LANDOVER, MD – This game had everything an NFC East battle with so much at stake should have. Incredible intensity. High emotions. Big plays. Huge swings in momentum. A final drive with the game on the line.
Unfortunately for the Eagles, the defense couldn’t get that last stop and Washington came from behind to win on Sunday at Northwest Stadium, 36-33, to end the Eagles’ (12-3) winning streak at 10 games.
Here are some observations from the tough loss …
1. Offense unable to close the game out
A Reed Blankenship interception off a tipped pass by cornerback Darius “Big Play” Slay on a throw intended for wide receiver Luke McCaffrey with 3 minutes, 6 seconds remaining in the fourth quarter set the Eagles up with a chance to end the game.
A first down there would have likely been the end of the end of the game. A third-down throw from quarterback Kenny Pickett, in for Jalen Hurts who suffered a concussion in the first quarter, to an open DeVonta Smith was on the mark, but Smith couldn’t bring the pass in and instead of the clock ticking away, the Eagles settled for a Jake Elliott field goal and a 33-28 lead. Washington had one final possession and quarterback Jayden Daniels made the Eagles pay. Daniels completed all four of his passes for 35 yards, including the game-winner to wide receiver Jamison Crowder.
“We wouldn’t be in the position in that game without (Smith), to begin with. He’s an unbelievable player. He knows that we’re going to throw him the football, A.J. (Brown) too, no matter what. There’s not an ounce of confidence lost at six (Smith),” Pickett said after the game.
2. Washington put up points in the second half
The Eagles lost safety C.J. Gardner-Johnson, who was ejected after two unsportsmanlike penalties, and from that point on, the Eagles struggled defensively. Washington scored touchdowns on three of its four possessions after that, driving 61, 87, and 57 yards for scores. Philadelphia took the football away five times in this game and had a fourth-down stop to end another drive, but losing Gardner-Johnson and Slay and edge rusher Josh Sweat for a bit during the game took its toll. Daniels hurt the Eagles with 81 rushing yards on 9 carries, including a 29-yard scramble on a fourth-and-11 in the fourth quarter that led to a touchdown and really brought Washington back into the game.
“This is one game. Everything’s still in front of us, our hopes. and everything we need to do. So, nobody should be down in this room. That’s the main thing we make sure we make sure we preach to everybody. I know everybody don’t like to lose and this and that and the third, but hey, thankfully this game wasn’t a playoff game, and we have to just address a lot of issues. We have a chance to come out here next week, defend home, and go out there and execute,” Slay said.
3. Big fourth-down stop early and offense takes advantage
Taking an early chance, Washington paid the price. On a fourth-and-1 play from its 49-yard line on the opening possession, Washington lined up in the shotgun and quarterback Jayden Daniels handed off to running back Brian Robinson, who was swallowed up by Sweat, Jordan Davis, and Nakobe Dean for no gain. Eagles’ football.
The offense took possession and converted. They went 49 yards in 8 plays – four of those plays and 37 of those yards came with Saquon Barkley gashing Washington on the ground. Hurts threw two incomplete passes intended for wide receiver A.J. Brown, so the Eagles did it all on the ground. Barkley got his – including gains of 19 yards and 13 yards – and Hurts ran for 6 yards on a third-and-9 play and was aided by a defensive holding penalty that gave the Eagles a first down. Washington gambled early and lost – and the Eagles offense capitalized with a 2-yard Barkley touchdown run.
