They came into the game with none.
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Philadelphia Eagles running back DeMarco Murray (29) is stopped by Washington Redskins cornerback Bashaud Breeland (26) during the first half of an NFL football game in Landover, Md., Sunday, October 4, 2015.
That is the criticism that Philadelphia Eagles head coach Kelly is receiving. (“You guys act like we don’t want to throw the ball down the field”, Bradford said yesterday.) Opponents have quickly learned that they don’t have to sell out to stop the pass and have been able to shut down the run without much fuss. This third down throw to Sproles was a drop, but it wasn’t a great throw either. That, of course, is four lost points in a three-point game.
Last season, when LeSean McCoy was a member of the Eagles, he rushed the ball 19.5 times a game. Washington eliminated the Eagles from the playoffs right here in precisely that situation.
An innovator, a leader, and even by then something of a legend, Kelly would confuse all opponents with a no-huddle offense, a risk-taking swagger and a long-ball attack, all perfected during practices literally set to music. Meanwhile, the Redskins have four different pass rushers to help protect a thin secondary that’s sometimes exposed. It’s just tough. It’s a new guy coming in, putting a few pressure on him. The Eagles paid him a lot of money to come to Philly. “So it goes either way”.
If you think the defending rushing champion is happy getting eight carries and losing, well, you don’t know DeMarco Murray. When youre not on the same page, it makes it hard to work toward a common goal….
The Eagles just didn’t have enough fuel to finish. Rookie Jordan Hicks recovered on the 42-yard line with one tick left in the third quarter. So they would have had one reasonable explanation for their failure had they chosen the option of simple mathematics.
Sam Bradford’s visits to the podium at the NovaCare Complex were cut in half after the first week of the season. All of it was in the air.
Much of what has disrupted Bradford’s production throughout his career is his issue with durability. “It’s about executing plays and us being better”.
“It definitely drives us and motivates us that we have the confidence to do it again”, he said.
The struggles that we witnessed during the first three games were the same as the struggles we witnessed yesterday. “They played so well”. Sturgis was signed last week to replace the injured Cody Parkey. In fact, his 47 rushing yards – for the season – rank 81st in the league, behind 12 quarterbacks, including pocket statues like Ryan Fitzpatrick, Jameis Winston and Jay Cutler. Rowe was playing because Maxwell was out.
The Eagles have only run 241 offensive plays from scrimmage, which is 25th in the NFL.
Graham said he and his teammates weren’t exhausted despite being on the field for 79 snaps.
According to Billick, things could “unravel” soon if Kelly keeps micromanaging the team. “That’s what we wanted”.
“In the past, when stuff happened like it did in this game, we would’ve folded as a team, and Philadelphia would’ve been up 21”, Baker said via the Washington Post. Yeah, you’d like someone to make a play there, but they didn’t. That was a hell of a catch. “That’s what we need to do”.
Redskins kicker Dustin Hopkins went 3 for 3 on field-goal tries, making from 20, 33 and 38 yards.
The Eagles gave one away. Then he just kept cranking them deep like it was his brand-new toy.
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Kevin: Bradford, as usual, got off to a slow start.
