Another Eagles loss means more second-guessing over Doug Pederson's play-calling. The head coach made three decisions that will be under the microscope after a 27-20 loss to the Cowboys on Sunday (see observations).
Here's what Pederson and Eagles players said about the failed plays postgame.
3rd-and-2 screen to running back Corey Clement
Trailing by seven with two minutes remaining, the Eagles tried to get Clement in space. Cowboys linebacker Leighton Vander Esch fought through right guard Brandon Brooks' block to stop the play for a five-yard loss.
Pederson was matter of fact describing his thinking.
"We anticipated pressure," said Pederson. "We got it, tried to get the ball out quick and tried to execute the play, and just failed to do that."
Clement agreed the opportunity was there had he been carrying the football in his right arm rather than his left.
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"I think the big difference was if I could switch the ball I can get my stiff-arm out there and reach out for two more yards," said Clement.
"I put that on me. Anybody should be able to get two yards."
Ensuing 4th-and-7 pass to tight end Zach Ertz
With the game on the line, quarterback Carson Wentz looked to Ertz, who was well covered by Cowboys safety Jeff Heath. The tight end's hands made initial contact with the ball beyond the line to gain, but until the pass was controlled, the Eagles were short of the sticks.
Ertz expressed confusion over the officials' ruling.
"I can't speak on the exact rules because I don't know if it's where my feet land," Ertz said. "On the replay on the field, it looked like based off the new catch rule the ball was caught past the first-down marker, but I don't know if it's where the ball is when both feet hit the ground, forward progress – I don't really know that."
Pederson said the route was designed to get the first down but praised Heath's awareness.
"It's a route that's gonna get you the fourth down, or get you any down, really, and I give credit to Dallas, to Heath," said Pederson. "He came up and it was a contested catch.
"Just a great play by them and it was a play that I would call again. You're putting it in Carson's hands, you're putting it in Zach's hands, and that's what you want."
4th-and-1 handoff to running back Josh Adams
Behind 3-0 in the second quarter, the Eagles turned the ball over on downs at the Cowboys' 20-yard line. The handoff to the rookie was slow developing, and he was met by a host of defenders for a loss of three.
Pederson defended the call, pointing to poor execution.
"The only thing that kills the play is penetration, and we allowed the penetration to happen and it stopped the run," said Pederson.
Eagles left tackle Jason Peters agreed the players on the field were at fault.
"We can't blame that on that man," said Peters. "Doug is the same guy that won the Super Bowl for us calling all kind of plays, going for it on fourth down. We gotta execute the plays that he calls on Sunday, and that's all there is to it.
"He went for it, he believed in us on 4th-and-1. We gotta pick that up because he knows we can do that."
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