Grading the Eagles’ performance in Sunday’s 20-14 loss to Washington
The Eagles played hard in Sunday night’s 20-14 loss to Washington, and still managed to hang on to the sixth pick in the April draft. Let’s hand out the grades:
Eagles running back Boston Scott dives over Washington Football Team defensive tackle Daron Payne and defensive back Jeremy Reaves (right) during the second quarter.Read moreSTEVEN M. FALK / Staff Photographer
Mission accomplished. The Eagles played hard in Sunday night’s 20-14 loss to Washington, and still managed to hang on to the sixth pick in the April draft. Let’s hand out the grades:
Rushing offense
Jalen Hurts had a pair of 6-yard touchdown runs in the first half and had 4 of the Eagles’ 7 rushing first downs. With Miles Sanders not playing, Boston Scott got his heaviest workload of the season and did a nice job, rushing for 65 yards on 15 carries.
Hurts made some nice throws, but only completed 7 of 20 passes for 72 yards and had an early interception. He also underthrew an open Quez Watkins in the end zone in the third quarter. Nate Sudfeld, who replaced Hurts in the fourth quarter, completed just 5 of 12 passes and also had an interception.
Even though they were missing 2 D-line starters, including six-time Pro Bowl defensive tackle Fletcher Cox, the Eagles held Washington to 3.8 yards per carry.
Grade: B
Eagles quarterback Nate Sudfeld fumbles the football against Washington Football Team defensive end Montez Sweat during the fourth quarter on Sunday, January 3, 2021 in Philadelphia.Read moreELIZABETH ROBERTSON / Staff Photographer
Just out of reach Eagles' John Hightower can't grab a pass over Washington's Ronald Darby during the 4th quarter at Lincoln Financial Field in Philadelphia, Sunday, January 3, 2021. Washington beats the Eagles 20-14.Read moreSTEVEN M. FALK / Staff Photographer
Washington Football Team cornerback Jimmy Moreland leaps over defensive back Jeremy Reaves after Reaves intercepted the football with cornerback Fabian Moreau (left) watching against the Eagles in the fourth quarter on Sunday, January 3, 2021 in Philadelphia.Read moreSTEVEN M. FALK / Staff Photographer
Last to leave Eagles' Zach Ertz watches as the field clears after losing to Washington at Lincoln Financial Field in Philadelphia, Sunday, January 3, 2021. Washington beats the Eagles 20-14.Read moreSTEVEN M. FALK / Staff Photographer
Eagles quarterback Jalen Hurts throws the football during a third quarter fourth down play against Washington Football Team inside linebacker Jon Bostic on Sunday, January 3, 2021 in Philadelphia.Read moreSTEVEN M. FALK / Staff Photographer
Eagles defensive end Vinny Curry goes after Washington Football Team quarterback Alex Smith while getting held by offensive tackle Cornelius Lucas in the third quarter on Sunday, January 3, 2021 in Philadelphia.Read moreSTEVEN M. FALK / Staff Photographer
Eagles safety Marcus Epps holds the football after a third quarter interception with teammate linebacker Alex Singleton against the Washington Football Team on Sunday, January 3, 2021 in Philadelphia.Read moreSTEVEN M. FALK / Staff Photographer
Eagles Head Coach Doug Pederson looks at his play chart during the third quarter against the Washington Football Team on Sunday, January 3, 2021 in Philadelphia.Read moreSTEVEN M. FALK / Staff Photographer
Eagles quarterback Carson Wentz walks the sidelines during the third quarter against the Washington Football Team on Sunday, January 3, 2021 in Philadelphia.Read moreELIZABETH ROBERTSON / Staff Photographer
Eagles wide receiver J.J. Arcega-Whiteside catches the football past Washington Football Team strong safety Kamren Curl (left) and defensive back Jeremy Reaves in the second quarter on Sunday, January 3, 2021 in Philadelphia.Read moreELIZABETH ROBERTSON / Staff Photographer
Eagles safety Marcus Epps stops Washington Football Team running back Antonio Gibson during the second quarter on Sunday, January 3, 2021 in Philadelphia.Read moreSTEVEN M. FALK / Staff Photographer
Eagles defensive tackle Raequan Williams points after taking down Washington Football Team quarterback Alex Smith during the second quarter on Sunday, January 3, 2021 in Philadelphia.Read moreSTEVEN M. FALK / Staff Photographer
Eagles quarterback Jalen Hurts throws the football against the Washington Football Team in the second quarter on Sunday, January 3, 2021 in Philadelphia.Read moreELIZABETH ROBERTSON / Staff Photographer
Eagles quarterback Jalen Hurts celebrates his second second quarter touchdown with running back Corey Clement against the Washington Football Team on Sunday, January 3, 2021 in Philadelphia.Read moreSTEVEN M. FALK / Staff Photographer
Eagles quarterback Jalen Hurts runs for his second second quarter touchdown past Washington Football Team defensive end Casey Toohill on Sunday, January 3, 2021 in Philadelphia.Read moreELIZABETH ROBERTSON / Staff Photographer
Eagles quarterback Jalen Hurts scores a second quarter touchdown against the Washington Football Team on Sunday, January 3, 2021 in Philadelphia.Read moreELIZABETH ROBERTSON / Staff Photographer
The Eagles defense goes after Washington Football Team quarterback Alex Smith in the second quarter on Sunday, January 3, 2021 in Philadelphia.Read moreELIZABETH ROBERTSON / Staff Photographer
Eagles quarterback Jalen Hurts runs for a second quarter touchdown past Washington Football Team defensive end Montez Sweat on Sunday, January 3, 2021 in Philadelphia.Read moreSTEVEN M. FALK / Staff Photographer
Eagles running back Boston Scott dives over Washington Football Team defensive tackle Daron Payne and defensive back Jeremy Reaves (right) in the second quarter on Sunday, January 3, 2021 in Philadelphia.Read moreSTEVEN M. FALK / Staff Photographer
Eagles quarterback Jalen Hurts gets sacked by Washington Football Team defensive end Montez Sweat in the second quarter on Sunday, January 3, 2021 in Philadelphia.Read moreSTEVEN M. FALK / Staff Photographer
Washington Football Team wide receiver Terry McLaurin catches a first quarter touchdown pass past Eagles safety Grayland Arnold on Sunday, January 3, 2021 in Philadelphia.Read moreELIZABETH ROBERTSON / Staff Photographer
Eagles nose tackle Javon Hargrave stops Washington Football Team running back Antonio Gibson in the first quarter on Sunday, January 3, 2021 in Philadelphia.Read moreSTEVEN M. FALK / Staff Photographer
Washington Football Team running back J.D. McKissic runs past saftey Blake Countess during the first quarter on Sunday, January 3, 2021 in Philadelphia.Read moreSTEVEN M. FALK / Staff Photographer
Washington Football Team quarterback Alex Smith throws the football against the Eagles during the first quarter on Sunday, January 3, 2021 in Philadelphia.Read moreSTEVEN M. FALK / Staff Photographer
Eagles quarterback Carson Wentz puts down his face mask during team warms-up before the Eagles play the Washington Football Team on Sunday, January 3, 2021 in Philadelphia.Read moreELIZABETH ROBERTSON / Staff Photographer
Eagles' Zach Ertz the last to leave the field after their loss to Washington and the last game of the season at Lincoln Financial Field in Philadelphia, Sunday, January 3, 2021. Washington beats the Eagles 20-14.Read moreSTEVEN M. FALK / Staff Photographer
Eagles' Grayland Arnold tips a pass from Washington's quarterback Alex Smith during the 4th quarter at Lincoln Financial Field in Philadelphia, Sunday, January 3, 2021. Washington beats the Eagles 20-14.Read moreSTEVEN M. FALK / Staff Photographer
Passing defense
The Eagles intercepted Alex Smith twice, sacked him 3 times and held him to 5.1 yards per attempt. Darius Slay did an excellent job on Washington’s top wideout, Terry McLaurin. McLaurin, who torched the Eagles last season, had 7 catches, but for only 40 yards. He did have an early 5-yard TD against Grayland Arno
The Eagles gave up a costly 20-yard punt return to Stephen Sims in the second quarter that set up Washington’s go-ahead touchdown right before the half. Greg Ward returned a season-high 4 punts, but averaged just 4.5 yards per return.
Grade: C-minus
Overall
Despite all of the no-hat-zone nonsense, the Eagles’ top priority Sunday clearly was to walk away with the sixth pick in the April draft, and they accomplished that, sitting a number of their starters. It will be interesting to see what the league office has to say about Doug Pederson’s decision to sit down Jalen Hurts in the fourth quarter of a 3-point game and insert Nate Sudfeld. Jim Schwartz’s undermanned defense deserves a ton of credit for the way they played, holding Washington to 248 yards and forcing 2 turnovers.
