadium on August 23, 2018
QB Nick Foles
Philadelphia Eagles vs. Cleveland Browns at FirstEnergy Stadium on August 23, 2018
Philadelphia Eagles vs. Cleveland Browns at FirstEnergy Stadium on August 23, 2018
S Malcolm Jenkins
Philadelphia Eagles vs. Cleveland Browns at FirstEnergy Stadium on August 23, 2018
Philadelphia Eagles vs. Cleveland Browns at FirstEnergy Stadium on August 23, 2018
LB Nathan Gerry
Philadelphia Eagles vs. Cleveland Browns at FirstEnergy Stadium on August 23, 2018
Philadelphia Eagles vs. Cleveland Browns at FirstEnergy Stadium on August 23, 2018
LB Kamu Grugier-Hill, S Malcolm Jenkins, C Jason Kelce
Philadelphia Eagles vs. Cleveland Browns at FirstEnergy Stadium on August 23, 2018
Philadelphia Eagles vs. Cleveland Browns at FirstEnergy Stadium on August 23, 2018
Philadelphia Eagles vs. Cleveland Browns at FirstEnergy Stadium on August 23, 2018
WR Rashard Davis, QB Nick Foles, T Jason Peters
Philadelphia Eagles vs. Cleveland Browns at FirstEnergy Stadium on August 23, 2018
DE Derek Barnett
Philadelphia Eagles vs. Cleveland Browns at FirstEnergy Stadium on August 23, 2018
RB Wendell Smallwood
Philadelphia Eagles vs. Cleveland Browns at FirstEnergy Stadium on August 23, 2018
G Isaac Seumalo
Philadelphia Eagles vs. Cleveland Browns at FirstEnergy Stadium on August 23, 2018
G Brandon Brooks
Philadelphia Eagles vs. Cleveland Browns at FirstEnergy Stadium on August 23, 2018
TE Zach Ertz
Philadelphia Eagles vs. Cleveland Browns at FirstEnergy Stadium on August 23, 2018
LB Nigel Bradham
Philadelphia Eagles vs. Cleveland Browns at FirstEnergy Stadium on August 23, 2018
QB Nick Foles
Philadelphia Eagles vs. Cleveland Browns at FirstEnergy Stadium on August 23, 2018
QB Nick Foles
Philadelphia Eagles vs. Cleveland Browns at FirstEnergy Stadium on August 23, 2018
DT Fletcher Cox
Philadelphia Eagles vs. Cleveland Browns at FirstEnergy Stadium on August 23, 2018
C Jason Kelce
Philadelphia Eagles vs. Cleveland Browns at FirstEnergy Stadium on August 23, 2018
WR Shelton Gibson
Philadelphia Eagles vs. Cleveland Browns at FirstEnergy Stadium on August 23, 2018
Philadelphia Eagles vs. Cleveland Browns at FirstEnergy Stadium on August 23, 2018
QB Nick Foles, RB Wendell Smallwood
Philadelphia Eagles vs. Cleveland Browns at FirstEnergy Stadium on August 23, 2018
DE Chris Long
Philadelphia Eagles vs. Cleveland Browns at FirstEnergy Stadium on August 23, 2018
DT Fletcher Cox
Philadelphia Eagles vs. Cleveland Browns at FirstEnergy Stadium on August 23, 2018
DT Haloti Ngata
Philadelphia Eagles vs. Cleveland Browns at FirstEnergy Stadium on August 23, 2018
LB Jordan Hicks
Philadelphia Eagles vs. Cleveland Browns at FirstEnergy Stadium on August 23, 2018
QB Nick Foles
Philadelphia Eagles vs. Cleveland Browns at FirstEnergy Stadium on August 23, 2018
DT Destiny Vaeao
Philadelphia Eagles vs. Cleveland Browns at FirstEnergy Stadium on August 23, 2018
QB Carson Wentz
Philadelphia Eagles vs. Cleveland Browns at FirstEnergy Stadium on August 23, 2018
LB Jordan Hicks, CB Sidney Jones
Philadelphia Eagles vs. Cleveland Browns at FirstEnergy Stadium on August 23, 2018
RB Wendell Smallwood
Philadelphia Eagles vs. Cleveland Browns at FirstEnergy Stadium on August 23, 2018
LB Jordan Hicks, S Malcolm Jenkins
Philadelphia Eagles vs. Cleveland Browns at FirstEnergy Stadium on August 23, 2018
LB Jordan Hicks
Philadelphia Eagles vs. Cleveland Browns at FirstEnergy Stadium on August 23, 2018
T Halapoulivaati Vaitai
Philadelphia Eagles vs. Cleveland Browns at FirstEnergy Stadium on August 23, 2018
DE Michael Bennett
Philadelphia Eagles vs. Cleveland Browns at FirstEnergy Stadium on August 23, 2018
Head Coach Doug Pederson
Philadelphia Eagles vs. Cleveland Browns at FirstEnergy Stadium on August 23, 2018
RB Wendell Smallwood
Philadelphia Eagles vs. Cleveland Browns at FirstEnergy Stadium on August 23, 2018
WR DeAndre Carter
Philadelphia Eagles vs. Cleveland Browns at FirstEnergy Stadium on August 23, 2018
Philadelphia Eagles vs. Cleveland Browns at FirstEnergy Stadium on August 23, 2018
QB Nate Sudfeld
Philadelphia Eagles vs. Cleveland Browns at FirstEnergy Stadium on August 23, 2018
OL Matt Pryor
Philadelphia Eagles vs. Cleveland Browns at FirstEnergy Stadium on August 23, 2018
Philadelphia Eagles vs. Cleveland Browns at FirstEnergy Stadium on August 23, 2018
RB Josh Adams
Philadelphia Eagles vs. Cleveland Browns at FirstEnergy Stadium on August 23, 2018
Philadelphia Eagles vs. Cleveland Browns at FirstEnergy Stadium on August 23, 2018
QB Nate Sudfeld
Philadelphia Eagles vs. Cleveland Browns at FirstEnergy Stadium on August 23, 2018
DT Winston Craig
Philadelphia Eagles vs. Cleveland Browns at FirstEnergy Stadium on August 23, 2018
RB Matt Jones
Philadelphia Eagles vs. Cleveland Browns at FirstEnergy Stadium on August 23, 2018
CB Avonte Maddox
Philadelphia Eagles vs. Cleveland Browns at FirstEnergy Stadium on August 23, 2018
DE Steven Means
Philadelphia Eagles vs. Cleveland Browns at FirstEnergy Stadium on August 23, 2018
WR Rashard Davis
Philadelphia Eagles vs. Cleveland Browns at FirstEnergy Stadium on August 23, 2018
