Eagles come up short again--- Redskins 27, Philly 20...
Nick "Shaggy" Foles was on a roll there for a while, but in the end, the instincts to make the winning play were just not there.
Shaggy drove the Eagles to the Redskins 5 before his intentional grounding penalty ended the game.
Trying to play spoiler, the Eagles (4-11) fell short in what could be Andy Reid's last game coaching the team at home. Reid is unlikely to return to Philadelphia for his 15th season next year. The Eagles, who are missing the playoffs for the second straight year after coming in with huge expectations, finish at the New Meadowlands next weekend against the Giants (8-7), who were creamed by the resurgent Baltimore Ravens later in the day.
Shaggy was sacked or under duress on 19 of his 56 dropbacks (33.9 percent) Sunday, including pressure on the last play of the game. This continued a bad trend for the Eagles offensive line as Eagles' quarterbacks have been sacked or under duress on 29.7 percent of their dropbacks this season, the highest percentage in the league. Entering Sunday, the Redskins defense had sacked or put quarterbacks under duress on only 20.2 percent of dropbacks, which ranked 23rd in the league.
So essentially the game was won by the Redskins due to their consistent pressure on Shaggy's dropback pocket protection.
Robert Griffin threw what proved to be a decisive 22-yard touchdown pass to Santana Moss in the third quarter, giving him his seventh touchdown pass thrown more than 20 yards downfield this season, including his sixth against divisional opponents. Griffin entered the game completing 46.7 percent of such throws, third-best in the NFL.
RG3 showed he can win games without using his legs. One more victory puts the Washington Redskins in the playoffs.
Griffin threw a pair of touchdown passes in his first game back from a knee injury, Kai Forbath set the NFL record for consecutive field goals to begin a career, and the Redskins held on to beat the Philadelphia Eagles 27-20 on Sunday for their sixth straight win.
Counted out by their own coach six weeks ago, the Redskins (9-6) are on the brink of their first division title in 13 years. Washington can clinch the NFC East with a victory over Dallas at home next Sunday.
A sprained right knee forced Griffin to miss last week's win at Cleveland. The rookie had a season-low 4 yards rushing but made several big throws to lead Washington.
"Anytime you wear a brace, it's going to restrict your motion," Griffin said. "It didn't slow me down by any means. I felt like myself out there. That's why they call me quarterback. It's not abbreviated with running quarterback. I have to throw the ball and assist guys by handing off."
Griffin was 16 of 24 for 198 yards. He did throw the first interception made by the Eagles in nine games. They hadn't picked off one since Week 6 against Detroit before Colt Anderson intercepted Griffin's tipped pass in the fourth quarter.
That set up a 17-yard TD run by Dion Lewis that cut Washington's lead to 27-20 midway through the fourth.
The Eagles held on defense, forced a punt and started their last drive at their 15. They were at the Washington 17 when Foles bounced a pass to Jeremy Maclin, who was open in the right corner of the end zone on third down. Foles then hit LeSean McCoy for a 12-yard gain on fourth-and-2 to the 5 with 11 seconds left. After an incompletion where newly signed TE Evan Moore dropped a pass near the goal line, Foles was called for grounding, and the last second was automatically run off the clock.
"In that situation, the clock is the most important thing," Foles said. "I didn't feel like anyone was open and was just trying to make a play. I just have to make sure the ball gets to line of scrimmage. That's on me."
While the Redskins celebrated, the Eagles ran off the field to a chorus of boos.
There was talk in Philadelphia leading up to the game about whether fans would give Reid a cheerful send-off. The crowd didn't acknowledge him when he took the field before the pregame introductions, but some chanted "Andy! Andy!" in support when he left. "We have great fans," said Reid, who gave a slight wave as he walked into the tunnel. "I understand the situation. I appreciate everything."
Griffin was injured late in the fourth quarter of an overtime win against Baltimore two weeks ago. Fellow rookie Kirk Cousins stepped in and led the Redskins to the tying and winning scores in that game and then a victory at Cleveland.
But having RG III back, even if he was limited, was a boost for the Redskins. "He's a guy we count on to lead us," receiver Santana Moss said. "He's a born leader and he came in here with that mentality. We are very fortunate to have him."
The Redskins and Eagles were both 3-6 when they met last month. Before that game, Washington coach Mike Shanahan suggested the playoffs were out of reach and it was time to play out the string. It may have motivated his players. The Redskins haven't lost since, beating the Cowboys, Giants and Ravens in the process.
"They know what it means," Shanahan said. "They've been working toward this opportunity to win the division. Any time you win the division, everybody knows you have a home game in the playoffs. We talked about that from Day 1. They knew what we had to do to get there. We haven't accomplished anything yet."
The Redskins went up 20-10 on the opening drive of the third quarter. Griffin threw a 29-yard pass to Pierre Garcon to get it started and Alfred Morris ran in from the 10 for his 10th TD.
Griffin's perfectly thrown 22-yard TD pass to Moss in the left corner of the end zone put the Redskins ahead 27-13 late in the third.
McCoy was back in the lineup after missing the last four games with a concussion. He had 45 yards rushing. Michael Vick was inactive, though he was cleared to play after missing five games with a concussion.
Forbath hit field goals of 45 and 42 yards in the second quarter. The second was his 17th straight, breaking Garrett Hartley's record for consecutive field goals made to start a career.
Shanahan now has 174 wins, including postseason. He tied Mike Holmgren for 11th all-time in NFL history. ... Morris ran for 96 yards. ... Redskins had a season-high five sacks. ... Only two other times Griffin had less than 10 yards rushing were in losses to Atlanta and Pittsburgh. ... Eagles have committed 36 turnovers while forcing only 13. .... Foles finished 32 of 48 for 345 yards, one TD and one interception.
Team Stat Comparison
|
WSH
|
PHI
|
|
|---|---|---|
| 1st Downs | 18 | 25 |
|
Passing 1st downs
|
10 | 17 |
|
Rushing 1st downs
|
8 | 8 |
|
1st downs from Penalties
|
0 | 0 |
|
3rd down efficiency
|
5-10 | 5-15 |
|
4th down efficiency
|
0-1 | 3-4 |
| Total Plays | 53 | 75 |
| Total Yards | 313 | 411 |
| Yards per play | 5.9 | 5.5 |
| Total Drives | 10 | 10 |
| Passing | 185 | 321 |
|
Comp - Att
|
16-24 | 32-48 |
|
Yards per pass
|
7.7 | 6.7 |
|
Interceptions thrown
|
1 | 1 |
|
Sacks - Yards Lost
|
1-13 | 5-24 |
| Rushing | 128 | 90 |
|
Rushing Attempts
|
28 | 22 |
|
Yards per rush
|
4.6 | 4.1 |
| Red Zone (Made-Att) | 2-2 | 1-4 |
| Penalties | 3-24 | 4-30 |
| Turnovers | 1 | 2 |
|
Fumbles lost
|
0 | 1 |
|
Interceptions thrown
|
1 | 1 |
| Defensive / Special Teams TDs | 0 | 0 |
| Possession | 29:23 |
30:37 |
My top three goes like dis:
1) The Joker.
2) Matt Elam.
3) Cordarrelle Patterson (MY BOY!!!1!!11!!!1!!1!!!)
Merry Christmas Trend Setters..... Just finished Christmas lunch in a shed, with spare doors for a table and too much food and Way to much beer... But it was sweet coz thats the only way to fit Mums whole family in one place...8 bruvvas and 2 sisters, cousins I don't know the names of and everyone wearing stupid hats....
Yep, I got sun burnt and its 35 degrees C.... Aussie Christmas indeed...
All the best to you and yours.
Love Beanstalk
1 Like
Yeah,....I'm on the Hunt bandwagon now !!!!!
Whoozewiffme(and fat).
I didn't know he was from Estonier !!! (like The Donk).
TBT, I tink he'll put out one of those super-freaky combine performances, and he might find himself getting picked in the 20's.
@TheGreatJB99 I aint' never seenteded him.
He loos TALL. But gangly-fied.
He'd be a d-end in a 3-4 ?
I like my boy from Notre Dame,......that 3-4 end that plays for them.
Can't member his name.
If Broz had his way,....
da first tree rounds would fall like dis:
1) Luke Kook (ATV, he's the best o-tackle in college football)
2) Barrett Jones (ATV,...he's an Alabamer o-linemen, that's prolly as versatile as any linemen to come out in the last few years. Not an NFL left tackle, but could play center, gard, or right takal.
3) Phillip Thomas (ATV,...he's a safety,.....from Fresno State,....which is a college)
Star would also be good, cuz I know he can play in any defense.
I'd rather use our top picks over the next couple of years, on plyaers that can play in any scheme......cuz you never know, if we get a 3-4 coach in, and we sucks, that stavv may be gone in a couple of years....and we might be right back to a four-tree.
Star can play where ever.
@Brozer8 this is why I want Winston Moss running the defense . . . he's coached in a 4-3 and a 3-4. Asst. coach experience. was involved with the whole psycho manuvers and was around to see Charles Woodson transformed (what would he do with Asmo i wonder?).
I'm gonna stump for him till one of yew dikheads back me anyhow
1 Like
I plan on trading our first to the panfers, for Luke Kook, and their 1st rounder next year.
I've never seen Texas safety KENNY (last name unimportant, since if he somehow ends up on our team, he'll only be known as Kenne )
Is he any good ?
@Brozer8 Not really. Good athelete... flies around... but doesnt seem to be smaaaart imo.
That said... he has most of the physical tools... and its REALLY hard to predict which S's will play well or bust.
@TheGreatJB99 there was a good article on Philly . com about it being hard to predick safeties to the NFL, cuz of the way college offenses are, and the way they basically use corners for safeties. Good quotes from Bowels and Zordich.
I wrote it.
HAHA !
I've finally proofed that I'm not none of those ding dongs over at the Dump.
I"M BANNED !
So thems, can't be me's !
THATS, some serious circumcision evidence right there !!!!!
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besides,....I've never seen ham nor corndog wiff a cloven hoof.
Dey don't even have feets !
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@TheGreatJB99 @dutchrubb Jesus declared all foods clean, like corndogs and Ham and corn pudding and greenbean casserole and mana and whatnots......so eating ham won't be a reason that Dutchie goes to hell.
I've got a bit of my mock draft prepared for if we go 3-4.
1) Jarvis Jones
2) Margus Hunt
3)Kyle Van Noy
or......
1) Jarvis Jones
2)Zeke Ansah
3) Margus Hunt
@TheGreatJB99 I twernt impressed by Jones the last coupla games I wartched him.
But I only wartched him like the last few games of the season.
EVERY SINGLE TIME..... I WARTCH SMU PLAY... THAT GIGANTIC DT/DE MARGUS HUNT DOMINATES!!!!!1!!!!!!1!
We need that guy. Top of the 2nd round if we go 3-4.
@Brozer8 He's doing ok. Right now.. he has about 5 TFL's... 3 sacks... 2 ff's... and crreated another sack for a teammate.
