Doug Pederson defends decision to kick late FG vs. Rams
The Eagles had a choice between declining a penalty and taking the made field goal to put them within five points, or accepting it in order to go for it on fourth-and-3 from the Rams' 10-yard line.
Doug Pederson said the Eagles' momentum led to his decision to kick a late field goal over going for it on fourth down in the fourth quarter of Sunday's loss.Read moreYONG KIM / Staff Photographer
Doug Pederson put his trust in the Eagles' defense, and they let him down.
During the fourth quarter of the Eagles' 37-19 loss to the Los Angeles Rams on Sunday, Pederson had a decision to make. Rams special-teams player Nick Scott jumped offside on a Jake Elliott field goal, giving the Eagles the choice between declining the penalty and taking the three points to put them within five points, or accepting the penalty and go for it on fourth-and-3 from the Rams' 10-yard line.
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With 12 minutes, 7 seconds left in the fourth quarter, Pederson decided to take the three points and put his defense in a position to make a stop, something the group struggled to do for most of the game up to that point.
“At that time, we had some momentum,” Pederson said. “We took the ball down the field. It’s going to be like a fourth-and-3 I believe, and I wanted to keep it to a one-score game at that particular point. I thought we had some momentum and made the choice to keep the points on the board.”
Pederson’s defense was not up for the challenge, though. The Rams responded with a three-play, 75-yard touchdown drive highlighted by a 40-yard run by Rams running back Darrell Henderson and a 28-yard touchdown catch from Jared Goff to tight end Tyler Higbee.
The Rams' touchdown buried the Eagles, who went down, 31-19, as the game was essentially cemented.
“Just not in our gaps,” Eagles safety Rodney McLeod said about what caused the explosive drive. “It was nothing the Rams did. It was all self-inflicted and us not being where we needed to be. We can’t give up explosive runs or explosive passes. ... We just had to have good eyes and [play] disciplined football. That’s what this game was today, and we were the undisciplined team.”
Los Angeles Rams running back Darrell Henderson (right) fights off a tackle from Eagles cornerback Darius Slay (left) in the 4th quarter. Philadelphia Eagles lose 37-19 to the Los Angeles Rams in Philadelphia, Pa. on September 20, 2020.Read moreDAVID MAIALETTI / Staff Photographer
Eagles tight end Dallas Goedert (left) could not hang on to a pass as Los Angeles Rams cornerback Jalen Ramsey (right) defends on the play in the 4th quarter. Philadelphia Eagles lose 37-19 to the Los Angeles Rams in Philadelphia, Pa. on September 20, 2020.Read moreDAVID MAIALETTI / Staff Photographer
Eagles quarterback Carson Wentz walks off the field during a break in the action in the 4th quarter against the Rams. Philadelphia Eagles lose 37-19 to the Los Angeles Rams in Philadelphia, Pa. on September 20, 2020.Read moreDAVID MAIALETTI / Staff Photographer
Defensive coordinator Jim Schwartz reacts in the 4th quarter against the Rams. Philadelphia Eagles lose 37-19 to the Los Angeles Rams in Philadelphia, Pa. on September 20, 2020.Read moreDAVID MAIALETTI / Staff Photographer
Eagles running back Miles Sanders watches the football sail to Los Angeles Rams cornerback Troy Hill for a fourth quarter interception on Sunday, September 20, 2020.Read moreYONG KIM / Staff Photographer
Eagles quarterback Carson Wentz throws the football to wide receiver DeSean Jackson during the fourth quarter against the Los Angeles Rams on Sunday, September 20, 2020.Read moreYONG KIM / Staff Photographer
Eagles strong safety Jalen Mills dives after Los Angeles Rams running back Darrell Henderson during the fourth quarter on Sunday, September 20, 2020.Read moreYONG KIM / Staff Photographer
Los Angeles Rams tight end Tyler Higbee celebrates his fourth quarter touchdown past Eagles linebacker Nate Gerry on Sunday, September 20, 2020.Read moreYONG KIM / Staff Photographer
Los Angeles Rams cornerback Troy Hill (center) celebrates after intercepting a pass in the 4th quarter intended for Eagles running back Miles Sanders (right). Philadelphia Eagles lose 37-19 to the Los Angeles Rams in Philadelphia, Pa. on September 20, 2020.Read moreDAVID MAIALETTI / Staff Photographer
Los Angeles Rams defensive back Darious Williams intercepts the ball intended for Eagles wide receiver J.J. Arcega-Whiteside Sunday, September 20, 2020.Read moreYONG KIM / Staff Photographer
Eagles tight end Zach Ertz gets tackled by Los Angeles Rams safety Taylor Rapp during the third quarter on Sunday, September 20, 2020.Read moreYONG KIM / Staff Photographer
Eagles wide receiver DeSean Jackson makes the catch securing a first down during the third quarter against the Los Angeles Rams Sunday, September 20, 2020.Read moreDAVID MAIALETTI / Staff Photographer
Los Angeles Rams defensive end Aaron Donald in pursuit of Eagles quarterback Carson Wentz Sunday, September 20, 2020.Read moreDAVID MAIALETTI / Staff Photographer
Eagles cornerback Darius Slay upends Los Angeles Rams wide receiver Van Jefferson during the second half of the game on Sunday, September 20, 2020.Read moreDAVID MAIALETTI / Staff Photographer
Los Angeles Rams quarterback Jared Goff throws the football past Eagles defensive tackle Malik Jackson during the third quarter on Sunday, September 20, 2020.Read moreYONG KIM / Staff Photographer
Eagles quarterback Carson Wentz during the second half of the game against the Los Angeles Rams on Sunday, September 20, 2020.Read moreDAVID MAIALETTI / Staff Photographer
Eagles tight end Zach Ertz gets taken down by Los Angeles Rams safety Taylor Rapp during the fourth quarter Sunday, September 20, 2020.Read moreYONG KIM / Staff Photographer
Eagles quarterback Carson Wentz and Coach Doug Pederson talk at the two minute warning before the half against the Los Angeles Rams Sunday, September 20, 2020.Read moreDAVID MAIALETTI / Staff Photographer
Los Angeles Rams running back Malcolm Brown gets a first down after a 19 yard run during the second quarter of the game against the Eagles Sunday, September 20, 2020.Read moreDAVID MAIALETTI / Staff Photographer
Eagles running back Miles Sanders does not get in the end zone on the two point conversion playing against the Los Angeles Rams on Sunday, September 20, 2020.Read moreDAVID MAIALETTI / Staff Photographer
Eagles quarterback Carson Wentz throws the football past Los Angeles Rams outside linebacker Leonard Floyd in the first quarter on Sunday, September 20, 2020.Read moreYONG KIM / Staff Photographer
Eagles running back Miles Sanders runs into the end zone bringing the score 21-15 during the second quarter against the Los Angeles Rams on Sunday, September 20, 2020. Eagles made the extra point bringing the score to 21-16.Read moreDAVID MAIALETTI / Staff Photographer
Eagles special teaser K'Von Wallace goes after the fumbled football by Los Angeles Rams wide receiver Cooper Kupp on a second quarter punt on Sunday, September 20, 2020.Read moreYONG KIM / Staff Photographer
Los Angeles Rams wide receiver Cooper Kupp gets a first down for the Los Angeles Rams, covered by Eagles cornerback Darius Slay during the first half of the game Sunday, September 20, 2020.Read moreDAVID MAIALETTI / Staff Photographer
Los Angeles Rams wide receiver Robert Woods scores a touchdown bringing the score 13-3 Sunday, September 20, 2020. Eagles trail in the first quarter.Read moreDAVID MAIALETTI / Staff Photographer
The Eagles sideline looks on after the Los Angeles Rams score leaving them trailing in the first quarter Sunday, September 20, 2020.Read moreDAVID MAIALETTI / Staff Photographer
Los Angeles Rams tight end Tyler Higbee dives into the end zone with Eagles cornerback Nickell Robey-Coleman on his back bringing the score 22-3 with the Eagles trailing behind Sunday, September 20, 2020.Read moreDAVID MAIALETTI / Staff Photographer
Los Angeles Rams tight end Tyler Higbee celebrates after scoring a touchdown agains the Eagles Sunday, September 20, 2020.Read moreDAVID MAIALETTI / Staff Photographer
Los Angeles Rams wide receiver Cooper Kupp is taken down by Eagles cornerback Avonte Maddox and Eagles cornerback Darius Slay but gets the first down in the first quarter Sunday, September 20, 2020.Read moreDAVID MAIALETTI / Staff Photographer
Eagles linebacker T.J. Edwards brings down Los Angeles Rams tight end Tyler Higbee during the first half of the game Sunday, September 20, 2020.Read moreYONG KIM / Staff Photographer
Eagles linebacker Nate Gerry stops the play by Los Angeles Rams running back Darrell Henderson during the first half of the game Sunday, September 20, 2020 at Lincoln Field.Read moreYONG KIM / Staff Photographer
Los Angeles Rams wide receiver Robert Woods gets an escort into the end zone by teammate Los Angeles Rams tight end Gerald Everett with Eagles strong safety Jalen Mills trailing behind in the first half of the gameSunday, September 20, 2020.Read moreYONG KIM / Staff Photographer
Eagles running back Miles Sanders fumbles the ball in the first quarter of the game against the Los Angeles Rams on Sunday, September 20, 2020.Read moreYONG KIM / Staff Photographer
Eagles running back Boston Scott on the kickoff return against the Los Angeles Rams on Sunday, September 20, 2020.Read moreDAVID MAIALETTI / Staff Photographer
The start of the Eagles game against the the Los Angeles Rams on Sunday, September 20, 2020.Read moreYONG KIM / Staff Photographer
Eagles cheerleaders pose with cutouts of fans before the Philadelphia Eagles face the Los Angeles Rams in Philadelphia, Pa. on September 20, 2020.Read moreDAVID MAIALETTI / Staff Photographer
Eagles wide receiver DeSean Jackson wear cleats with Ahmaud Arbery on them before the Philadelphia Eagles face the Los Angeles Rams in Philadelphia, Pa. on September 20, 2020. Arbery was jogging in February when he was confronted by Gregory and Travis McMichael. Henwas fatally shot during the encounter.Read moreDAVID MAIALETTI / Staff Photographer
(center) Dom Palamone, 23, cheers with friends while tailgating in a parking lot at 17th and Pollock in South Philadelphia, Pa. on Sunday, September 20, 2020. The Philadelphia Eagles held their season opener against the Rams on Sunday and the stadium was closed to fans.Read moreMONICA HERNDON / Staff Photographer
Fans and tailgaters are not permitted for the Eagles’ home opener against the Los Angeles Ram. The only creatures in the parking lot before the game were from the Jurassic Quest drive-thru at the Wells Fargo Center in Philadelphia, Pa. on September 20, 2020.Read moreDAVID MAIALETTI / Staff Photographer
In an eight-point game, the case for going for it instead of taking the points is that closing the gap from eight points to five still requires another touchdown to come back. If the Eagles converted the fourth down and scored a touchdown on the drive, they had an opportunity to tie the game midway through the fourth quarter with a two-point conversion. Pederson called for a two-point conversion attempt earlier in the game when the Eagles trailed 21-9. Had the team converted there, it’d be a 10-point deficit.
It’s worth noting the Eagles' offense successfully converted a third-and-3 just four plays before the decision to take the points, with Boston Scott gaining four yards on the ground. Also relevant: The Eagles averaged 4.7 yards per attempt on the ground on 26 attempts in the game.
“I really felt like the momentum was on our side,” Pederson said. “The defense was eager and ready to go back out on the field. We just needed to find a way to get a stop at that particular time and get the offense out. ... We’ve gotta do better there. We’ve got to coach it better and play better in those situations to where everybody understands, if you get one stop in those situations and give it back to your offense, you got a chance to take the lead on maybe the next possession.”
