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Eagles vs. Redskins Week 14 Observations and Reaction (With Videos)

Adrian Fedkiw|

Carson Wentz had shown promising signs throughout Sunday afternoon’s showdown against the Washington Redskins, but could he lead the Philadelphia Eagles down the field for a go-ahead touchdown late in the game after struggling to do so all season?

It didn’t happen.

Ryan Kerrigan strip-sacked Wentz with the Eagles deep in Washington territory and Trent Murphy fell on top of the loose ball to preserve a 27-22 Redskins victory at Lincoln Financial field.

Wentz’s pocket awareness and ball placement was superb on Sunday. He was 5-of-9 for 61 yards prior to the sack where Kerrigan blew right by the right tackle Matt Tobin, who was filling in for the injured Allen Barbre.

Tough to blame Wentz for the fumble. He finished 32-of-46 for 314 yards with a touchdown and interception in what was perhaps his best performance of the season.

The Eagles held a 36:38-23:22 time of possession advantage, led in first downs 24-16 and were 9-of-18 on third down, but settling for a pair of field goals after driving into the red zone on their first three possessions of the game came back to bite them.

One of Wentz’s favorite targets on Sunday Trey Burton, who caught seven passes for 65 yards, showcased even more of his versatility by being the snapper on Caleb Sturgis’ 41-yard field goal in the fourth quarter after Jon Dorenbos left the game with a wrist injury. When Burton enrolled at Florida, he was a dual-threat quarterback before later making the transition to wide receiver, tight end and even fullback. He’s an ace on special teams.

Burton can literally do it all.

Darren Sproles left the contest after taking a brutal shot by DeShazor Everett on a punt. Everett will certainly have a fine coming his way.

Zach Ertz led the Eagles with 10 receptions for 112 yards, but was called for a pivotal block-in-the-back penalty, which negated a Sproles punt return for a touchdown.

Jordan Matthews hauled in eight receptions for 79 yards and Ryan Mathews returned following a one-game absence due to a knee sprain and ran for 60 yards on 15 carries for the Eagles, who have lost four straight and eight of their last 10 games following a 3-0 start.

Fletcher Cox recorded a pair of sacks after going eight games without one.

Chris Thompson’s 25-yard touchdown run along the left boundary put the Redskins ahead 27-22 with 1:53 to go.

The Redskins picked up a key 4th-and-1 earlier on the series when Kirk Cousins hit Pierre Garcon for a 6-yard completion after they were granted a timeout when the play clock ran out.

DeSean Jackson posted 102 yards on three receptions, including an 80-yard score, in a de facto job interview in front of the Eagles’ brass.

Kirk Cousins was 14-of-21 for 234 yards with two touchdowns and an interception, Rob Kelley carried the ball 16 times for 63 yards and a touchdown and Pierre Garcon registered five catches for 59 yards and a score for Washington, which improved to 7-5-1 and remains in the thick of the NFC playoff race.

Everett’s interception of Wentz in the end zone was the reason why Philadelphia didn’t make it a trio of field goals on each of its first three possessions.

If only Matthews could’ve gotten both feet down on a beautifully-placed pass by Wentz a snap prior.

The Redskins took the lead late in the second quarter on Kelley’s bulldozing 22-yard touchdown run.

Philadelphia answered back with 12-play, 77-yard march, however, which was capped when Wentz floated an easy 4-yard touchdown to a wide open Sproles in the back left corner of the end zone with 28 ticks to go until the break.

Jackson’s 80-yard score came on Washington’s second series of the second half and the Eagles turned the ball over on downs on their ensuing series when Brent Celek snapped the ball low on a 50-yard field goal attempt.

The Redskins crossed the goal line again on their next touch as well when Garcon burned Nolan Carroll on a stutter-and-go in the back left corner of the end zone late in the third.

Leodis McKelvin broke in front of Jackson on an out-breaking route and his pick-six brought the Eagles within two.

The subsequent two-point conversion was broken up by Josh Norman, but Burton was open on an out-route from the slot.

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