Hey, You Can’t Win ‘Em All
December 23, 2024
This is a public service announcement from the sports voice most famous for panicking: Relax. That’s right. Take a deep breath and exhale the bad taste from that ugly loss on Sunday.
Granted, the Eagles lost a game they should have won – 36-33 to Washington – bringing to an end the first 10-game winning streak in franchise history.
So what?
If Jalen Hurts didn’t leave the game after five minutes with a concussion, the Birds win easily.
If DeVonta Smith catches a perfect pass with 2:07 left, the Eagles win.
If Chauncey Gardner-Johnson doesn’t get thrown out of the game for taunting, the Eagles don’t leave a receiver wide open for a crucial touchdown. In other words, the Eagles win then, too.
There’s a football axiom that you learn a lot more from your losses than your wins. This was especially true after the most entertaining game of the season, by far.
Here’s what I discovered during a three-plus-hour ride on the NFL roller coaster in Washington on Sunday.
- Jalen Hurts is the most underrated Eagles quarterback in history. They are not even a playoff team without him.
The debate about how valuable Hurts is to the Eagles should officially be over after the Washington loss. The Birds are nothing special offensively without the versatility of their franchise quarterback, and despite the undeniable talent surrounding him.
Backup QB Kenny Pickett didn’t lose the game. He did his job. But his job is a lot different, and more limited, than Hurts’ role. Although Barkley had his biggest run (68 yards) after Hurts left the game, the Commanders eventually adjusted and squeezed the running back into a tight defensive box. Barkley is not the same runner without Hurts.
And neither is the offensive line, apparently. The brilliant run-blocking that has still has Barkley with a chance to set the all-time NFL record for rushing in a single season is not nearly as effective without the threat of Hurts running himself. Anyone who doubts that obvious fact needs a to take a course in Football 101.
- The Eagles defense is ranked No. 1 in the NFL, but it still cannot be trusted late in close games.
The most concerning development Sunday was the way the rejuvenated defense reverted to late 2023 form in the fourth quarter. The Birds had not given up 22 points in a game during the win streak, the same number it allowed in just the fourth quarter in Washington.
Of course, this all happened with Chauncey Gardner-Johnson in the locker room after his banishment for taunting the Commanders. Johnson is a terrific safety, but he still needs to stifle his emotions in big moments. There’s no chance ex-Eagle Olamide Zaccheaus would have been wide open on his big 49-yard TD catch midway through the quarter if CGJ were there.
Clearly, the Eagles worked effectively with Jayden Carter to improve his conditioning. Maybe it’s time to check in with some of the other players? Three touchdown passes in one quarter is not just the fault of Gardner-Johnson.
- Jayden Daniels is an amazing young quarterback. Eagles fans going to hate this guy for the next decade.
All of those problems aside, facing Jayden Daniels for the foreseeable future should be a scary thought for the Eagles.
Setting aside his strong arm and quick feet, Daniels showed a composure with the game on the line that is unique to rookies. And that game-clinching throw through a thicket of defenders and into the hands of Jameson Crowder with six seconds left was a thing of beauty, if you weren’t an Eagles fan.
- The Eagles will host a division playoff game. This is not a bad thing. It’s better than dealing with the rust of a bye week.
The two-week wait for the first playoff game is fine, but I prefer a tuneup against a beatable playoff opponent at home instead. This is especially true when Nick Sirianni is the head coach because he loves to rest his starters once the team’s playoff fate is sealed.
If Hurts misses Sunday’s game against Dallas because of the concussion, as expected, it’s conceivable that his next serious football action won’t be until the playoffs. Even if he plays against the Giants in the regular-season finale, you just know Sirianni will be looking to take him out of the game as soon as possible.
This way, Hurts will be coming off a solid effort against a relatively weak playoff opponent before the biggest tests of the season.
- Nick Sirianni had his best game of the season.
Lost in the chaos of this nutty game were the bold and effective
decisions by the head coach after the Eagles had fallen behind for the first time, 28-27, late in the game. He tried two fourth-down conversions in his own territory on one drive and converted both with his backup quarterback.
Hey, I still am not a fan, but the coach was not the problem on Sunday.
- Jake Elliott has fixed his kicking problems.
Yes, he missed a 56-yarder, but even that kick was right under the
crossbar. His other four field goals were dead solid perfect. The ball is leaving his foot straight again. This will become a much bigger story when the playoffs start.
Anyway, my main message today is not to panic. The Eagles had some glitches against a good Washington team, but they still look to me like one of the three biggest threats to win the Super Bowl this year (along with Detroit and KC).
Enjoy the holiday.
A fantastic finish awaits us.
(I hope)