Eagles vs. Commanders: The good, the bad, and the ugly

The Who Cares Bowl took a serious turn on Sunday. The Detroit Lions’ Jake Bates was kicking a walk off field goal in Chicago, while Tanner McKee was floating a pass over the head of an open Kylen Granson on a fourth-and-three play with 1:17 left in the Eagles’ game against the visiting Washington Commanders at Lincoln Financial Field.

In that moment, the Eagles’ best possible playoff scenario was squelched in a 24-17 loss in which the Eagles not only lost a game, but lost the No. 2 seed in the NFC after the Lions gifted them a 19-16 win in Chicago.

So instead of an extra home playoff game, the No. 3-seeded Eagles will host the No. 6 San Francisco 49ers, a far more dangerous team to face than what would have been the alternative leaking Green Bay Packers, losers of their last four games.

Honestly, this game carried the aura of a junior varsity game played on a Monday afternoon, but when the takes grew grave, it was too late to recoil and do something about it. The Eagles were sloppy, drawing nine penalties for a whooping season-high 123 yards, three of which were pass interference calls in the end zone that led to two of Washington’s three touchdowns.

The Eagles backups were beaten by 39-year-old Commanders’ third-string quarterback Josh Johnson, who has played in so many different leagues and on so many different teams, many of them do not even exist.   

It did not get in the way of the Eagles blowing an incredible opportunity.

McKee did not help his stock, completing 21 of 40 for 241 yards, with a touchdown and an interception. McKee made a critical interception late in the first half, went against his strengths by scrambling out of the pocket too often, and overthrew many receivers, including the big fourth down to Granson late in the fourth quarter.

The Eagles’ defense was sturdy for most of the game, before breaking down late to allow Washington two fourth-quarter touchdowns.

A week ago, after beating a very good Buffalo team, in Buffalo, the Eagles appeared to get their mojo back. Now, the backups may have made the road to repeat as Super Bowl champions a tad more difficult.  

There was a pile of good, some bad and a large portion of ugly in the Eagles’ 24-17 loss to the Washington Commanders.

The Good

The Eagles third drive of the second half. It resulted in a Jake Elliott 39-yard field with 30 ticks left in the third quarter. More importantly, it gave the Eagles a 17-10 lead entering the fourth quarter, the largest difference to that point of the game, while Detroit was clinging to a 16-8 lead in Chicago.

Trotter breaking through to pressure Johnson on a third-and-eight at the Washington 38 with less than five minutes left in the third quarter, which forced an incompletion.

Tank Bigsby rushing for a game-high 75 yards on 16 carries, including a two-yard touchdown on a third-and-goal with 6:27 left in the third quarter. It gave the Eagles a 14-10 lead with Detroit leading Chicago, 16-0, late in the third quarter. On the touchdown, left guard Brett Toth, who seems to play every other backup position well aside from center, kicked out Commanders’ safety Will Harris creating a lane for Bigsby.    

Jalyx Hunt’s third interception this season. It was another amazing play by Hunt, who is quietly establishing himself as one of the Eagles impact players. This was a diving effort on a second-and-seven with 1:53 left in the first half at the Washington 22. Unfortunately, the Eagles threw the ball right back three plays later. Hunt later recovered a fumble on the Commanders’ second possession of the second half at the Commanders’ 28. It led to the Eagles taking a 14-10 lead with 10:52 left in the third quarter.  

Bigsby’s 32-yard reception with 6:22 left in the first half to the Washington 14. The Eagles blew the chance by turning the ball over on downs to the Commanders when they had the ball sitting at the six. Facing a third-and-two, McKee threw a pair of incomplete passes for nothing.

The Eagles’ second drive, which resulted in McKee’s 15-yard, second-quarter touchdown pass to tight end Grant Calcaterra, his first TD catch this season. The Eagles converted two third downs, including the touchdown pass.

The Eagles’ defense on Washington’s first drive. The Commanders drove to the Eagles’ six, and the Eagles forced Washington into a Jake Moody 24-yard field attempt, which ponged off the right upright for a scoreless game.

DeVonta Smith’s 17-yard reception on the first play of the game. Smith entered the game needing 44 yards to reach the 1,000-yard mark receiving for the third time in the last four years. Smith wound up getting there on a 27-yard reception on the last play of the first quarter. The catch came on a third-and-one play and placed the Eagles at the Commanders’ 33, on their way to the first touchdown of the game. Smith came out right after the catch.

The Bad

The Eagles going three-and-out in response to Washington tying the score 17-17 with 8:37 left to play.

Will Shipley’s drop on the Eagles’ second drive on a second-and-seven at the Commanders’ 15. It went right through Shipley’s hands. Fortunately, McKee hit Calcaterra the following play for a touchdown.

The Ugly

Kelee Ringo literally looking the other way when Josh Johnson rolled left for the go-ahead, fourth-quarter score with 2:32 left to play. The score came on third-and-goal. Johnson’s one-yard score was a bootleg left, after he faked a handoff. As he rolled left, Ringo was coming at Johnson from the end zone, then inexplicably stopped and looked for a receiver to cover, completely abandoning Johnson, who waltzed into the end zone untouched. Why would Ringo look for someone to cover when there was no one else to tackle Johnson? It was an incredibly poor decision, which no doubt drove Eagles’ defensive coordinator Vic Fangio nuts—and resulted in the Eagles losing the game.

There is a reason why Sydney Brown has sunken down the depth chart. On Washington’s tying fourth-quarter touchdown from Johnson to John Bates, Jihaad Campbell did get caught looking inside, but Brown never even bothered covering Bates slipping through the line of scrimmage until it was too late. Campbell was primarily at fault, but Brown did nothing to pick up Bates, either, as he ran by him.

Rookie corner Mac McWilliams’ 29-yard interference call in the end zone with 11:55 to play. McWilliams was running with Deebo Samuel and had no idea the ball was thrown. It was the second time the Eagles were flagged for a 29-yard interference call that led to a second Commanders’ touchdown. The first flag came in the second quarter.

McKee throwing an interception to Jemery Reaves at the goal line with 48 seconds left in the first half. McKee did not even see Reaves. The turnover led to Washington closing the first half with a field goal and 10-7 lead.

The Eagles blowing a red zone chance to score on their third drive. The goal was to win the game, not get bold and try for a touchdown on a fourth-and-two at the Commanders’ six. Chicago was struggling with Detroit at the time, and the Eagles were still in contention for the NFC’s No. 2 seed. A 10-7 lead would have certainly helped toward that goal. There is a myriad of positives Nick Sirianni has done to highlight one of the most successful runs in Eagles’ history, but his over aggression and outthinking himself are not among his most attractive features sometimes as a head coach. Every once in a while, it is good to keep it simple: Play to win the game.   

Cornerback Jakorian Bennett kind of had a tough day. The backup was called for a holding call on Washington’s first drive, flagged for trying to tackle Terry McLaurin on a second-and-eight at the Washington 44. But the bigger blow came when Bennett was called for pass interference on Washington’s second drive, a crucial third-and-nine at the Eagles’ 24. The 23-yard pass interference call on Traylon Burks in the end zone led to Washington’s first score and a 7-7 tie with 9:03 left in the first half. It looked like the Eagles would hold, when Bennett had no idea the ball was coming his way. He had a two-handed grip on Burks’ left arm. Two plays later, Washington scored. With 11:11 to play, Bennett was called for second interference call in the end zone, which Washington once again used to tie the score.