EAGLES WIN!
"I am really happy about how we persevered and how resilient we were today," Hurts said. "I am happy we won."
The Philadelphia Eagles swept the season series against the Washington Commanders on Sunday, winning a close game by a score of 38-31. The game was played in front of a raucous road crowd at FedEx Field in Landover, Maryland.
Jalen Hurts had a stellar game for the Eagles, throwing for four touchdowns and 256 yards. A.J. Brown caught two of those touchdowns, finishing with 105 yards receiving. Reed Blankenship also had a big game for the Eagles, intercepting a pass in the fourth quarter that changed the momentum of the game.
The Eagles got off to a hot start, scoring 21 points in the first quarter. However, the Commanders battled back, scoring 17 points of their own in the second quarter to tie the game at 21-21 at halftime.
The Eagles regained the lead in the third quarter on a touchdown pass from Hurts to Brown. The Commanders answered with a field goal to make it 28-24.
The Eagles extended their lead to 35-24 in the fourth quarter on another touchdown pass from Hurts to Brown. However, the Commanders came back once again, scoring a touchdown of their own to make it 35-31.
With less than two minutes remaining in the game, the Commanders had a chance to tie the game or take the lead. However, Blankenship intercepted a pass from Carson Wentz to seal the victory for the Eagles.
First Quarter
- The Commanders wasted no time getting on the board, scoring a touchdown on just their third play of the game. Brian Robinson Jr. rumbled for 29 yards to set up the score, and Sam Howell found Terry McLaurin for a 26-yard touchdown pass. The drive took less than a minute, and the Commanders took a 7-0 lead.
- The Eagles’ drive stalled in Washington territory, but Jake Elliott was able to salvage three points with a 51-yard field goal. The 11-play drive covered 42 yards, and Jalen Hurts made big passes to A.J. Brown and DeVonta Smith to move the offense down the field.
Second Quarter
- The Commanders were on the move as Howell connected with Jahan Dotson across the middle for a wide-open score. This 21-yard touchdown pass followed a personal foul penalty, which had pushed the Commanders back to their own 30-yard line just two plays earlier. At this point in the game, the Commanders led 14-3 over the Eagles.
- The Eagles were driving for a touchdown, but Kenneth Gainwell fumbled at the Washington 4-yard line, giving the ball back to the Commanders. Kamren Curl forced the fumble and Phidarian Mathis recovered. A.J. Brown had 57 receiving yards on the drive.
- The defense came through when it mattered most. On a crucial fourth-and-1 play from the Philadelphia 35-yard line, James Bradberry made a significant impact by breaking up a pass that was intended for McLaurin.
- Touchdown! A.J. Brown’s incredible performance leaves us in awe. With an outstanding one-handed catch in the front corner of the end zone, he secured a 16-yard touchdown. The Eagles swiftly advanced down the field in just 1 minute and 14 seconds, with significant contributions from Brown, Gainwell, and DeVonta Smith, bringing the score to 14-10, favoring the Commanders.
- “I actually replicated that exact move during Friday’s practice,” Brown mentioned. “It happened in the same corner of the field, with everything aligning perfectly.”
- The Commanders rapidly advanced down the field in just 33 seconds, positioning themselves within field goal range. Although Joey Slye’s field goal attempt was momentarily delayed due to a false start penalty, it proved inconsequential. He successfully converted a 61-yard kick with just one second remaining, setting a new record for the longest field goal in Washington’s history and marking the longest field goal of Slye’s career. This brought the score to 17-10, in favor of the Commanders.
Third Quarter
- On the Washington 1-yard line, Hurts had a costly fumble during the Brotherly Shove, surrendering possession to the Commanders. It marked the second time the Eagles’ offense had fumbled inside the opponent’s 5-yard line. Yet another nearly successful touchdown opportunity ended in a fumble on the ensuing play.
- Brown expressed, “The defense bailed us out, but we still need to address the finer details. We’re continually improving and putting in the work.”
- Britain Covey had an impressive 25-yard punt return, placing the Eagles in excellent field position at the Philadelphia 49-yard line.
- And then, a TOUCHDOWN! Once again, it was Brown who came through, making an incredible catch on a fantastic throw by Hurts. Brown rose above two defenders, securing the football, and powered his way over the goal line for his second touchdown of the day. Smith’s crucial 17-yard reception on fourth-and-4 kept the Philadelphia drive alive. The score now stood at Eagles 17 – Commanders 17.
Fourth Quarter
- In the fourth quarter, the Commanders made their mark with a successful drive. Logan Thomas managed to secure a pass from Howell on third down, beating Reed Blankenship with a well-executed slant route. This score put the Commanders ahead at 24, with the Eagles trailing at 17.
- During the same quarter, Brown added to his impressive streak with a 16-yard catch, becoming the first player in NFL history to achieve six consecutive games with 125 or more receiving yards. Last week, he equaled Calvin Johnson’s record of five consecutive games with 125 or more yards.
- Reflecting on his performance, Brown humbly stated, “I’m still putting in the work. There will come a time when I can sit back and appreciate it, but for now, it’s all about focusing on our big matchup with Dallas. We’ve got more work to do.”
- Hurts praised Brown’s consistency, saying, “He’s doing some remarkable things out there. He’s playing at an exceptionally high level, and it’s no surprise given his work ethic, offseason dedication, and his strong motivation. I’m proud of him, both as a friend and as a quarterback.”
- The Eagles responded swiftly with a TOUCHDOWN! Hurts found Smith wide-open on the far side of the field, allowing him to stroll into the end zone for a 38-yard touchdown. This 3:16 drive was a rapid reply to the Commanders’ recent score, leveling the score at Eagles 24 – Commanders 24.
- Sirianni commended Jalen’s performance, saying, “Jalen played exceptionally well. His ability in the pocket is shining, and I thought he played outstanding today.”
- Interception! Reed Blankenship, aboard the Blankenship, managed to snatch Howell’s pass out of the air, marking his first interception since Week 3. To sweeten the deal, a Washington penalty was tacked on at the end of the play, positioning the Eagles at the Washington 7-yard line.
- “We were simply biding our time for the right moment to strike, and it finally presented itself,” Blankenship remarked. “Crucial moments like that demand you make a decisive play on the ball.”
- Touchdown! It’s the moment we’ve all been waiting for! Julio Jones secured his inaugural touchdown as an Eagle. Jalen Hurts, who had already thrown four touchdown passes in the game, pinpointed the veteran wide receiver in the heart of the end zone. This score materialized just two plays after Blankenship’s interception, propelling the Eagles to a 31-24 lead over the Commanders.
- “That play had been in the works during our practice sessions,” Jones revealed. “It couldn’t have been executed any better. They played exactly as we had seen on film, and we executed it flawlessly.”
- Defense! The Commanders stumbled on their attempt to convert on fourth down beyond midfield. Howell’s consecutive low passes were fumbled by McLaurin.
- Sack! The Eagles’ closer, Haason Reddick, came through when it counted. He sacked Howell on fourth down, dislodging the ball in the process. Although Washington managed to recover the ball, it was irrelevant given the down situation. Once again, the Eagles took possession on downs, this time deep in the red zone.
- “I play the game until the final seconds tick away,” Reddick affirmed. “It’s all about willpower, desire, and sheer determination.”
- Touchdown! D’Andre Swift reached the end zone with a cleverly executed “Brotherly Shove” play, extending the Eagles’ lead to two scores. The Philadelphia native managed to amass 57 rushing yards and a touchdown in the game, quite a leap from his mere 3 yards at halftime. (Eagles 38 – Commanders 24)
- “It was a gritty, hard-fought game, just as we expected,” Swift commented. “Their defense put up a great fight.”
- The Commanders wasted no time in responding to Swift’s touchdown, marching down the field in just four plays covering 72 yards. Howell connected with Jameson Crowder in the corner of the end zone, where the receiver made an extraordinary diving catch. (Eagles 38 – Commanders 31)
- With the onside kick successfully recovered, the Eagles took a knee to close out the game.
Game Leaders
Passing
PHI QB Jalen Hurts: 29/38, 318 yards, 4 TD
WAS QB Sam Howell: 39/54, 397 yards, 4 TD, 1 INT
Rushing
PHI RB D’Andre Swift: 16 rushes, 57 yards, 1 TD
WAS RB Brian Robinson Jr: 10 rushes, 59 yards
Receiving
PHI WR A.J. Brown: 8 rec., 130 yards, 2 TD
WAS WR Jahan Dotson: 8 rec., 108 yards, 1 TD
Defense
PHI LB Nakobe Dean: 12 tackles, 2 TFL
PHI S Reed Blankenship: 8 tackles, 1 INT, 1 PD
PHI LB Haason Reddick: 3 tackles, 2 QBH, 1 Sack, 1 FF
WAS LB David Mayo: 9 tackles
WAS S Kam Curl: 7 tackles, 1 PD, 1 FF
WAS DE Montez Sweat: 5 tackles, 2 TFL, 1 Sack
Kicking
PHI K Jake Elliott: 1/1 FG, 5/5 PAT, 8 Points
WAS K Joey Slye: 1/1 FG, 4/4 PAT, 7 Points