After each Eagles game this season, Inquirer columnist David Murphy will answer questions posed by Eagles fans on Reddit about what they saw on the field, and what it means moving forward, in a weekly mailbag of sorts.

Here are some of the best questions we got from r/Eagles this week, as well as some answers, ahead of their Week 10 matchup against the COwboys and with the NFL trade deadline approaching…

Q: What the hell happened with that “fumble”?

All I can tell you is what the NFL said. Apparently, the NFL differentiates contact that knocks a player to the ground from contact that causes a “trip.” I didn’t know it beforehand. Here’s what NFL Vice President of Instant Replay Mark Butterworth told a reporter after the game:

“On that play, the running back was tagged by a defensive player, No. 51, and then had contact with No. 69 on offense,” Butterworth said. “It was considered a trip on the field, so because it was a trip, when he fell, he wouldn’t fall on contact and therefore it was a fumble.

I guess now we know that’s the rule. Saquon BarkleyFor his part, he said he was not surprised by the ruling because the same thing happened to him last year in Green Bay.

Q: Who was responsible for the failed 2-point conversion and fourth down plays?

The decision to go for them is everything. Nick Syrianni made with the full faith and credit of the Eagles’ analytics department. That said, someone has to explain to Sirianni the difference between facing Patrick Mahomes, as the Bucs did last night when they refused to go for two, and Trevor Lawrence, against whom the Eagles should have had a 20-0 lead.

” READ MORE: The Eagles are the anti-Jaguars, and Nick Sirianni deserves some credit for that. Now, let’s talk about situational awareness.

There are games in which the risk-reward calculation favors the addition of extra points on the scoreboard and there are games in which the calculation assigns a greater penalty to the possible loss of points. In this case, the Eagles gave the Jaguars an extra possession, and it almost bit them.

Q: Is Saquon Barkley human?

It sure doesn’t seem like it.

” READ MORE: Saquon Barkley stumbles back into centerpiece of Eagles offense

Q: Why do we hate Jake Elliott?

Hey, maybe there’s something there. It would explain Sirianni’s decision-making on Sunday.

Q: What do you think is the most shocking thing about the team’s case ahead of the trade deadline next week?

I really don’t think they can do anything impactful. The Raiders will not trade Maxx Crosby. The Cowboys will not trade Micah Parsons. The Eagles’ pass rush has actually improved to a point where many of the replacement-level options probably won’t do much for them.

” READ MORE: Eagles trade deadline news and latest rumors

One guy who might make some sense is the Browns’ Za’Darius Smith. He’s 32, Cleveland is dead, there’s not much incentive for them to hold on to him. He’s having a solid season according to PFF and has been one of the best non-elite pass rushers in the game over the last few seasons.

” READ MORE: The Eagles’ Bryce Huff didn’t play much against the Jags. Could there be a deal ahead for an edge rusher?