Kirk Cousins passes for 427 yards, but Eagles top Redskins, 37-34, in fiesty affair
Kirk Cousins passes for 427 yards, but Eagles top Redskins, 37-34, in fiesty affair
(about 2 hours later)
After losing two starters to injury and a third in a fourth-quarter brawl, the Washington Redskins still had a chance to topple the NFL’s top-ranked offense Sunday on the home turf of their most reviled NFC East foe.
PHILADELPHIA — After losing two starters to injury and a third in a fourth-quarter brawl, the Washington Redskins still had a chance to outscore the NFL’s top-ranked offense Sunday on the home turf of a reviled NFC East foe.
Trailing by three points just before the two-minute warning sounded, Redskins quarterback Kirk Cousins had the ball and the gift of field position.
Trailing by three points just before the two-minute warning, quarterback Kirk Cousins had the ball and the gift of field position.
But four plays netted zero yards — a run for no gain and three incompletions.
But four plays netted zero yards — a run for no gain and three incompletions. With it, the Redskins (1-2) suffered a gut-wrenching 37-34 defeat to the Philadelphia Eagles (3-0) — a loss that proved more costly than most.
With it, the Redskins (1-2) suffered a gut-wrenching 37-34 defeat to the Philadelphia Eagles (3-0) — a loss that proved more costly than most.
Helped off the field during the mean-spirited slugfest were Washington cornerback DeAngelo Hall, who suffered an Achilles’ injury, and starting left guard Shawn Lauvao. Booted off the field was defensive end Chris Baker, ejected for decking Philadelphia quarterback Nick Foles with a shoulder slam in the mayhem that followed what looked like an interception, touching off the brawl.
Helped off the field over the course of the mean-spirited slugfest were Washington cornerback DeAngelo Hall, with an Achilles’ injury, and guard Shawn Lauvao.
Cousins, starting in place of the injured Robert Griffin III, threw for a career-high 427 yards, three touchdowns and one interception, spreading the ball among eight gratified recipients. Both Redskins starting wide receivers topped the 100-yard mark. Pierre Garcon caught 11 balls for 138 yards. DeSean Jackson, in an emotional return to Philadelphia, which had cut him without explanation six months earlier, exacted his revenge with an 81-yard touchdown reception that knotted the score at 27.
And defensive end Chris Baker was ejected in the brawl for decking Philadelphia quarterback Nick Foles, with mayhem ensuing.
“He’s a lightning strike waiting to happen,” Cousins said of Jackson, who streaked downfield to haul in a bomb from Cousins, who anticipated his speed perfectly. Jackson shook off one Philadelphia defender, then spun around just before stepping into the end zone to stare down a second.
Cousins, starting in place of the injured Robert Griffin III, threw for a career-high 427 yards, three touchdowns and one interception. And both Redskins starting wide receivers topped the 100-yard mark; Pierre Garcon had 138; DeSean Jackson, 117.
But the personal heroics amounted to naught in the face of Philadelphia’s quick-strike offense, which proved more than the Redskins’ improved defense could contain.
But the personal heroics amounted to naught in the face of Philadelphia’s quick-strike offense, which proved more than the Redskins’ improved defense could contain.
The Redskins entered the game boasting the NFL’s top-ranked defense, allowing just 254.6 yards per game, and riding a muscular high from its 10-sack performance in last weekend’s 41-10 rout of Jacksonville.
The Eagles brandished the top-ranked offense, averaging 439 yards and 32 points per outing.
Washington’s defense knew it was in for a long afternoon — not simply because of the productivity of the Eagles offense but because of its exhausting tempo.
Second-year Coach Chip Kelly favors a no huddle, hurry-up style even when there’s no need to hurry. His offense relies heavily on screen passes that coax hulking defensive linemen forward then burn them with quick passes to speedy, sure-handed backs.
The challenge for the Redskins defenders was to contain the Eagles offense — which defensive end Jason Hatcher in jest predicted would include 100,000 plays — without exhausting themselves in the process.
The game represented a homecoming for Jackson, who was unceremoniously cut in March after his sixth and most productive season in Philadelphia. Four days later, Washington signed the three-time Pro Bowl honoree to a three-year contract.
So it was fitting that Jackson knotted the score at 27 each in spectacular fashion, streaking downfield to haul in a bomb from Cousins, who anticipated his speed perfectly, shook off one Philadelphia defender then spun around just before stepping into the end zone to stare down a second defender in hopeless pursuit.
The enmity between the division rivals was palpable from the start, with 15-yard penalties slapped on each team on the opening drive. Eagles fans booed Jackson the first time he touched the ball; later, Garcon was called for taunting.
The enmity between the division rivals was palpable from the start, with 15-yard penalties slapped on each team on the opening drive. Eagles fans booed Jackson the first time he touched the ball; later, Garcon was called for taunting.
Cousins managed the noise and nerves exceptionally well, marching the Redskins down the field on a time-consuming drive in which he didn’t miss a throw. He capped it with a 4-yard completion to fullback Darrel Young to take a 7-0 lead with 8:42 remaining.
Cousins managed the noise and nerves exceptionally well, marching the Redskins down the field on a time-consuming drive in which he didn’t miss a throw. He capped it with a 4-yard completion to fullback Darrel Young to take a 7-0 lead with remaining in the first quarter.
The good feeling lasted 14 seconds. That’s how long it took Philadelphia’s Chris Polk to run back the kickoff 102 yards for a touchdown. Brandon Meriweather had a shot at bringing him down but missed. Exceptionally well blocked for, Polk met no resistance the rest of the way.
The good feeling lasted 14 seconds. That’s how long it took Philadelphia’s Chris Polk to run back the kickoff 102 yards for a touchdown. Washington’s Brandon Meriweather, making his season debut after serving a two-game suspension for an illegal hit in the preseason, had a shot at bringing him down but missed. Polk, who was well blocked for, met no resistance the rest of the way.
Backed up to the 13 on the next possession, Cousins handed off to Morris to get the Redskins in safer territory. Then he took to the air with a 37-yard completion to Niles Paul and a well-placed 10-yard throw just over Jackson’s shoulder. With Alfred Morris squelched on the 3, Cousins fired a 4-yard strike to Garcon that put Washington up, 14-7.
Backed up to the 13 on the next possession, Cousins remained sharp through the air, hitting tight end Niles Paul with a 37-yard completion and nicely placing a 10-yard throw just over Jackson’s shoulder, in easy reach. With running back Alfred Morris squelched on the 3, Cousins followed with a 4-yard strike to Garcon that put Washington up, 14-7.
To that point, Cousins was 12 of 13 for 124 yards and two touchdowns.
To that point, Cousins was 12 of 13 for 124 yards and two touchdowns.
The game was nearly 13 minutes old before Washington’s defense stepped on the field. Foles marched his team into the red zone, but Redskins Bashaud Breeland forced a fumble by Darren Sproles, which DeAngelo Hall recovered.
Trailing 27-20, Gruden dialed up the bomb that Jackson hauled in for the 81-yard score.
Washington came away with a field goal on the ensuing possession, a 49-yarder by Kai Forbath, and a 17-7 lead.
The brawl followed soon after. Foles had thrown what looked like an interception, scooped up by Bashaud Breeland. In the frenzy to bring him down, Baker slammed Foles to the ground, explaining afterward he saw only a green jersey — not realizing the blocker was Philadelphia’s quarterback. Philadelphia left tackle Jason Peters threw a punch, and the fracas was on, with the players from both teams swarming and swinging at one another.
Philadelphia’s offense finally got on the board in the second quarter. Foles’ first throw — a screen pass to Jeremy Maclin that duped Redskins defenders for an 80-yard gain — was negated by a penalty. So the Eagles started over, breaking off yardage 10 and 20 yards at a time until Foles hit rookie wide receiver Jordan Matthews in the end zone for his first career touchdown. With it, the Eagles closed the gap to 17-14.
The running yards were hard to come by Washington, with defenders smothering Morris time and again. Cousins pressed on through the air. On a third and 2, he fired a difficult, low ball to Garcon, who couldn’t hang on. That brought up Forbath, who was true from 44 yards to extend Washington’s lead to 20-14 with 1:15 remaining in the first half.
Foles got the job done for Philadelphia in less than that, firing completions before Washington’s defense could react: Foles hit seven of eight throws — inlcuding a 26-yarder to Maclin — on a scoring drive capped by yet another strike to the rookie Matthews, who slipped between coverage by Keenan Robinson and Meriweather.
With it, the Eagles took a 21-20 lead at the half.
A pass interference call on Washington’s E.J. Biggers gave the Eagles a huge assist to open the second half, and they tacked another field goal onto their lead.
And the magic Cousins had worked in the first half got tougher to summon, with Eagles defenders anticipating his short throws underneath. The Redskins had back-to-back possessions that fizzled on three-and-outs.
Worse, they sandwiched a costly defensive stand in which Philadelphia got another field goal and cornerback DeAngelo Hall suffered a game-ending Achilles’ injury.
Trailing 27-20, Gruden dialed up a bomb. Cousins dropped back and heaved the ball to Jackson, who streaked 81 yards for a touchdown chased by a sweet drink of revenge, having scored against the team that cut him six months earlier.
Cousins fired another beauty — a 43-yarder that plopped into Garcon’s hands as he was flanked by two Eagle defenders. It carried Washington to Philadelphia’s 12. But the drive stalled on a side-spinning throw under duress that Jackson had no hope of catching.
Then came the brawl. Foles had thrown what looked like an interception, scooped up by Bashaud Breeland. On the return, Washington’s Chris Baker threw all of his 325 pounds into a shoulder slam that decked the quarterback. Philadelphia left tackle Jason Peters threw a punch, and the fracas was on, with the players from both teams swarming and swinging at one another.
“Both teams are directed to their benches! Both teams are directed to their benches!” the official ordered after several minutes’ delay.
“Both teams are directed to their benches! Both teams are directed to their benches!” the official ordered after several minutes’ delay.
In the end, there was no interception at all. And each team lost a starter, with Baker and Peters ejected.
In the end, there had been no interception at all, and each team lost a starter, with Baker and Peters ejected.
It was mostly Philadelphia from there.
Meriweather got burned on yet another Foles touchdown throw — a 27-yard strike to Jeremy Maclin that broke the tie.
Meriweather got burned on yet another Foles touchdown throw — a 27-yard strike to Maclin that broke the tie.
Cousins’s reply was his first interception of the game, a throw to a well-covered Paul that Philadelphia converted to a field goal that extended its lead to 37-27.
Cousins’s reply was his first interception of the game, a throw to a well-covered Niles Paul that Philadelphia converted to a field goal that extended its lead 37-27.
Cousins hit Roy Helu Jr. for a 55-yard gain, then followed up with Roberts, who stretched the catch to the one. Helu carried it in for the score, keeping the game close, 37-34.
Cousins hit Roy Helu Jr. for a 55-yard gain, then followed up with Roberts, who stretched the catch to the one. Helu mopped up, keeping the game in check, trailing 37-34. But the offense came up short on the final possesion.
But Washington’s offense, which had been prolific all day, stalled on the final possession.
Cousins shouldered responsibility.
“To get a first down, get in field goal range, there is nobody to point the finger at on that except me,” Cousins said. “We’ve got to get in field goal range, and that goes back to the quarterback.”
Redskins Coach Jay Gruden declared it a shared responsibility.
“We had plenty of chances offensively to do something: we threw a pick, we had the ball at the 40-yard line down three with four chances to get 10 yards and we couldn’t do that,” Gruden said. “Defensively, we missed some assignments again and gave up big plays, and special teams.
“ . . . We all had our hand in this — coaching, as well — in this defeat.”
