Recap
The Eagles survived another slow start in a 20-16 win in Washington. Philadelphia was down 10-0 in the second quarter, and went into halftime trailing 16-7. The Eagles could not get anything going offensively, and Washington seemed to move the ball with ease. After halftime, the Eagles were able to get their act together and come out on top. Although it was frustrating to watch the Eagles start off so slow and to struggle with the Washington Football Team, it’s a good thing that they could pull out a win. The win was even sweeter now that the Philadelphia Eagles have officially clinched a playoff berth! Overall it was an “okay” game, that was overshadowed by the Eagles clinching. Here is our Week 18 State of the Eagles.
Positive Observations
1.) Jalen Hurts
Hurts had easily one of his best games passing the football against the Washington Football Team. He was calm in the pocket, and hung in there to make some tough throws. He has certainly grown this year; I’m seeing more of him keeping his eyes downfield in the midst of pressure than I did earlier in the year. He has all but cemented another year to prove that he can be the franchise quarterback of the Philadelphia Eagles.
2.) Nick Sirianni
In my honest and humble (yet accurate) opinion, Sirianni should be in the running for the Coach of the Year award. He called yet another great game on Sunday, and he has led a 2-5 team to the playoffs. He was criticized earlier in the year for his first press conference and was written off due to that. I’m glad to see him come into form and be successful in his first year. His hire is looking better and better with each passing week.
3.) Josh Sweat
As a current Florida State University student, I feel a sense of pride highlighting a former FSU player from Sunday’s game. Sweat was an animal; he tallied 1.5 sacks, 2 QB hits, 2 deflected passes, 5 tackles, and 1 tackle for loss. He was everywhere on Sunday and he provided the defense some energy that was much needed.
4.) Second Half Defense
The defense allowed Washington to drive on them with ease during the first half of Sunday’s game, but they truly turned it around during the second half. In the second half, the defense gave up only 82 yards and didn’t allow a single point. In addition to this, Rodney McLeod saved the game with a diving interception late in the fourth quarter that sealed the win. The stingy second half defense saved Philadelphia’s season.
Negative Observations
1.) First half defense
Although the defense woke up and played incredibly well during the second half of Sunday’s game, they were atrocious in the first half. They allowed 230 yards and gave up 16 points during the first half. The defense simply couldn’t get anything going, and Washington capitalized on that. Although the Eagles ultimately left with a win, this defense simply needs to be better, especially with the playoffs looming.
2.) FedExField
Jalen Hurts narrowly escaped injury after a railing broke, causing multiple fans to fall down into the tunnel. He showed poise by calmly sidestepping and avoiding the railing and the fans. Hurts stayed to help the fans get to their feet while also taking pictures with them. Although this was the best case scenario in Hurts avoiding injury, this is not the first time that FedExField has had issues this season. Earlier, a sewage pipe burst during a game that left fans covered with raw sewage.
Standings
After the Eagles win over the Washington Football Team, they have clinched a spot in the 2021 NFL playoffs. The Cowboys have clinched the NFC East, while the Washington Football Team and the New York Giants have missed the playoffs. The updated NFC East Standings are as follows:
- Dallas Cowboys: 11-5
- Philadelphia Eagles: 9-7
- Washington Football Team: 6-10
- New York Giants: 4-12
Upcoming Opponent
The Eagles host the Dallas Cowboys this Saturday at 8:15pm at the Linc. Both the Eagles and the Cowboys have clinched a playoff berth, so this game is solely for seeding and NFC East bragging rights purposes. The Eagles and Cowboys both will most likely rest their starters at some point during the game, so this game will most likely come down to who has the better backups. This game could go either way, but I’m hoping for a Philadelphia victory.
Final Thoughts
The Eagles have done it! They have earned a playoff spot in a season in which that seemed impossible. Nick Sirianni has done an incredible job of getting the players to buy in and commit to the common goal. I’ll admit, after a 2-5 start, I didn’t think that the Eagles would be competitive this season. I was ready to start writing about tanking for draft picks. With that being said, this season is a prime example of never throwing in the towel even when things seem rough. I’m excited to see how the Eagles finish this season and how they perform in the playoffs. As always, Go Birds!
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Nate Eichner is a featured writer at The Birds Blitz. For more from Nate, check out his archive and read through our Eagles articles for the latest news about the Birds.
