Five Big-Picture Takeaways From Eagles Week 4 Loss to Redskins

2.) Dreadful 3rd Down Performance Drains Defense

Oct 4, 2015; Landover, MD, USA; Washington Redskins running back Chris Thompson (25) carries the ball against the Philadelphia Eagles in the first quarter at FedEx Field. Mandatory Credit: Geoff Burke-USA TODAY Sports

For all the blame that the Eagles offense gets when it comes to time of possession, some of it warranted, they were hardly alone at fault on Sunday. Critics will point to the 41:08 that Washington held the ball and the measly 14 first downs the Eagles collected as another talking point to bash Kelly’s offense. By no means was the offensive a well-oiled machine against Washington, but there were other factors at play that led to a gassed defense taking the field while the Redskins drove it down their throats for a game-winning score.

Starting from Washington’s opening drive of the game, one that culminated in a field goal to put them ahead 3-0, the Eagles cost themselves ample opportunities to get the ball into the offense’s hands much more often. Before finally buckling down with Washington in the red zone, the Eagles allowed 3rd down conversions of 19 yards, 3 yards (shortened from 8 after an offsides penalty), and 7 yards. The Redskins held the ball for the first half of the first quarter. There’s nothing the offense could have done to skew that number in Philadelphia’s favor.

Beyond that, an Eric Rowe penalty on a 3rd and 8 helped Washington to their first touchdown drive of the game, a 3rd and 13 conversion helped the Redskins to a second-half field goal, and a pair of successful tries on 3rd down on Washington’s last drive allowed them to seal the game without giving the Eagles offense much of a chance. The Redskins went 9-17 on 3rd down over the course of the game.

There are instances, such as the Dallas game, where the offense is so ineffective that the defense is forced to compile that amount of time on the field without being able to control it. Washington devastated Billy Davis’s unit without DeSean Jackson and Kirk Cousins steering the ship to allow the Redskins to carry out their ball control gameplan. The Eagles defense had an opportunity on the first drive of the game to deflate the Washington sideline and crowd by forcing a three-and-out deep in Redskins territory. Instead, Washington turned it into positive momentum on their end and didn’t look back from there.