The Eagles' Good, Bad & Ugly
PHILADELPHIA, PA (CBS) — There was not much to like, and plenty to dislike as the Eagles fell for the fifth-straight time to the Washington Redskins, 27-22, at Lincoln Financial Field on Sunday.
The Good
Cornerback Leodis McKelvin's 29-yard pick six with 13:11 left to play pulled the Eagles to within 21-19. Then again, but Carson Wentz failed to connect with Jordan Matthews on the two-point conversion.
Defensive tackle Fletcher Cox's made a reappearance with a second-quarter sack, his first since Oct. 9 against Detroit, snapping an eight-game drought. Cox finished with 1.5 sacks.
Tight end Zach Ertz caught a season-best 10 passes for a season-high 112 yards, including an eight-yard reception on fourth-and-two at the Washington 29 with 5:04 left in the third quarter.
Running back Darren Sproles always plays hard, regardless of the score. His first-half touchdown off a Wentz four-yard pass gave the Eagles a 13-7 halftime lead.
Defensive tackle Bennie Logan making a tackle 14 yards down the field on a reception by Robert Kelley. Logan finished with a team-high six tackles.
Running back Ryan Mathews rushed for a game-high 60 on 15 carries. When he wants to, Mathews can be a very good NFL running back—when he wants to.
Punter Donnie Jones grabbing the long snap of Trey Burton, and putting it down for a 41-yard, go-ahead field goal with 4:49 to play, which gave the Eagles a 22-21 lead.
Kicker Caleb Sturgis's three field goals.
The Bad
Quarterback Carson Wentz's pass to a wide open Burton that came up short just after the two-minute warning in the first half.
Defensive tackle Beau Allen's missed tackle late in the third quarter on Kelley, which would have been for a loss. Instead, Kirk Cousins had a second-and-10 and completed a 21-yard pass to DeSean Jackson for a first down the next play at the Eagles' 33 with 2:38 left in the third quarter.
Left guard Stefen Wisniewski's false start with the Eagles driving just under seven minutes to play, pushing them back to the Washington 37, and setting up a first-and-15.
The Ugly
Ertz's illegal block above the waist on Derek Carrier that wiped out Sproles' 72-yard punt return for a touchdown early in the third quarter. Ertz didn't have to hit the defender, who was out of the play and didn't appear to have a good angle on Sproles. The Ertz' block doesn't fall under the overcompensation category as it does sheer stupidity.
Tight end Brent Celek's poor snap on Caleb Sturgis' 50-yard field goal attempt. Celek had replaced the injured Jon Dorenbos, who went into the locker room with a right wrist injury.
Cornerback C.J. Smith running into Darren Sproles midway into the first quarter on Washington's first punt. Sproles limped off the field and the Eagles were lucky no one touched the ball when Smith collided with Sproles. In every level of football, from midget football on up, to high school, college and pro, special teams coaches yell "poison" to get away from the ball—not go near it, as Smith did.
Quarterback Carson Wentz interception in the zone on a pass intended for Zach Ertz on the Eagles second drive.
Left tackle Jason Peters' false start on a fourth-and-three at the Washington 13 as the Eagles attempted a fourth-down conversion. Instead, the Eagles had to settle for a Caleb Sturgis 36-yard field goal and a 6-0 lead with 10:31 left in the second quarter.
