Eagles Unable to Overcome Another Sloppy Performance

Scoring Summary

On the opening possession of the game, Kerrigan twice came around the right side of the offensive line to corral Carson Wentz in the backfield. Kerrigan’s second sack came after the former Purdue Boilermaker bullied Halapoulivaati Vaitai in a lopsided one-on-one matchup. It was clear early that Philadelphia would have to aid their new right tackle against the gargantuan defender.

The Eagles defense stifled Kirk Cousins and the Washington offense on their first two drives of the game. Five total punts in the scoreless first quarter indicated that this NFC East bout could be an old school, low-scoring slugfest.

Cousins would get it going on the Redskins third possession, hitting Desean Jackson on a “cross-country” route against Jalen Mills for a 35-yard gain. Two plays later, Cousins dropped a dime into the arms of Jameson Crowder on a wheel-route for the first score of the game. Malcolm Jenkins trailed well behind Crowder in coverage. At the end of the first quarter, Washington led 7-0.

The Redskins took a ground-and-pound approach in the second quarter. Running back Ryan Kelley rumbled up the gut for a 44-yard gain against the Philadelphia defense. Soon after, Vernon Davis hauled in a touchdown on a post pattern to cap off a 90-yard scoring drive.

On the ensuing play, the Eagles punched back when Wendell Smallwood found a seam up the left sideline for an 86-yard kick return touchdown, cutting the deficit to seven at the midway point of the 2^nd quarter.

After the Redskins crossed midfield on the next possession, Jenkins undercut and intercepted a lofted pass to Davis in the flat. With only Cousins to beat, the safety cruised downfield with a convoy of blockers ahead for a 64-yard, game-tying pick-six.

With halftime approaching, Cousins orchestrated a lengthy two-minute drive in response to Philly’s consecutive touchdowns. After a roughing the passer penalty on Fletcher Cox gave the Redskins new life, Matt Jones finished a 13-play, 75-yard drive with a one-yard touchdown run. At the half, Washington led the Eagles by a score of 21-14.

The Redskins dominated both yardage and time of possession in the first half, and they continued to chew up both after the break. Washington steadily drove down the field with a healthy mix of run and pass plays, culminating in a 32-yard field goal and extending their lead to ten. The drive took more than six minutes off the clock.

Wentz and the Eagles got the spark they needed to begin the 4^th quarter, a 54-yard bomb to Jordan Matthews down the middle of the field. Although the drive stalled shortly after, Caleb Sturgis converted a 38-yard attempt, cutting Washington’s lead to seven points.

Cousins and the Redskins needed a quick response to regain control of the game, and it came in the form of a seven-play, 58-yard drive. Aided by an assortment of penalties, Washington again extended their lead to ten when Dustin Hopkins nailed a 50-yard field goal.

The back-and-forth affair continued as Wentz drove the Eagles deep into Washington territory, highlighted by big gains to Dorial Green-Beckham and Trey Burton. The eight-play, 69-yard drive resulted in a chip shot field goal by Sturgis, narrowing the lead to seven with 5:20 to play.

After a defensive stop, Philadelphia took over from their own 30 with 4:17 to play. Wentz showed tremendous poise on a 3^rd down completion over the middle to Nelson Agholor, as the Eagles crossed midfield prior to the two-minute warning. After consecutive sacks on 2^nd and 3^rd down, Doug Pederson chose to punt and pin the Redskins deep with 1:43 to play.

Jones would ice the game with a 57-yard run on the next possession, as over a dozen penalties and 493 yards allowed were too much for the Eagles to overcome in the 27-20 defeat.

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What's Next

The Eagles are set to take on the Vikings next Sunday when they welcome Sam Bradford back to Lincoln Financial Field. Kickoff is set for 1 p.m.