Down But Not Out

by Marc Narducci | Dec 26, 2024

If somebody is a neutral fan, then Sunday’s 36-33 win by the Washington Commanders over the Eagles was among the most exciting of the NFL season. Washington scored the game-winner when rookie sensation Jayden Daniels hit Jamison Crowder on a 9-yard scoring pass with just six seconds remaining.

So, despite all the excitement in the game, Eagles fans left it brooding and wondering if this would derail the Super Bowl express.

It will take more than lousy outing—after a 10-game win streak—to make this reporter think that the Eagles are cooked.

That said, there were some upsetting things that occurred.

The Eagles lost despite causing five turnovers, an almost hard to believe situation.

Worse was the injury situation, with Jalen Hurts leaving in the first quarter with a concussion. The Eagles led 7-0 at the time.

Kenny Pickett did a workmanlike job replacing Hurts and he apparently was banged up with a rib injury but showed some toughness by staying in the game.

Still, what this game showed was how valuable Hurts is.

For all the criticism he has taken, and it still came even while the Eagles were winning 10 in a row, Hurts’ absence showed what a different team the Eagles were without him.

Yes, Saquon Barkley did score on a 68-yard run late in the first quarter with Hurts out of the game, but after that Washington did a good job putting extra defenders in the box in an attempt to stop the Eagles running game.

Teams can play that way with Hurts out of the lineup because he is such a dynamic threat running the ball. Pickett wasn’t a threat to run, and it changed Washington’s defensive strategy.

Hurts puts a lot of fear into a defense, with both his running and passing. Pickett really doesn’t put fear in either category.

So, the Eagles just have to hope that Hurts gets healthy in time for the playoffs.

The Eagles’ chance at the No. 1 seed and a coveted first-round bye took a real hit.

The Eagles (12-3), Detroit Lions (13-2) and Minnesota Vikings (13-2) are the top teams in the NFC. If Minnesota loses on Sunday at Green Bay and Detroit wins on Monday night at San Francisco, then the Lions would clinch the No. 1 seed.

That is important for Detroit because one would think the Lions would have a much tougher time winning in Philadelphia, than the Eagles would inside the dome in Detroit.

The No. 1 seed is such a big advantage because teams are banged up this time of year and having to play one fewer game is huge.

Then again Kansas City won the Super Bowl last year by not earning the No. 1 seed.

The Eagles finish up with home games against two sub .500 teams, Dallas and the New York Giants.

For the Eagles, the key is to get Hurts and the rest of the team healthy. The Eagles are certainly capable of winning three playoff games to earn a Super Bowl berth.

Even a bad loss. and it was a really bad defeat, shouldn’t keep the Eagles down for very long.

Photo: Jalen Hurts / Courtesy of Philadelphia Eagles

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Author: Marc Narducci

Down But Not Out

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