Philadelphia, PA (SportsNetwork.com) – Nick Foles overcame a makeshift
offensive line, took his share of hits and still managed to throw three
touchdown passes to carry the Philadelphia Eagles to a 37-34 win over the
Washington Redskins.
Foles passed for 325 yards on 28-of-42 efficiency despite the Eagles failing
to establish a running attack behind mostly reserve offensive linemen.
LeSean McCoy carried 20 times for just 22 yards for Philadelphia (3-0), which
has trailed by double figures in all three of its wins this season. Jeremy
Maclin had eight catches for 154 yards and a touchdown, while rookie
Jordan Matthews made the first two touchdown grabs of his career.
Kirk Cousins got the start for Washington, which lost starting quarterback
Robert Griffin III last week to a dislocated ankle. Cousins played well in
reserve, leading the Redskins to a convincing win over Jacksonville.
The Michigan State product was sharp in this one as well, throwing for a
career-best 427 yards, three touchdowns and an interception. Pierre Garcon had
138 yards and a score on 11 catches, and former Eagle DeSean Jackson made an
81-yard touchdown grab among his five receptions.
The final score overshadowed an ugly brawl early in the fourth quarter
following an illegal hit on Foles. Defensive lineman Chris Baker crushed an
unaware Foles following what appeared to be an interception, leading to the
scrum. Baker was ejected along with Eagles Pro Bowl left tackle Jason Peters.
Jackson caught Cousins’ second pass of the game for six yards and immediately
heard boos from the Philadelphia crowd. Cousins looked his way again for a
13-yard gain later in the drive and after Jackson was tackled by two Eagles
defenders, he drew a 15-yard penalty on Philadelphia after shoving cornerback
Bradley Fletcher. The 11-play, 82-yard drive ended in a 4-yard touchdown
reception from Darrel Young.
Chris Polk quickly tied the score, taking the ensuing kickoff back 102 yards
for the first Eagles kick return TD since Quintin Demps in 2008.
Washington again carved up Philly’s defense on its next trip, scoring when
Cousins found Garcon on a quick slant from four yards out.
Foles and the Eagles offense finally ran their first play from scrimmage at
the 2:01 mark of the first quarter. During the series, McCoy took a blow to
the head from David Amerson and went to the locker room to get himself checked
out. Reigning NFC Offensive Player of the Week Darren Sproles replaced him and
lost a fumble inside the Redskins 20.
Midway through the second, Foles completed a 21-yard pass near the left
sideline to Riley Cooper on 3rd-and-11. Washington challenged the call, which
was upheld, and Foles found a wide open Matthews in the back of the end zone
for an 11-yard touchdown four plays later to pull Philadelphia within 17-14.
Washington’s Kai Forbath hit field goals from 49 and 44 yards in the second
quarter, but the Eagles scored a late touchdown to take a lead into halftime.
The Foles-Matthews duo was back at it on the final drive of the half.
Philadelphia started with just over a minute left and all three timeouts and
executed to perfection. Matthews caught three passes on the 8-play drive,
the last of which was an 11-yard TD grab in heavy traffic.
Washington ran 11 or 12 plays on all four of its first half drives, scoring on
all four, but the Eagles owned a 21-20 edge at the break.
Cody Parkey kicked field goals on Philly’s first two drives of the second half
to give the Eagles a 27-20 lead. It vanished late in the third, when Cousins
went up top to Jackson for a game-tying 81-yard score.
Jackson’s TD was the 10th of his career from 60-plus yards. Only 15 players in
NFL history have more.
Already without starting left guard Evan Mathis, right tackle Lane Johnson and
center Jason Kelce, the Eagles offensive line took a near fatal blow with
Peters’ ejection. Every reserve lineman that dressed was on the field for the
fourth quarter, and Washington’s defensive line took advantage. Foles faced
immediate pressure on dropbacks and McCoy found no running lanes.
With 10:07 left to play, Foles overthrew Brent Celek and appeared to get
intercepted by Bashaud Breeland. Baker blind-sided Foles during the runback,
causing him to writhe in pain on the ground for a few minutes before shaking
off the blow. Philadelphia’s nearby players jumped to Foles’ defense, and an
extended dust-up ensued.
The ball was ruled incomplete and Philadelphia retained possession. Foles
then found Jeff Maehl for 15 yards and benefited from a pass interference call
before finding Maclin for a 27-yard TD to put the Eagles in front with 7:34
left.
Cousins’ first pass of the next series was picked off by a diving Malcolm
Jenkins, who intercepted Andrew Luck in Week 2 at a similar point in the game.
The turnover set up Parkey’s 51-yard field goal to make it a 10-point game.
Roy Helu’s 55-yard pitch-and-catch from Cousins put the Redskins back in
scoring position, and Helu capped the drive with a 1-yard TD plunge to cut the
lead to 37-34 with 4:16 remaining.
Washington got it back with 2:25 on the clock following a three-and-out
Cousins’ fourth-down pass for Garcon fell incomplete, and the Eagles took over
and ran out the remaining time.
Game Notes
Kelce left the game in the third quarter with an abdominal injury … Eagles
linebacker Mychal Kendricks missed the game with a calf injury … The Eagles
have won six straight regular-season home games, while Washington has lost
eight straight on the road … Redskins cornerback DeAngelo Hall also left in
the third quarter with an Achilles injury … Redskins safety Brandon
Meriweather made his season debut after serving a two-game suspension for an
illegal hit in the preseason … Washington running back Alfred Morris had 77
yards on the ground.
