Instant Observations: Redskins 27, Eagles 20

Here are my instant observations from the Eagles’ 27-20 loss to the Redskins.

OFFENSE

* The Eagles had a chance to tie the game on their final possession. They got to the Redskins’ 5-yard-line, but couldn’t punch it in. Nick Foles had Jeremy Maclin open in the end zone, but bounced his throw. On the final play of the game, Foles was called for intentional grounding.

* Foles went 32-for-48 for 345 yards, a touchdown and an interception. The offensive line did not play well, but he looked indecisive throughout, held on to the ball and took five sacks. Foles suffered a right hand injury in the first half.

* The Eagles got off to a great start with an 11-play, 76-yard drive on their first possession. The offense converted two 4th-and-1 opportunities, including one from their own 46. Foles threw a great ball to Jeremy Maclin on a corner route for a 27-yard touchdown. Foles hit Brent Celek for 15 yards on the first 4th-and-1 and ran a QB sneak on the second one.

* Dion Lewis had a nice 17-yard run in the fourth to cut the Redskins’ lead to 27-20 with 8:55 left.

* LeSean McCoy carried 13 times for 45 yards in his return from injury. He also added nine receptions for 77 yards. Maclin led the team with 116 yards on eight catches.

* The Eagles went for it on 4th-and-2 from near midfield in the third quarter, but Foles tripped over Dennis Kelly for a sack.

* The Eagles were driving on their second possession, but Foles took a pair of sacks. On the second one, it looked like he was trying to set up a screen to McCoy, but Foles held on to the ball and was stripped by Ryan Kerrigan for the turnover.

* Foles’ pass in the second quarter was tipped at the line of scrimmage by defensive tackle Barry Cofield and intercepted by London Fletcher.

* Maclin had a nice diving 38-yard grab near the sideline in the third quarter on the Eagles’ scoring drive.

* The Eagles saw their drive late in the first half stall inside the red zone. King Dunlap was called for a holding penalty; they had a failed screen attempt; and Foles threw incomplete (out of bounds) to new tight end Evan Moore on third down. The Eagles’ screen game was a complete disaster throughout.

* Bryce Brown handled kickoff returns.

DEFENSE

* Robert Griffin III went 16-for-24 for 198 yards, two touchdowns and an interception. In two games against the Eagles this year, he was 30-for-39 for 398 yards, six touchdowns and one pick.

* Santana Moss did an unbelievable job of keeping his feet in bounds against Colt Anderson on a third-quarter touchdown from 22 yards out. Great throw by Griffin to beat the blitz too.

* The Redskins’ first touchdown came on an 11-yard WR screen to Joshua Morgan. Anderson went flying in Morgan’s direction, but whiffed.

* In the fourth quarter, Anderson came up with the Eagles’ first interception since Week 6 against the Lions.

* The Redskins drove from their own 9 to the Eagles’ 35 on their first drive. But the defense stopped them on 4th-and-2. Washington ran a bootleg with Griffin, but Brandon Graham stayed home, and Anderson broke up the pass intended for Moss.

* The Redskins went 72 yards on five plays on their opening drive of the second half. Alfred Morris found the end zone untouched from 10 yards out. It looked like DeMeco Ryans and Colt Anderson got blocked on the play.

* Great play by Graham in the second quarter. The Redskins tried to go with a shovel pass on third down, but he read it and batted the pass down, forcing a field goal.

* On the Redskins’ next possession, Graham, Trent Cole and Fletcher Cox all pressured Griffin, who threw incomplete. The Redskins again settled for a field goal.

* Cole batted a pass down in the third and then shoved Griffin to the ground. He didn’t draw a flag.

* No player has had more tackles for loss during the Andy Reid era than Ryans. He had another one in the first quarter.

* Nice job by Brandon Boykin with the sack and forced fumble in the third quarter, backing the Redskins up near their own end zone.

* Morris had 22 carries for 91 yards.

* Fletcher Cox suffered a concussion in the second half.

Follow Sheil Kapadia on Twitter and e-mail him at skapadia@phillymag.com.
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