After twice having too many gamers on the sphere on protection, that is what occurs. After lacking myriad tackles and dropping pocket containment on an important fourth down, that is what occurs. After twice dropping 14-point leads, after twice dropping receivers that results in touchdowns, that is what occurs. After giving up 22 fourth-quarter factors, that is what occurs: The Eagles tumble from their lofty perch because the NFL’s greatest workforce and make Washington Commanders’ (and 76ers’) proprietor Josh Harris a clapping maniac, the results of an Eagles’ heartbreaking 36-33 loss to Washington on Sunday at Northwest Stadium.
The loss snapped the Eagles’ franchise-record 10-game profitable streak and leaves them with a 12-3 mark. They need to nonetheless be assured to clinch the NFC East title within the closing weeks at residence in opposition to Dallas and the horrid New York Giants, two groups with a mixed 8-21 document.
The loss, although, made the postseason extra arduous. The Detroit Lions are as soon as once more the NFC’s No. 1 seed, a recreation up on the Eagles at 13-2 with sputtering San Francisco and the neglected Minnesota Vikings left. Even when the Lions go 1-1 of their remaining two video games and the Eagles win out, as they need to, Detroit nonetheless has a two-game lead within the tiebreaker in opposition to NFC opponents (9-1/7-3).
On Sunday, the Eagles performed the final three quarters with out Jalen Hurts, who left the sport with 9:29 left within the first quarter as a consequence of a concussion when Washington linebackers Frankie Luvu and Bobby Wagner converged on him after a 13-yard scramble.
Kenny Pickett did a reputable job in aid, finishing 14 of 24 for 143 yards and a landing. His first-quarter interception led to Washington’s first landing, however he drove the Eagles down the sphere for 2 fourth-quarter Jake Elliott discipline targets and a 33-28 lead with 1:58 to play.
It was not Pickett’s fault the Eagles had too many gamers on the sphere twice on protection, as soon as wherein the confusion led to a 49-yard Olamide Zaccheaus landing and a 28-27 Washington lead with 9:06 to play. It was not Pickett’s fault Zack Baun and Reed Blankenship misplaced Jamison Crowder at the back of the top zone for the game-winning rating with six ticks left. It was not Pickett’s fault beginning security C.J. Gardner-Johnson was ejected from the sport with 11:18 left within the third quarter after his second unsportsmanlike conduct penalty.
So how did the Eagles get flagged for too many males on the sphere on protection—twice—to a 12-2 workforce in December throughout an important NFC East recreation? Is it asking an excessive amount of from the Eagles’ teaching workers to have the correct personnel on the sphere—in December, 14 video games into the season?
The Eagles’ protection, the NFL’s No.1-rated protection, allowed Commanders’ rookie quarterback Jayden Daniels to toss 5 landing passes, 4 mixed to Zaccheaus and Crowder, who every had not caught a TD go this season.
The final time any Washington quarterback tossed 5 TDs in a recreation was Mark Rypien in opposition to the Atlanta Falcons on November 10, 1991—a couple of decade earlier than Daniels was born, and when Washington final received the Tremendous Bowl.
Daniels accomplished 24 of 39 passes for 258 yards, 5 touchdowns and threw two interceptions. Washington was down 14-0, 21-7, turned the ball over 5 occasions, dropping three fumbles, and have been minus-three within the turnover battle—and nonetheless received. Coming into the sport, the Commanders had turned the ball over 9 occasions all season.
The Commanders’ 22 fourth-quarter factors have been greater than what the Eagles have given up in 9 of their earlier 10 video games. The 36 factors is a season excessive in opposition to the Eagles’ protection, which gave up 368 complete yards of offense and allowed the Commanders to transform two of three fourth downs—one on Daniels’ 29-yard scramble a fourth-and-11, which was the play of the sport.
Saquon Barkley completed with 150 yards dashing on 29 carries, with two touchdowns, however had solely 41 yards on 22 carries after the primary quarter. Barkley now has an NFL-leading 1,838 yards dashing, which places him 268 yards away over the following two video games (which is feasible) to interrupt Corridor of Famer Eric Dickerson’s single-season dashing document of two,105 yards in 1984.
There was some good, some dangerous, and piles of disturbing ugly, within the Eagles’ wrenching 36-33 loss to the Washington Commanders.
The Good
Jake Elliott’s two fourth-quarter discipline targets, together with his first make from 50 yards or extra, placing the Eagles forward, 33-28, with 1:58 play. Elliott had missed his first six tries from 50 yards and past this season, after he went 7 of 8 from 50-plus final 12 months. Elliott had beforehand missed a 56-yarder on the finish of the primary half. An unreliable Elliott past 50 yards within the postseason looms as a big downside.
Security Reed Blankenship’s interception with 2:53 to play, organising Elliott’s second fourth-quarter discipline aim and a few cushion for a 33-28 lead. Darius Slay made the play, first deflecting the go supposed for Luke McCaffrey.
Kenny Pickett beginning properly after Hurts left the sport with a concussion, going 3-for-3 for 20 yards. He hit A.J. Brown for 11 yards on his first play on a third-and-7 on the Washington 21. Pickett hit Brown for a four-yard TD go to go up 14-0. With Pickett in, nevertheless, Dan Quinn and the Washington mind belief opted to vary path and as an alternative of a person protection, they moved to extra of a zone look. On fourth-and-seven at midfield, Pickett nonetheless got here via by connecting with Brown for 15 yards with slightly below six minutes to play. Pickett just isn’t Jalen Hurts. However he did place the Eagles able to win the sport.
Saquon Barkley dashing for 109 yards on 7 carries, which included two touchdowns, one a 68-yarder, within the first quarter. Barkley carried for 37 of the 49 yards when the Eagles scored a landing for the primary time on their opening drive this season. Barkley started the drive working for 19 yards on the Eagles’ second play of the sport, going left behind left guard Landon Dickerson and left sort out Jordan Mailata. It was an important designed play, with Mailata throwing apart Commanders’ linebacker Frankie Luvu, and Dickerson sealing off sort out Jer’Zhan Newton inside. On Barkley’s first landing, Dickerson takes out Luvu, who stuffed inside, and Mailata shoved Newton inside for an open lane. On the 68-yard landing, Barkley, in case you discover, additionally ran left behind Mailata and Dickerson. By halftime, Barkley had 122 yards on 13 carries, averaging 9.3 yards a carry.
On the Barkley 68-yard landing, proper guard Mekhi Becton pulling left, taking out Washington’s Jordan Magee, backup tight finish C.J. Uzomah pulled left to make a key block downfield on Marshon Lattimore. Nice work. Barkley went untouched.
Linebacker Zack Baun’s fifth compelled fumble of the season (solely T.J. Watt has extra), jolting the ball free from Dyami Brown on the Eagles’ 42 with 11:18 left within the third quarter. Nolan Smith was there to make his second fumble restoration of the sport.
Security C.J. Gardner-Johnson’s interception on Daniels’ overthrown go down the center with 1:44 left within the first half. McCaffrey was open down the center. Daniels sailed it. The Eagles, nevertheless, blew it with a missed 56-yard discipline aim.
Jalen Carter stripping Brian Robinson Jr. and Smith developing with the fumble on the Philadelphia 43 on the primary play of the Commanders’ second drive. It arrange Pickett’s four-yard landing go to A.J. Brown and a 14-0 Eagles’ lead.
Edge rusher Josh Sweat taking down Robinson for no acquire on fourth-and-one on the Commanders’ first possession on the Washington 49. It marked solely the third time in 17 fourth-down makes an attempt this season that Washington was stopped. On the play, Sweat got here from the bottom, and why Commanders’ tight finish John Bates went up discipline to dam on the second stage and fully let Sweat run by is anybody’s guess. Why Commanders’ coach Dan Quinn didn’t have quarterback Jayden Daniels below heart is anybody’s guess. Not an important begin for the Commanders, who seemed sunk early, although seemed good late when it counts.
Cornerback Darius Slay batting the go supposed for slot receiver Jamison Crowder on the second play of the sport on a second-and-10 on the Washington 40. It was a portent of fine issues to come back within the first quarter—that’s the place it ended. Later within the first quarter, Slay made a sort out for a two-yard loss and defended a go on the Commanders’ third drive. With 6:03 left within the first quarter, the Eagles held Washington to eight performs for seven yards. Slay later deflected a go that led to Blankenship’s fourth-quarter interception.
We’re going to go slightly off script and put Dom “Massive Dom” DiSandro right here. With 11:18 left within the third quarter, Gardner-Johnson was ejected from the sport for his second unsportsmanlike conduct penalty. As DiSandro was main the boisterous Gardner-Johnson off the sphere, the unstable security stored yelling again on the officers, “What did I do although?” DiSandro’s expression towards Gardner-Johnson was priceless, as if to say, “Are you (bleeping) kidding me!” Gardner-Johnson defended himself on Twitter after the sport, saying “received kicked out for nothing. I play with ardour and fireplace! Guys have been chirping all day what you anticipate!!” Gardner-Johnson additional exacerbated the scenario by giving Washington followers the double chicken as he walked off the sphere. Anticipate fines to come back. The Eagles have been forward, 24-14, when Gardner-Johnson was ejected.
The Unhealthy
The Eagles’ first drive of the second half. It was good the Eagles reached the Washington 4. It was dangerous the Eagles failed to attain a landing, and needed to accept a discipline aim and allowed an inferior workforce enjoying at residence to hold round. Why run the wildcat there? It was an enormous crimson zone begin to start the second half. It was the form of failure that got here again and bit the Eagles.
With 4:30 left within the first quarter, the Eagles getting flagged for too many males on the sphere on protection after the Commanders’ Frankie Luvu interception. The primary-and-10 play on the Eagles’ 25 became a first-and-five. How does that occur this late into the season?
With 9:29 left within the first quarter, Hurts getting dinged on a second-and-20 on the Washington 34 on the Eagles’ second drive of the sport. Hurts scrambled free out of the pocket for 13 yards when Washington linebackers Frankie Luvu and Bobby Wagner converged on him without delay. Luvu buried his proper shoulder into Hurts, who was helped up by Jordan Mailata and you might clearly see in Hurts’ eyes that he didn’t know the place he was. The officers alertly noticed it and escorted him off the sphere. Hurts was wobbled by the hit.
Hurts’ intentional grounding name on first-and-10 on the Washington 24 on the Eagles’ second drive after the Nolan Smith fumble restoration. Hurts ought to have been smarter with the ball.
Luke McCaffrey’s 47-yard return on the following kickoff after Barkley’s first landing. Jeremiah Trotter Jr. was there to convey him down. It was the one mistake the Eagles made in what was in any other case their greatest first quarter this season—that led to nothing.
The Ugly
Baun and Blankenship had nice video games—aside from Washington’s final play. For no matter cause, Baun didn’t get sufficient depth in the long run zone, and Crowder merely ran by Blankenship crossing the sphere to the again of the top zone. It resulted within the game-winning rating with six seconds left to play. It was a recreation of blown coverages for the Eagles.
The Eagles with 12 males on the sphere when former Eagle and St. Joe’s Prep star Olamide Zaccheaus scored a 49-yard landing on an absolute Eagles’ collapse with 9:06 to play, giving Washington a 28-27 lead. It was the second time the Eagles had personnel points on protection. The primary one (above) was dangerous. This was ugly. It led to Washington’s go-ahead rating in a recreation that the Eagles have been in management. Nobody was round Zaccheaus when he caught the ball. A replay exhibits mass confusion past the road of scrimmage, with gamers scrambling to the place they suppose they need to be on the sphere. Slay didn’t know whether or not he was on or off. So, ask your self once more: How does that occur to a 12-2 workforce in December?
With 1:58 to play, Sidney Brown getting flagged on the following kickoff after the Eagles pushed their result in 33-28. Not sensible, which is shocking, as a result of rookie defensive again is a cerebral participant. The penalty, the Eagles’ tenth penalty for 91 yards, added to Luke McCaffrey’s 29-yard kickoff return to the Washington 43.
A uncommon drop by DeVonta Smith on a third-and-five on the Washington 22 with 2:07 to play. Who is aware of if Smith would have scored, however a reception there would have taken extra invaluable day without work the clock and pressed Washington to make use of extra timeouts, as an alternative of the Elliott discipline aim and giving the Commanders again the ball with 1:58 left.
Daniels’ 29-yard scramble to the Eagles’ 12 on a fourth-and-11, his second fourth-down conversion, on the final play of the third quarter. Three performs later, Zaccheaus scored his first Commanders’ landing on a four-yard toss. It pulled Washington, which had turned the ball over 5 occasions and had trailed 14-0 and 21-7, to inside one rating, 27-21, with 13:33 left. The Eagles have been with out their beginning quarterback, Hurts, who left the sport as a consequence of damage within the first quarter, beginning security, Gardner-Johnson, who was ejected from the sport within the third quarter after his second unsportsmanlike conduct penalty, and Sweat, who was out many of the second half with an ankle damage.
Gardner-Johnson referred to as for his second unsportsmanlike conduct penalty of the sport with 11:18 left within the third quarter after Baun compelled a fumble. It’s nonetheless a thriller as to what precisely occurred. As Gardner-Johnson was being directed off the sphere by Dom “Massive Dom” DiSandro, he yelled again on the officers, “What did I do although?” The Eagles have been main 24-14 when Gardner-Johnson was ejected.
Rookie nook Quinyon Mitchell, who has been so good all season, getting burned by Terry McLaurin on a third-and-eight for a 32-yard landing with 6:46 left within the half. The Commanders went from trailing 14-0 and 21-7 to hanging on at 21-14 at halftime.
Slay, who had performed so properly within the first quarter, getting beat lengthy by Dyami Brown for a 51-yard reception on a first-and-10 on the Commanders’ 4 with 10:23 left within the half. It modified the dynamic of the sport and led to the Commanders getting inside 21-14 at halftime.
Defensive sort out Milton Williams flagged for roughing the passer on a first-and-10 on the Eagles’ 12. The half-the-distance penalty introduced the ball to the Eagles’ six, and three performs later, Washington had new life as Gardner-Johnson misplaced Crowder at the back of the top zone for the Commanders’ first rating.
Pickett’s interception by Luvu on a second-and-seven on the Eagles’ 25. Luvu baited Pickett, wanting like he was going to blitz, then fell again into protection and was there on the Eagles’ 25.
