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The Parker Report - Overshown is Everywhere
The return of Agent Zero leads to a showing that was both good and bad – just like he was.
Bob Sturm4 hours ago
- Overall Defensive Evaluation at Philadelphia
- Was it really that bad?
- Dealing with the injured Saquon Barkley
- Top Defensive Performers - Quinnen Williams and Demarvion Overshown.
- Film Study and Splash Plays
OVERALL DEFENSIVE EVALUATION
Let’s spend time looking at the defensive effort in Philadelphia. I can tell you that most everyone was pretty disappointed in how it looked and with good reason. We expected the Eagles defense to be present and accounted for, but the offense was the junior varsity of the Eagles and we already know their varsity offense is a shell of itself as well.Surely, this was an offense that Dallas could deal with, right?
Of the Eagles that played in this game any snaps of significance, you would probably regard only LT Jordan Mailata, LG Landon Dickerson, rookie WR Makai Lemon, and TE Dallas Goedert as first-choice options. Then, we were treated to 10 snaps of Saquon Barkley and that resulted in nine touches for the RB. Those nine touches went for 72 yards and 1 touchdown, so you can understand how everyone on both sides of the field pondered what he might have done if he had full health and fitness in this game. He looked unable to play between plays and then there he would go again.
The Eagles are not very good on offense and yet, as we know, when teams play the Dallas Cowboys, they look like the very best version of themselves.
In fact, there was a tweet recently from Ian Hartitz that suggested exactly that:
That checks out so well. Every team they play has a good offensive day and until that changes, the overall attitude of the public is to be that they cannot trust the Cowboys or Christian Parker right now.
The best offense in the NFL in terms of EPA per play in 2025-2026 is the Bills at +0.14. The worst defense is ... the Cowboys at +0.14. The Cowboys basically turn every offense they face into the Josh Allen-led Bills.
Yet, I do want to ask….
Was it really that bad?
Hear me out here. So, we keep these data boxes for precisely this reason. We know how we feel and we know what we saw, but then we look at the numbers are we wonder if our eye test meets with the facts.The truth is that there really isn’t much “red” on this chart. Red means failing grades and overall, there is plenty of green.
No, you don’t want to give up that many 1st downs. The NFL average is just under 20 and to give up 23 is technically below our standard.
67% on multiple 4th downs and 100% on multiple red zone trips are both bad.
But, then they got green ink on many important metrics:
- 21 points
- 321 yards
- Only allowed 2 big plays.
- Very low pass success rate
The Eagles went right down the field on the first two drives of the game and then the first drive of the second half. That isn’t great and got them all 21 of their points.
But, if you are able to look at the totality of the performance – measuring in that Tanner McKee stinks, but it is not your fault he is out there and Lane Johnson retired and the WRs are both hurt – I think I left the film session feeling a bit less lousy over the course of 66 plays than I did at the end of the second Eagles drive when everyone wanted to leave Christian Parker in Philadelphia at his old place.
Dealing with the injured Saquon Barkley
Saquon is one of a kind and just the type of guy who gives the Cowboys run defense trouble. Well, come to think of it, maybe all good RBs give the Cowboys run defense trouble.But, Saquon in particular can “press the hole” and then bounce it out and out-run the DBs to the edge. More on that in a bit.
But, you will not often see someone run the ball just 7 times and still go 36 yards above expectation, so when we look at the “run success totals by quarter”, we can see how this might have been a long night if he could have given them 28 carries:
- 1Q: 5 of 7 runs were success - 71% - 4 Barkley runs
- 2Q: 3-6 runs were success - 50% - 2 Barkley runs
- 3Q: 3-8 runs were success - 38% - 1 Barkley run
- 4Q: 0-4 runs were success - 0% - 0 Barkley runs
Top Defensive Performer - Quinnen Williams
Watching Quinnen Williams play is absolutely a pleasure and there is no question that we are now on a run of form where he has taken over as this defense’s best player and is showing why he is paid the big bucks.There has never been a time since 2012 when I started keeping splash plays that a DT has ever led the team or even come close. Quinnen Williams is about to change that for sure here in 2026.
Top Defensive Performer - Demarvion Overshown
Just when you are ready to fully give up on the ceiling of DeMarvion Overshown, he has a game like this and totally redeems himself.Look, he has only played in two games this season. But, every time he steps on the field, you notice him and he is making big plays. His work on Monday was magnificent as this reel will demonstrate.
He is an absolute dawg and we have always known that. We just have to see him stay fit in a profession where there is a clear and present danger around every corner. But, man, he was really good and might change the math when he is available.
OK, on to the film.
FILM STUDY
1Q - 12:24 - 1-10-PHI 25 - T.McKee pass short right to S.Barkley pushed ob at PHI 37 for 12 yards (C.Downs; J.Barham).
On the very first play, the Eagles scream “run” with 13 personnel and the formation and then do a play-action to test the discipline of the linebackers. 50-James is blitzing and that leaves 55-Barham to have Barkley in the flat. We know that Barham is a nice player but we also know that he does not cover the flat very well right now and this one play might reduce his playing time dramatically on this night. The Eagles seemed to know what would happen and they get an easy completion and first down on their first idea. Nice job by them.
1Q - 11:55 - 1-10-PHI 37 - S.Barkley left tackle pushed ob at DAL 34 for 29 yards (S.James).
The next play is a run to Barkley and on this one, Lawrence gets walked outside, Quinnen gets sucked inside and so does Barham and this leaves a massive lane for Barkley who waltzes through it for 29 yards and the Eagles biggest play of the night because Hooker can’t get off his block and Downs takes a bad angle. Oh man, this is not the start, guys.
1Q - 11:19 - 1-10-DAL 34 - T.McKee pass short left to M.Lemon pushed ob at DAL 13 for 21 yards (M.Bell; J.Porter).
This is the 3rd play on their script. Everything is working and here is a play-action with some eye-candy with 87-in motion and then a wheel route and the Eagles scheme 9-Lemon right behind it on a crosser where Overshown and Downs both seem to expect the other guy to take it and Lemon is running free with nobody there. This looks like Cover 6, but I am actually not positive who’s assignment this is and that actually makes me just like the Cowboys on this one.
1Q - 10:32 - 1-5-DAL 8 - S.Barkley right end for 8 yards, TOUCHDOWN.
Here is the 4th play of the game. The first three have been a disaster. This is merely Saquon doing what normal RBs don’t do. Press the hole and sell your inside intentions and then get the footrace with a DB to the edge that you are clearly faster than. Daron Bland cannot do much once Rashan Gary crashes inside to help on what he is sure is an inside run. TOUCHDOWN Eagles. And that first drive could not go worse.
1Q - 0:04 - 3-10-DAL 29 - T.McKee pass short right to D.Cooper to DAL 12 for 17 yards (C.Downs).
The Eagles are on a roll right now as they call a beautifully executed quick WR screen with blockers out front of Darius Cooper. I want to offer a bit of grace to Overshown getting back up to speed, but I need my LB to shut this play down when he has a chance at about the 22 yard line. He didn’t come close so the Eagles grab almost 10 more yards on that when Downs has to end things. Again, they are gashing the Cowboys with just about every idea they try. And because of that, they are about to score again.
2Q - 13:29 - 1-5-DAL 5 - D.Pierce left tackle for 5 yards, TOUCHDOWN.
All you need to see on this is 6-Donovan Ezeiruaku trying to deal with LT-Jordan Mailata. The Eagles go 12 personnel and go strong right, so when he takes it back to the weakside and Caleb Downs has been blocked down by the WR-Lemon, Dameon Pierce can stroll right in, because again, Bland and 11-Clark cannot seem to get to the help quick enough. Just discouraging work here on these first two drives.
Now, thankfully, there are some positives, too. Let’s show you some of them along the rest of the game.
2Q - 4:57 - 2-2-PHI 43 - T.McKee pass short right to S.Barkley to PHI 40 for -3 yards (Q.Williams).
As you might imagine, the opposite side DT is seldom running down a screen like this, but this is how you defend a play like that. You have 97-Clark cutting off the flow and then 13-Downs, 0-Overshown and 50-James are all ready to roll, as well. Not sure if we have seen an adjustment made, but this is a much better job here in the 2nd Quarter on how to team defend.
2Q - 2:42 - 3-10-DAL 45 - T.McKee pass incomplete short left to M.Brown (J.Porter).
Big 3rd down here and this is where you need a big time corner to make a play. The size different between Joey Porter and Hollywood Brown is staggering and Porter is absolutely the kind of dude this defense has been seeking. Pay that man. He is making plays every week and is absolutely a piece to hold on to.
2Q - 1:31 - 3-10-PHI 41 - T.McKee pass short left to M.Lemon to PHI 46 for 5 yards (C.Durant; D.Overshown).
Here is another 3rd down with team defense. Have a player surrounded and corral him until you can make a stop short of the sticks. Again, these plays are not going to make the news, but this is how you get off the field. Twice, on both of the final two drives of the half, we were treated to very good work on 3rd down defense to end drives. This is much better, although we grant you this is definitely not the Rams offense and QB.
3Q - 13:25 - 3-5-PHI 33 - T.McKee pass short right to M.Brown to DAL 48 for 19 yards (M.Hooker).
Ok, another 3rd and 5 and those bunch formations always give Dallas fits. Again, it appears to be DeMarvion Overshown bust as his controller gets unplugged and 0-Brown runs off into space like Lemon did on the 1st drive. Not exactly the same play, but the same issue where a LB does not seem to be where he wants to be. We keep coming back to this with all of these LBs. Do your job!
3Q - 10:34 - 4-1-DAL 39 -T.McKee pass short left to M.Lemon pushed ob at DAL 24 for 15 yards (M.Bell).
4th and 1 - Play-action rinse and repeat. Another shallow crosser and another uncovered man for another easy conversion. What is happening with these? Is this the LB again? I am pulling my hair out if I have any.
3Q - 5:49 - 3-4-DAL 4 - T.McKee pass short right to M.Lemon for 4 yards, TOUCHDOWN.
There are many ways to cover these bunches, but Dallas is still figuring it out, obviously. Here Lemon starts way outside and 19-Moore will go pick off his man 26-Bland so that Lemon gets space on this 3rd and Goal. This is very basic goal-line offense here and the Cowboys better sort this out because these 4-point plays add up quick. In fact, with this play, the Eagles take the lead. Upset alert. But, it would also be the last time the Eagles score.
3Q - 1:01 - 1-17-PHI 8 - T.McKee sacked at PHI 5 for -3 yards (D.Ezeiruaku).
Next drive and the Cowboys finally get enough pass pressure to wander into a sack. This is mostly Quinnen Williams flushing McKee out and Ezeiruaku cleaning up. I swear to you, Donovan Ezeiruaku can be a 10-sack guy. But, he has been way too quiet so far, so let’s hope that gets him going in the right direction.
4Q - 7:55 - 1-10-DAL 32 - T.McKee pass short right intended for D.Goedert INTERCEPTED by D.Overshown at DAL 30.
And finally, the dagger takeaway to end the game was Demarvion Overshown undercutting an out to Dallas Goedert who reminds us of Dee Winters undercutting Matthew Golden the week before. The linebackers now have two sacks this year and the DBs have none, if you are keeping track. As you can see, Overshown was part of plenty of poor plays, but also plenty of good ones. Let’s see what his next few weeks look like as he returns to form (and stays healthy, we hope).
SPLASH PLAYS at PHILADELPHIA
Six splashes for D-Mo! Wow.Also, Quinnen with three. Good stuff there.
SEASON LEADERBOARD
Overshown and Joey Porter join the leaderboard. Caleb Downs is now one splash off of it. Here comes Kenny Clark a bit.
On to Arizona and Indianapolis. Should you win those games? Yes. But, might you make them look like Josh Allen? Perhaps, also yes.
