The Eagles snapped their five-game losing streak Thursday night with a 24-19 win over the Giants at the Linc. Reviewing the big plays and hot takes:
First quarter: Ryan Mathews 17-yard run
Eagles waste no time running right behind Lane Johnson.— Dave Zangaro (@DZangaroCSN) December 23, 2016
Mathews' last three runs are 18, 19 and 17 yards— Reuben Frank (@RoobCSN) December 23, 2016
First quarter: Carson Wentz scramble
Wentz has all day, spins away from a sack and picks up nine.
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First quarter: Darren Sproles 25-yard touchdown
Sproles takes the pitch from Wentz, gets to the second level, makes safety Andrew Adams miss and is gone.
So the Eagles start this drive running behind lane Johnson and pick up 17 and end drive behind lane getting 25 yd td run— Derrick Gunn (@TheRealDGunnCSN) December 23, 2016
It was the Eagles' longest offensive TD since Sproles' 73-yard catch and run from Wentz vs. Pittsburgh back in Week 3.— Reuben Frank (@RoobCSN) December 23, 2016
Sproles' 25-yarder is the Eagles' longest rushing TD since DeMarco Murray's 54-yarder vs. the Giants on the last day of last season.— Reuben Frank (@RoobCSN) December 23, 2016
First quarter: Malcolm Jenkins pick-6
Veteran QBs can make terrible decisions too. Eli Manning throws to tight end Will Tye, who's sandwiched by Jenkins and Jaylen Watkins. The ball goes right to Jenkins, who returns it 34 yards for the score and 14-0 lead.
That's Malcolm's 4th INT return TD as an Eagle. Only Eric Allen (five) has more.— Reuben Frank (@RoobCSN) December 23, 2016
That's Malcolm Jenkins' second pick-6 this season and fourth as an Eagle.— Dave Zangaro (@DZangaroCSN) December 23, 2016
Malcolm Jenkins is the only eagles player to have a pick 6 in 3 straight seasons— Derrick Gunn (@TheRealDGunnCSN) December 23, 2016
First 14-0 Eagles lead since the opener against the Browns— Les Bowen (@LesBowen) December 23, 2016
Per Roob it's the fastest the Eagles have scored 14 points sine Nov. 15, 2010 against Washington at FedEx Field. (DeSean Jackson 88-yard TD from Michael Vick, and Vick a 7-yard TD run in the first 4:35). Eagles won, 59-28.
First quarter: Nelson Agholor, ugh
Quick slant to Agholor, who appeared to have plenty of room to run ... but he dropped the ball.
Everything's going right until the Eagles throw to Nelson Agholor.— Dave Zangaro (@DZangaroCSN) December 23, 2016
First quarter: Sproles screen fizzles
With Allen Barbre and Jason Kelce leading the way, Sproles appeared poised for a big gain on a screen on 3rd-and-7, but Barbre blocked one Giant, and another, corner Trevin Wade went unblocked and upended Sproles a yard shy of the first.
Jason Kelce blocked NOBODY on that screen. #TNF pic.twitter.com/s8aQrJ2zpq— Dan Levy (@DanLevyThinks) December 23, 2016
First quarter: Better lucky than good
On 2nd-and-8 from the Eagles' 17, Manning lofts one to Sterling Shepard, who had gotten by Leodis McKelvin. But as he rushes back to Shepard, the ball glances off McKelvin's helmet and falls incomplete.
Second quarter: Wentz picked by DRC
Wentz scrambles for what seems like forever, avoids a couple sacks, and then throws deep to Bryce Treggs, but former Eagle Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie cuts in front of Treggs to intercept the pass.
Treggs could have come back to the ball to at least attempt to break up the pass.
Wentz now has 14 INTs and 13 TDs. The last Eagle QB to start at least eight games and have more INTs than TDs was Doug Pederson in 1999.— Reuben Frank (@RoobCSN) December 23, 2016
Why in the world is Wentz throwing deep to treggs who didn't even bother to come back to the ball— Derrick Gunn (@TheRealDGunnCSN) December 23, 2016
Wentz is first Eagle QB to throw an INT six straight weeks since Ty Detmer in 1996.— Reuben Frank (@RoobCSN) December 23, 2016
Wentz now has 14 INTs and 13 TDs. The last Eagle QB to start at least eight games and have more INTs than TDs was Doug Pederson in 1999.— Reuben Frank (@RoobCSN) December 23, 2016
Second quarter: Unnecessary roughness??
Wentz runs and slides into Eli Apple, who is braced to make the tackle but holds up once Wentz begins to slide, yet is called for the 15-yard penalty. That's brutal.
Second quarter: Redemption for Agholor
On the next play, Agholor easily finds an opening in the Giants' secondary and makes the catch for a 40-yard touchdown, and the Eagles lead 21-6.
Good for Nelly!— Reuben Frank (@RoobCSN) December 23, 2016
And Agholor bounces back !!!!— Derrick Gunn (@TheRealDGunnCSN) December 23, 2016
That's the longest TD pass by an Eagles wide receiver since Jordan Matthews' 78-yarder from Sam Bradford vs. the Cards Week 14 last year.— Reuben Frank (@RoobCSN) December 23, 2016
Nelson Agholor has the second- and third- longest touchdown catches for the #Eagles this season. A 35-yarder and 40-yarder. His only two.— Dave Zangaro (@DZangaroCSN) December 23, 2016
That was the first touchdown catch by an Eagles wide receiver longer than 5 yards since Week 3.— Reuben Frank (@RoobCSN) December 23, 2016
More reaction to Agholor's second touchdown of the season and first since the opener vs. Cleveland.
Second quarter: Shepard 13-yard touchdown
Lined up against Jenkins in the slot, Shepard chucks Jenkins off the line to get open and catches the touchdown to bring the Giants within 21-13 with 33 seconds left in the half.
Second game in a row Eagles allowed a TD pass in final seconds of first half.— Reuben Frank (@RoobCSN) December 23, 2016
I know Malcolm Jenkins likes being in slot, but I still wonder if they'd be better off using Mills in the slot and keeping their safeties.— Dave Zangaro (@DZangaroCSN) December 23, 2016
Third quarter: Another bad unnecessary roughness call
On 3rd-and-14, DE Olivier Vernon slams Wentz to the turf just after Wentz threw the ball away. Bad call -- Vernon began making the tackle while Wentz had the ball.
Wentz went to the locker room to evaluated for a concussion and was replaced by Chase Daniel. It's the first snap he missed this season. Wentz would clear concussion protocol and return.
Third quarter: 4th-and-goal from the 1
Instead of kicking the chip-shot field goal to extend the lead to eight, Doug Pederson goes for it. Ryan Mathews looks to leap over the line but is engulfed by Giants, doesn't even get off the ground and loses a yard. The Eagles are now 13 for 26 on fourth down this year.
Should've run a jet sweep with Agholor. Gotta give it to the hot hand! https://t.co/bZ5XsOhclS— Jimmy Kempski (@JimmyKempski) December 23, 2016
Fourth quarter: Another pick for Jenkins
Malcolm Jenkins makes a great leaping interception of a pass to the sideline intended for Shepard.
Beautiful read on that int by Jenkins— Derrick Gunn (@TheRealDGunnCSN) December 23, 2016
Had been 4 years since an Eagle had a 2-INT game. Kurt Coleman & DRC both picked off Brandon Weeden twice in the 2012 opener in Cleveland.— Reuben Frank (@RoobCSN) December 23, 2016
The last Eagle with a two-interception game at the Linc was @pick_six22 against Eli and the Giants in 2010.— Reuben Frank (@RoobCSN) December 23, 2016
Fourth quarter: Carson Cunningham
Wentz, in his first play back after returning to the game, made a nice move to escape a sack. Then he topped himself, spinning and ducking away from a pair of Giants and running for 11 yards.
Heck of a move by Wentz on that run— Derrick Gunn (@TheRealDGunnCSN) December 23, 2016
Fourth quarter: Dumb and dumber
Wentz should know better, but a dubious play-call by Doug Pederson here. Agholor takes a pitch from Jordan Matthews for a reverse, and Wentz gets ahead of the plays, dives and throws a block. Not a position you should put your quarterback in, especially a rookie who often puts his body in harm's way and was just evaluated for a concussion.
Yeah, not sure I want my QB blocking Eli Apple five minutes after being examined for a concussion. https://t.co/hn0bOfQezW— Reuben Frank (@RoobCSN) December 23, 2016
Fourth quarter: Caleb Sturgis 41-yard field goal
Sturgis's 33rd field goal ties David Akers' franchise record for most FGs in a season. Dave had 33 in 2008.— Reuben Frank (@RoobCSN) December 23, 2016
Fourth quarter: Odell Beckham Jr. runs all over the place, then take a knee
Beckham takes a short pass, turns on the jets to fly by a few Eagles, spins away from Rodney McLeod and gains 33 yards before realizing he's surrounded by black jerseys and taking a knee. Wow.
That leads to a Robbie Gould 41-yard field goal that cuts the Eagles' lead to 24-19.
Fourth quarter: Nice play Leodis
Manning throws deep to Roger Lewis Jr. in the end zone and McKelvin makes the perfect pass breakup.
Big play from Leodis McKelvin.— Dave Zangaro (@DZangaroCSN) December 23, 2016
Mckelvin made a play on the ball ... go figure— Derrick Gunn (@TheRealDGunnCSN) December 23, 2016
Fourth quarter: First down reversed
Beckham on 3rd-and-4 catches a short pass and holds the ball out trying to get the first down, and gets it. But the Eagles challenge, and call is reversed.
Fourth quarter: 4th down Giants, 2 minutes left
A false start on right guard John Jerry changes a 4th-and-1 to a 4th-and-6 at the Eagles' 37. Manning looks for Shepard, but Nolan Carroll is right there and breaks it up.
Fourth quarter: A deep ball on 3rd-and-5?
Wentz's a bomb down the sideline to Matthews is incomplete, stopping the clock with 1:31 left and saving the Giants from using their last timeout. The Eagles' possession takes up only 23 seconds.
I don't understand that. Throwing is fine, but not that throw.— Dave Zangaro (@DZangaroCSN) December 23, 2016
Why would you make that call ... stop the clock and save the Giants last time out— Derrick Gunn (@TheRealDGunnCSN) December 23, 2016
Fourth quarter: Terrence Brooks seals it
On 3rd-and-10 from the Eagles' 34 with 14 seconds left, Manning lofts a rainbow to Tye, who is standing alone inside the 5. But the ball takes forever to come down, and Brooks steps in front of him for the interception. Game over.
First career INT for Terrence Brooks.— Reuben Frank (@RoobCSN) December 23, 2016
The Giants are 0-4 vs. the Eagles since 2009 when they net 450 yards or more.— Reuben Frank (@RoobCSN) December 23, 2016