The Eagles' offensive line took a giant step backward in their last two games, both losses.

They looked especially vulnerable in their last game, a 26-23 overtime loss to Detroit, when All-Pro running back LeSean McCoy was held to just 22 rushing yards on 14 attempts and quarterback Michael Vick was hounded by Detroit's pass rush most of the game.

“I don't think any of us are very happy with the way we've played lately and that [Detroit] game wasn't our best moment, for sure,'' guard Evan Mathis said. “At the same time, we know we have the talent here to play well and win games and that's our focus going forward. We want to learn from the past, but we don't want to dwell on it.”

Coach Andy Reid has tweaked his line a little since then. He moved King Dunlap back to starting left tackle and signed center Matt Tennant, who could eventually push starter Dallas Reynolds for playing time.

But Reid also knows that he's stuck with the players he has now and everyone has to make the best of the situation.

“These are proud guys,'' Reid said. “They've been out there for a week and had a chance to reflect on things. These are competitive guys and they want to do well. But talking isn't going to help you do this -- you're graded on what's happened on Sunday.”

Tennant not center of attention yet: The Eagles signed Tennant and released center Steve Vallos, but even though Tennant has more experience than Reynolds -- Tennant has played in 28 NFL games and Reynolds in just four -- he'll have to earn any playing time he gets.

“I think right now [Tennant] is coming in and he's just going to learn and figure it out,'' Reid said. “This is all new to him, so we'll see. There will be a little bit of carry-over from when he was at New Orleans. Some of the terminology was the same. He'll come in and learn and we'll just take it from there."

Tennant spent two seasons with New Orleans and the beginning of this season with New England and, if nothing else, he's learned patience.

“I'm just trying to learn the playbook as quickly as possible and do whatever I can to help,'' he said. “Just always prepare and you never know when your chance might come.”

Defense prepares for Tony Gonzalez: He's been doing it for a long time and he's been doing it better than just about anybody who's played his position and both of those things impress Eagles linebacker DeMeco Ryans.

“When you're talking about Tony Gonzalez, you're talking about probably the best tight end who ever played the game,'' Ryans said. “To play as well as he has for as long as he has, well, that's what gets you into the Hall of Fame.''

Gonzalez has been voted to an amazing 12 Pro Bowls in his 15 NFL seasons and holds just about every receiving record a tight end can hold. But it's not his past as much as his present that concerns the Eagles as they prepare to play Gonzalez and the rest of the Atlanta Falcons on Sunday.

“Aren't you supposed to slow down after a while?'' Eagles safety Kurt Coleman asked with a smile. “This guy must not have heard that. He still kills people week in and week out. Maybe he doesn't have the speed he had when he was younger, but he's made up for that with his smarts. And he can still get downfield on you if you're not careful.”

Gonzalez has 43 catches for 430 yards and four touchdowns in six games and Ryans said that when Atlanta QB Matt Ryan is in trouble, he always looks for No. 88.

“And he still delivers for him,'' Ryans said. “Like I said before, this guy is a first-ballot Hall-of-Famer and I have a world of respect for him. We just have to make sure we don't let him beat us on Sunday.”

For more up-to-the-minute news and analysis on the Philadelphia Eagles from blogger Kevin Noonan, follow @CBSEagles.