The last time was a disaster.
And after Jack Driscoll’s performance against the Jets, it was fair to be a little concerned when we learned just hours before kickoff on Sunday that All-Pro right tackle Lane Johnson would miss the Bills game and Driscoll would play against one of the toughest players in the NFL would face fronts.
“I went out and didn’t play my best football,” Driscoll said of the Jets game — the Eagles’ only loss of the year. “You know that. I know that. It was frustrating, but my thing was to get better every day. When my number is called, I’m ready to go straight away.
“I didn’t reach my level. … Today was an opportunity to go out there and show what I can do.”
And that’s exactly what he did as the Eagles won their fifth straight since the Jets’ loss and improved their league-best record to 10-1.
Even with just a few hours notice, Driscoll went out and fought for more than 60 minutes in the Eagles’ 37-34 overtime win over the Bills. The start of the Eagles’ first series was a bit difficult, but after that he calmed down and played very well.
The Eagles totaled 378 net yards – 279 after halftime – and scored 37 points against a defense that allowed 18 per game.
Driscoll said offensive line coach Jeff Stoutland called him around 11:30 a.m. or noon and told him Johnson was out and he would start.
“It’s just time to go,” he said. “We have to win a game and no one is going to sit there and feel sorry for me. Just go in there and do my best. It won’t be perfect. I’ll do my best to help the team win.”
Jalen Hurts was sacked twice, but only for seven yards and not at all during the Eagles’ final six drives, including four touchdowns and a field goal.
“Phenomenal,” Jason Kelce said of Driscoll. “You didn’t really notice a lot of negative plays. Obviously, Lane Johnson, our success with Lane in and out of the game is very well documented. It is a big part of what allows us to function at a very high level.
“Jack figured out late on that he had to go in there and play and I think he played a lot of good football for us. I know things probably didn’t go the way he hoped for the Jets game, but he goes out there today and plays really great against a lot of really good defensive ends.”
Since the Eagles drafted Driscoll in the fourth round out of Auburn over UMass in 2020, he has played the same role: supporting guard and tackle and never knowing when to play.
He has now started 17 games at three different positions – four at right tackle as a rookie, eight at right guard and one at right tackle in 2021, one at left tackle and two at right tackle last year and now one at right tackle this year Year.
“Jack was more prepared,” Kelce said. “He got a lot more reps in tackling. When he went to the Jets game, he was moving all over the place because we had some extenuating circumstances that forced him to prepare for multiple positions.
“This week he really focused on right tackling. I think even though he had to play at the last minute, he took a lot of reps this week and spent a lot of time thinking about how to prepare for the right tackle, which I think concerns you. “I have a better one today Technology and saw a lot of things done at a high level.”
Hopefully Johnson can return for the 49ers on Sunday. The lousy field conditions had something to do with the Eagles’ decision to sit him on Sunday.
But if Driscoll has to play again? He definitely inspired a lot of confidence with his performance on Sunday.
“Obviously Lane is one of the best players in the NFL,” Nick Sirianni said. “There is no doubt in my mind that Lane Johnson is one of the best players in the world. We have great confidence in Jack Driscoll. I haven’t seen the tape, but I feel like he played an outstanding game just because of the way the game went, the rush and all those different things.
“Lane wanted to play, wanted to assert himself. I just didn’t feel like he could do it in that sense. I know it hurt Lane that he really wanted to play in that game. … Obviously a lot of our plan was focused on how we wanted to help (Driscoll). He started doing some of those things a little early in the game, but he settled in and played a really good game.
“We felt like as the game went on, that was our plan, to see how the game went, see if we needed to keep going there. “As the game progressed, we became more confident in Jack’s ability to do that Stop the rush. A great contribution from Jack.”
Everyone knows how valuable Johnson is.
He is a four-time Pro Bowler and two-time All-Pro. A legal device of Hall of Fame caliber.
And everyone has seen the numbers. Before Sunday, the Eagles were 70-31-1 since 2016 when Johnson played, and 10-22 when he didn’t play.
That’s now 11-22.
Because Driscoll was ready.
“I mean, it’s our job to be ready at all times,” he said. “It doesn’t make any difference if it’s the first play of the game or before the game or (whenever). My mindset is to be ready because I don’t want to be the reason why we go in there and not be able to execute or not be good on offense.”