The Eagles defied the odds and the football gods as they suffered an epic collapse, losing Jalen Hurts and most likely a shot at the one seed today in Landover, Maryland. Here’s the skinny from the game at a glance before I get into my Heavy on Eagles Postgame Rant.
Eagles 33, Commanders 36: How it Went Down
- Final Score: Eagles 33, Commanders 36
- Records: Eagles 12-3; Commanders 10-5
- Betting Winners: Commanders +4; Commanders +177
- Heavy on Eagles Player of the Game: Jayden Daniels: 5 TDs, 258 yds – first Washington QB to throw 5 touchdowns since Mark Rypien in 1991
- Next week for the Eagles: at home vs Cowboys 4:25
WATCH & READ the Heavy on Eagles Postgame Rant: The Birds Lost a Game That Was Almost Impossible to Lose
You can watch a video version of my postgame rant above. The written version is below:
When you turn the ball over five times in an NFL game there is literally less than a one percent chance of you winning that game. Today the Washington Commanders were giving the ball away like Santa gives out toys on Christmas Eve – three fumbles and two interceptions, but the Eagles were unable to just say thank you and sport their division championship t-shirts and hats on enemy soil and get out of dodge with their 13th win of the year. Instead they defied the odds and the football gods who virtually never, ever let you win a game when you turn the ball over five times or more. It like never happens. Its only happened once this year prior to today when the Lions beat the Texans about six weeks ago but other than that it hasn’t happened this season, until today.
If Birds’ quarterback Jalen Hurts doesn’t go down five minutes into the game with a concussion this one would have been over by halftime. But despite the loss of QB1 it was an epic opening quarter for the Eagles, a first quarter that saw the Birds score more points today (21) than they had in the first quarter of the first 13 games combined (17). Saquon Barkley had 109 yards, including a 68 yard TD run in the game’s first 13 minutes. Yes, you read that right. Barkley had 109 yards and he popped for a 68-yard score and there was still 2:18 left on the clock in the first quarter. At that point the Eagles were coasting with a 14-point lead over their division rivals from the nation’s capital.
It’s hard to criticize the top defense in the NFL but since they didn’t show up today, despite recording the five takeaways, it is open season on Eagles defensive coordinator Vic Fangio’s guys for giving up 22 fourth quarter points, the last eight with just :06 left, as Commanders’ rookie quarterback Jayden Daniels hit Jamison Crowder in the back of the endzone to give Washington a stunning victory, 36-33. Washington’s former Heisman winner threw five touchdown passes today, the first time a Washington quarterback has done that since Mark Rypien did it back in 1991.
Birds’ backup quarterback Kenny Pickett, who hadn’t thrown a pass in a meaningful game in the last 346 days coming into today, was barely good enough to help his team lock down the victory, but he did convert a huge 4th down pass to A.J. Brown late in the game that led to a field goal and following a should-be-game-sealing interception by Reid Blankenship, he hit the sure-handed Devonta Smith across the middle on an easy pitch and catch, but the Birds’ former Heisman winner flat out choked it up and flat out dropped what would have essentially been a game-sealing first down at the 16-yard line, on a 3rd and 7 with just over two minutes left. It was a drop that undoubtedly cost Philly the win as they not only had to settle for a field goal, but had to give the back ball to Washington, who went right down the field, 57 yards in six plays in 1:52 . If you’re keeping score at home that’s the second dropped ball by an Eagles’ superstar this year that would have, in all likelihood, ended the game. That’s two less wins this year because of two inexplicable drops, and it’s those two losses that will ultimately cost the Eagles the top seed in the NFC.
Other Eagles’ ineptitude shoutouts go to Kicker Jake Elliott, who left a 56-yard field goal short at the end of the first half. At the time it was his 6th miss from 50+ yards this year in six tries, and oh-by-the-way did I mention, it was short? Kinda like how the Eagles came up today in Landover, Maryland in a must-win game.
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The Eye-Popping Numbers Behind the Eagles’ Loss