Eagles Drop 2nd in a Row in Loss to Redskins

It wasn’t nearly that close.

Coming off their first loss of the season, the Eagles were beaten up and down the field at FedEx Field in their first division game of the year. They were out-gained by Washington, 493-239. 

Aside from a kickoff return for a touchdown and an interception return for a touchdown, the Eagles were absolutely demolished by their division foe Sunday.

The Eagles’ offense couldn’t get anything going and the defense was absolutely gashed.

But even after getting outplayed all afternoon, the Eagles got the ball back at their own 30-yard line with just over four minutes left, with a chance to score a touchdown and tie the game at 27-27. They couldn’t do it.

With the loss, the Eagles fell to 3-2 and 0-1 in the division. They’ve now lost their two games since the bye after going 3-0 to start the season.

Washington, meanwhile, improved to 4-2.

The Eagles finished with 13 penalties for 114 yards. It was the first time the Eagles have had back-to-back games with 13 penalties and the first time they’ve had three straight games with 10-plus penalties since 1976.
 
Turning point
No real turning point. This was a slow death.

Key stat
Washington was 7 for 13 on third downs.

First half
For the second straight week, the Eagles’ defense gave up 21 points in the first half. But thanks to a touchdown from defense and special teams, the Eagles were in the game, 21-14, at halftime.

After Washington got up 14-0, Wendell Smallwood returned a kickoff 86 yards for a touchdown. It was his first-career kick return touchdown and the first for the Eagles since Josh Huff in 2014. It was also the first in the NFL this season.

Then, Malcolm Jenkins picked off a Kirk Cousins pass and went 64 yards the other way for a touchdown. It was the Eagles’ first pick-6 since Jenkins did it against the Patriots last year.

Aside from those two plays, the first half was all Washington. Washington out-gained the Eagles, 285-41. The Eagles didn’t gain a yard in the second quarter. Washington had 17 first downs; the Eagles had three.

Washington got on the board first when Cousins hit Jamison Crowder for a 16-yard touchdown on a little rub-like play. Jenkins was in coverage. Then, Cousins hit Vernon Davis for a 13-yard touchdown. Davis’ excessive celebration penalty set up the Smallwood return.

After the Eagles tied the game at 14-14, Washington drove 75 yards on 13 plays to put them up 21-14 just before half. A Fletcher Cox roughing the passer kept the drive alive after a third down stop and helped Washington get a touchdown instead of a field goal.

Offensive stud
Ummm.

Offensive dud
Halapoulivaati Vaitai is not Lane Johnson. Big V didn’t have a big first game.

Defensive stud
Jenkins didn’t have a great game otherwise, but did have a big pick-6. He now has a pick-6 in all three of his years as an Eagle.

Defensive dud
Jalen Mills made a couple plays but also had trouble in coverage against DeSean Jackson 1-on-1 early. The entire defense was bad on third downs.

Injuries
Leodis McKelvin was inactive because of a left hamstring injury. He worked out before the game, said it went well, but wasn’t quite ready.

Bennie Logan and Marcus Smith both suffered groin injuries during the game.

Up next
The Eagles return home to the Linc next weekend to face Sam Bradford and the undefeated Vikings.