Redskins win NFC East road win over Eagles

The Philadelphia Eagles’ season is over.

Philadelphia Eagles’ Sam Bradford walks onto the field after an NFL football game against the Washington Redskins, Saturday, Dec. 26, 2015, in Philadelphia.

The Philadelphia Eagles were eliminated from contention Saturday night at Lincoln Financial Field, losing 38-24 to the Washington Redskins.At 6-8, there’s no way the Eagles should have been thinking about the playoffs, anyway.

“I’m very proud of Kirk”, Gruden said. It’s unacceptable. We have to find a way to do a better job. Not good. “One hundred percent, that’s all on my shoulders”, Kelly said.

While the Eagles did not win a playoff game in Kelly’s first year, there was a ton of room for optimism. Kelly took control of personnel decisions a year ago and overhauled a team that went 10-6 in each of his first two seasons as coach. Coach Chip Kelly now holds final say over personnel, but when it comes to signing a starting quarterback to a new contract, owner Jeffrey Lurie may at least be consulted before a major investment is made. Wide receiver DeSean Jackson, who beat Kelly to the postseason after his ouster, had four catches for 40 yards. Judging by the hug he gave team president Bruce Allen, that’s probably a good bet. DeMarco Murray was the team’s leading rushing with 27 yards and a touchdown, but he also had a lowlight fumble that was returned by DeAngelo Hall for a Redskins touchdown.

Cousins’ fourth touchdown pass, to wide receiver Pierre Garcon from 13 yards, and a two-point conversion gave the Redskins a commanding 38-17 lead.

“Obviously it’s been a tough season – individually and collectively – but these are the things that make you want to work harder and make you more hungry”, Murray said. Washington clinched the division title for the first time since 2012, the same year the last time the team made the NFL Playoffs.

Only 4-12 in 2014, the Redskins (8-7) began their turnaround when Cousins rallied them from a 24-0 first-half deficit to a 31-30 win over Tampa Bay on October 25. To have the opportunity to play at home, with the division on the line and basically win two games to get in the playoffs, you would think you could get that done.

The Redskins came out sharp on their second drive of the second half, carving up this Eagles undermanned defense and mauling them up front.

Washington entered halftime with a 16-10 lead, which would have been larger if not for Cousins’ brain fart. Coming into Saturday’s loss to the Redskins, the Eagles were third in the league in passes dropped.

Earlier in the drive, the Eagles committed penalties on three consecutive plays – an illegal substitution, an illegal formation and a false start.

Later in the half, Bradford overthrew tight end Zach Ertz, who was streaking uncovered down the sideline for what would have been a sure touchdown.

Kicker Caleb Sturgis got the Eagles within 13-10, hitting a 34-yard field goal with 5:56 left in the second. On three of the Redskins’ four touchdowns, Alonso was beaten on the play. Cousins connected with Reed over the middle on a 22-yard scoring pass to cut it to 7-6.

Finally, while special teams did not play a particularly big role in tonight’s win, it’s worth noting that Dustin Hopkins fell tonight from the ranks of kickers who had not missed an extra point. He has thrown for 20 touchdowns and only three interceptions, and he has done so while completing almost 70% of his passes and regularly throwing for more than 300 yards. Tight end Jordan Reed was the prime offender in the assault on the Eagles secondary, catching 9 balls on 11 targets and piling up 129 yards and 2 touchdowns. He had his moments – he had a nice 18 yard grab earlier in the game – but that was about it. He finished the day with only one other catch for 17 yards.