Eagles vs. Redskins: Full Report Card Grades for Philadelphia
Frustration can’t begin to describe the feelings of Philadelphia Eagles fans following Saturday’s 27-24 loss to the Washington Redskins. With their season on the line, Chip Kelly and his squad turned in a pitiful performance in every aspect of the game, and at this point, it would take a near-miracle for the Eagles to make the playoffs. Jeff Skversky of WPVI-TV broke down the miraculous set of circumstances the Eagles need to happen:
"Eagles need to WIN next Sunday vs Giants + Eagles need Dallas to Lose Final 2 games to make the playoffs #6abcEaglespic.twitter.com/WgwfGdvcEd
— Jeff Skversky (@JeffSkversky) December 21, 2014"
It’s as if the Eagles had nothing to play for, and the 3-11 Redskins—coming off six consecutive losses—were competing for a division title. NJ.com's Eliot Shorr-Parks described it as Chip Kelly's "worst loss":
"Easily the worst loss of the Chip Kelly era #Eagles
— Eliot Shorr-Parks (@EliotShorrParks) December 21, 2014"
Kelly’s team looked undisciplined. There were simple mistakes made all game. Penalties and missed field goals stole the show. It was an absolutely embarrassing effort by a coach who looked completely overmatched. Martin Frank of the Delaware News Journal provided the Eagles' dismal stats:
"#Eagles 13 penalties, 102 yds. 2 missed FGs. 2 turnovers
— Martin Frank (@Mfranknfl) December 21, 2014"
Where do the Eagles go from here? Theoretically, they could still make the playoffs, but that’s highly unlikely. It’s doubtful anyone would have expected this considering where Philly was just two weeks ago. Eagles Fan Problems noted the negative turn to the Eagles' season:
"Season over. After being 9-3 thirteen days ago. I have absolutely no words.
— Eagles Fan Problems (@EagleFanProbs) December 21, 2014"
It’s not as bad as 1994, when the Eagles were 7-2 and lost seven straight, but this team was way more talented and this team is coached by a should-be offensive genius, not Richie Kotite.
Here's an interesting stat, courtesy of CSNPhilly's Reuben Frank: The last four Eagles head coaches—Andy Reid, Ray Rhodes, Richie Kotite and Buddy Ryan—all made the second round of the playoffs by the end of their second year. Kelly looks to be the exception to that impressive streak.
It will be a long offseason in Philadelphia. Kelly isn’t going anywhere, but the rest of the team will have to be re-evaluated, starting with the quarterback position, where season-long instability was the biggest problem on a week-by-week basis.
Today’s grades will reflect arguably Kelly's most disappointing coaching performance since he reached the NFL level.
Quarterback
1 of 8
What do you expect from Mark Sanchez? He’s a backup quarterback who was thrust into a starting spot, and he moved the ball fairly well for the majority of Saturday’s contest.
The problem is that he continues to commit backbreaking turnovers at the most inopportune times, none more so than his season-ending interception with the Philadelphia Eagles driving to take the lead. Coupled with his sack-fumble on the opening drive, and that’s another multi-turnover game for Sanchez.
He’s now played eight games and turned it over at least twice in five of those. Sadly, Sanchez's turnover rate over the last eight games set an NFL record, per John Clark of CSNPhilly.com:
"Mark Sanchez 13 turnovers over last 8 games is most in NFL over that span. From @EliasSports #Eagles
— John Clark CSN (@JClarkCSN) December 21, 2014"
This bottom stat, per Skversky, shows how ineffective the Eagles’ quarterbacks have been this season in terms of protecting the football:
"Mark Sanchez & Nick Foles have combined for 20 INTs - MOST in the NFL #6abcEagles pic.twitter.com/M5cICxp7CZ
— Jeff Skversky (@JeffSkversky) December 21, 2014"
The rest of Sanchez’s numbers look good. He set a single-game franchise record with 37 completions. He threw the ball 50 times and managed to complete 74 percent of those passes. He was actually the fifth quarterback in NFL history to do that, according to Pro-Football-Reference.com. And his 374 passing yards were the highest total of his career.
At one point during the game, he was playing really well. He converted a 3rd-and-25 with a 26-yarder to Jordan Matthews and then a 3rd-and-15 with a 16-yarder to Darren Sproles. Reuben Frank of CSNPhilly.com noted the eight-year time span since the Eagles converted on three "3rd-and-12s or longer in the same game":
"Last time Eagles converted three 3rd and 12s or longer in same game: 2006 vs. Falcons. AJ Feeley 28 to Baskett, 14 to Schoebel, 27 to G-Lew.
— Reuben Frank (@RoobCSN) December 20, 2014"
Sanchez even ran well with the football, gaining 22 yards on five rushes. That means he accounted for almost 400 yards of total offense on the day, earning the praise of his head coach after the game. EaglesAddict.com passed along Kelly's comments:
"Kelly on Sanchez: "He's a hell of a quarterback. He has all of the things you're looking for. He obviously has an NFL arm" #GoodTimes
— EaglesAddict.com (@Eagles_Addict) December 21, 2014"
Unfortunately, Sanchez reverted back to the old Sanchez when it mattered the most. The Kelly offense did wonders for Sanchez this year in terms of his passing yards and completion percentage; he moved the ball much more efficiently and enjoyed some success. But the bottom line is that his propensity for the game-killing turnovers will (and has) kept him from ever being an effective starter in this league.
Grade: C
Running Backs
2 of 8
This loss is not on the running backs; in fact, this was arguably the finest all-around performance by LeSean McCoy and Darren Sproles.
McCoy looked like the 2013 NFL rushing champion. He rushed 22 times for 88 yards and a touchdown, also catching three passes for 28 yards out of the backfield. That’s 116 total yards on 25 touches for McCoy. Eliot Shorr-Parks described McCoy's performance as looking good:
"One positive from today that is LeSean Mccoy has looked good when given the space. #Eagles
— Eliot Shorr-Parks (@EliotShorrParks) December 20, 2014"
Sproles was utilized as well, carrying four times for 24 yards and catching six passes for 43 yards. That’s 10 total touches for Sproles, his highest single-game total since the Week 2 win over Indianapolis.
The two combined to rush for 112 yards on 26 carries, while also totaling nine receptions for 71 yards (although each player did have a dropped pass). That’s nearly 200 total yards for McCoy and Sproles.
Grade: A-
Wide Receivers/Tight Ends
3 of 8
This starts with Zach Ertz.
After weeks of being underutilized, the Philadelphia Eagles’ second-year tight end broke out in a big way. Ertz finished with a franchise-record 15 catches (a record for any position, not just tight ends) for 115 yards. John Clark points out that Ertz's 15 catches also set an NFL record:
"Zach Ertz 15 catches are 2nd most by TE in NFL since 1960 (Jason Witten in 2012). #Eagles
— John Clark CSN (@JClarkCSN) December 21, 2014"
It was his first career 100-yard game, and it got to the point that the Washington Redskins simply couldn’t cover him.
Where was this all season? It’s tough to explain why Ertz hasn’t been a bigger part of the offense. Chip Kelly likes Brent Celek because he offers a lot as a blocker, but Pro Football Focus (subscription required) actually rates Ertz very favorably as a run-blocker.
Jeremy Maclin had a solid output, catching four passes for 62 yards. One was a spectacular sideline catch, where he dragged his toes to stay inbounds, an "incredible" skill Bleacher Report's Bryn Swartz noted:
"Jeremy Maclin is incredible at getting his feet down. #Eagles
— Bryn Swartz (@eaglescentral) December 21, 2014"
Jordan Matthews had three catches for 57 yards. There was the 26-yarder on 3rd-and-25, and a 22-yard slant later in the game.
The unexpected hero of the game was Riley Cooper, a 2013 one-year wonder who has failed to live up to his hefty contract so far this season. Cooper, who entered the day with just one score, caught a three-yard slant for a touchdown and then hauled in a 16-yarder in the end zone, a play NFLonCBS highlighted:
"Riley Cooper with the awesome catch for the @Eagles#TNFpic.twitter.com/DdG6B2j9dA
— NFLonCBS (@NFLonCBS) December 20, 2014"
Rookie third-rounder Josh Huff had no catches. Veteran tight end Brent Celek had one for 15 yards.
Grade: A-
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Offensive Line
4 of 8
This was an incredibly inadequate performance by a unit that has been so spectacular all year.
All-Pro left tackle Jason Peters was a major liability, twice getting beat for sacks while committing a pair of penalties. Inexplicably, the sacks didn’t come from a Pro Bowler like Ryan Kerrigan; Peters was beat by rookie Jackson Jeffcoat and second-year backup linebacker, Trevardo Williams, as CSNPhilly.com's Geoff Mosher pointed out:
"Jason Peters just beaten by the backup to the backup OLB.
— Geoff Mosher (@GeoffMosherCSN) December 20, 2014"
Right tackle Lane Johnson, the team’s 2013 first-round pick, was equally as ineffective. Johnson was responsible for Kerrigan’s strip-sack on the game’s opening drive, and he committed a pair of penalties himself, once all but holding Kerrigan in a bear hug.
Center Jason Kelce and right guard Andrew Gardner were also flagged for penalties. As a team, the Eagles were called for a ridiculous 13 penalties for 102 yards; it was the first time in four years that happened to a Philadelphia team, according to Pro-Football-Reference.com.
Grade: D-
Defensive Line
5 of 8
It wasn’t the usual dominant performance from the Philadelphia Eagles’ defensive line, largely because inexcusable penalties kept the Washington drives alive.
Fletcher Cox recorded three tackles, a sack and a quarterback hit but was called for an encroachment penalty. Cox has shown consistency in sacking quarterbacks this season, per Eagles public relations manager Brett Strohsacker:
"Fletcher Cox has a sack in three of the last five games and four of the last seven.
— Brett Strohsacker (@BStrohEagles) December 20, 2014"
Vinny Curry had a pair of quarterback hits but also two roughing-the-passer penalties; the latter of which pushed Washington even closer to the game-winning field goal.
Cedric Thornton and Bennie Logan played a big role in holding Alfred Morris to just 4.0 yards per carry on 21 rushes; as a team, Washington averaged 3.4 yards on 29 rushes. Fullback Darrel Young came up big, though, carrying twice and scoring each time on a one-yard touchdown run.
Grade: C
Linebackers
6 of 8
In each of the last six games, the Washington offensive line had allowed five or more sacks, and quarterback Robert Griffin III entered the contest getting sacked on a whopping 15.7 percent of dropbacks.
So the fact that the Philadelphia Eagles only picked up two sacks is frustrating. Mychal Kendricks had the lone sack from the linebacking crew; he had himself a strong game, though (except for the awful angle he took on Alfred Morris’ early 28-yard touchdown run).
Kendricks lined up at outside linebacker and beat Trent Williams for the sack. Kendricks led the team with 10 tackles, also picking up two tackles for a loss, a pass defensed and two quarterback hits.
With Trent Cole out due to a broken hand, Brandon Graham got the start, his first start since 2012. Graham had six tackles and two quarterback hits, working against an obviously injured Williams, but he didn’t register a sack and was called for a penalty.
Connor Barwin had four tackles but was also hit with a penalty, his being an offside penalty with just one minute and 18 seconds left.
Grade: C-
Secondary
7 of 8
Do you blame Bradley Fletcher for his inability to cover top receivers or do you blame Philadelphia Eagles’ defensive coordinator Billy Davis for his maddening insistence on leaving his oft-burned cornerback in one-on-one situations?
After Jordy Nelson beat Fletcher for a pair of touchdowns in Week 11 and Dez Bryant lit him up for three scores last week, Davis left Fletcher alone on DeSean Jackson for the majority of Saturday’s contest. It’s as if Davis is seeing something the rest of us aren’t seeing. Kevin Cooney of Calkins Media described Davis' action as "the definition of insanity":
"The definition of insanity is keeping Bradley Fletcher on single coverage
— Kevin Cooney (@KevinCooney) December 20, 2014"
Jackson beat Fletcher for a 51-yarder and then a 55-yarder later on, as pointed out by Skversky; that’s now three 50-plus yard catches for Jackson this year against his old team:
"DeSean Jackson has a 55 yard catch & 51 yard catch over Bradley Fletcher today #6abcEaglespic.twitter.com/oy9Y3XjfZT
— Jeff Skversky (@JeffSkversky) December 20, 2014"
Finally, with the season on the line, Davis smartened up and made "the move," according to Jeff McLane of The Philadelphia Inquirer; he benched Fletcher for dime cornerback Nolan Carroll:
"Bill Davis finally made the move. Took only 15 games. #Eagles
— Jeff McLane (@Jeff_McLane) December 20, 2014"
When the Eagles went to a dime defense and Fletcher had to come back in, Davis put safety Nate Allen back to help out, and remarkably, Robert Griffin III’s deep pass to Jackson was picked off by Allen. One can only wonder how this game or last game would have been different had Davis tried that strategy sooner.
Per Pro Football Focus, Fletcher has now passed the 1,000-yard mark in yards allowed via coverage, and he entered the day having surrendered an NFL-worst nine touchdowns. He’s a free agent who won’t be back in Philadelphia in 2015.
It should be noted that Fletcher did make a nice play with just 2:54 left in the game when he knocked down a third-down pass, although ironically, Fletcher seemed to have no idea where the ball was on the pass, a play John Clark chimed in on:
"Bradley Fletcher pass defensed. Off helmet! #Eaglespic.twitter.com/74usFWytOu
— John Clark CSN (@JClarkCSN) December 21, 2014"
Fletcher’s cornerback partner, Cary Williams, held up fairly well in coverage against Pierre Garcon, until Garcon beat Williams for a 23-yarder down the right sideline on the Redskins’ first play of the game-winning drive.
In typical Williams fashion he was also flagged for a completely ridiculous penalty, this one being a 15-yard unsportsmanlike-conduct penalty that extended a Washington drive after they were even stopped on third down. Philly.com's Sheil Kapadia passed along Williams' penalty details for the "last five quarters":
"Four penalties for Cary Williams in last five quarters: 2 in red zone, 1 negated a sack, 1 was a 40-yard pass interference call.
— Sheil Kapadia (@SheilKapadia) December 20, 2014"
At safety, Allen had a huge interception, his third such in seven games, but it came too little, too late for the Eagles. Veteran Malcolm Jenkins dropped what would have been at least a 90-yard pick-six, one the Eagles definitely could have used.
Allowing Griffin to pass for 220 yards on 9.6 yards per attempt shows Philly’s complete inability to stop the passing attack, and what’s most frustrating is that half of those yards came from a player the Eagles could have had if they had just kept him on the roster.
Grade: F
Special Teams
8 of 8
Cody Parkey has had a marvelous season, having missed just two field goals all year until this game. For any kicker, that’s a Pro Bowl-caliber year; for a rookie kicker who was undrafted and acquired via trade as almost an afterthought, it’s miraculous.
But Parkey really hurt the Philadelphia Eagles Saturday. He’s clearly not healthy, despite what he may say, describing himself as being "100%," per Eliot Shorr Parks.
"Cody Parkey told me he is 100% now. No longer feeling any pain from groin injury. #Eagles
— Eliot Shorr-Parks (@EliotShorrParks) December 20, 2014"
Parkey missed a 34-yarder wide right. He hooked a 46-yarder way to the right, with the Eagles curiously deciding to pass up a 4th-and-1 attempt, despite Parkey having already missed an easy field goal and his kickoffs being noticeably short. Do the math: The Eagles really could have used those six points.
Per Zach Berman of The Philadelphia Inquirer, despite the unfortunate events of this matchup, Parkey says he's "still confident":
"Parkey: “It sucks. Still confident in my abilities. ...There’s high and lows in this game. Unfortunately, this is very low for me.”
— Zach Berman (@ZBerm) December 21, 2014"
Punter Donnie Jones shanked his first punt, a 33-yarder, but then he booted a 39-yarder inside the Washington 10.
Josh Huff and Darren Sproles were average in the returning game. Trey Burton made a terrific play when he stopped the Redskins’ final kickoff at the 50, although the ensuing Hail Mary fell incomplete. And credit to both Malcolm Jenkins (forced fumble) and Nolan Carroll (recovered the fumble) for getting the ball from Washington on the opening kickoff of the second half.
Grade: D-
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