EAGLES' FIVE TURNOVERS NULLIFY BIG EFFORTS BY DEFENSE, BARKLEY-BIRDS LOSE TO CHARGERS IN OVERTIME
- Al Thompson
- 32 minutes ago
- 7 min read
LOS ANGELES: In a game that was filled with mistakes, it is only fitting that it ended on mistake.
The Eagles trailed 22-19 with 2:35 left in overtime and were driving to either tie the game up or win it.
The drive was saved by neutral zone infraction on fourth and four at the Los Angels Chargers' 41-yard line.
It looked like the Birds losing streak would end at two.
With a first-and-ten at the Bolts' 36, quarterback Jalen Hurts hit tight end Dallas Goedert for a three-yard gain.
Hurts then hit Goedert again, this time for 16 yards.
Philadelphia had a first-and-ten at the Chargers' 17...winning time, right? Nope.
The game ended on tipped pass from Hurts intended for Jahan Dotson that was intercepted by Tony Jefferson at the Chargers four-yard line, the Birds fate was sealed. The final score would be 22-19.
The Eagles are 8-5 with four games remaining.
Five turnovers, six penalties for 53 yards. It's not the number of penalties or the yards, it's the impact several of the penalties had on the game.
One of the turnovers was caused by All Pro receiver A.J. Brown, who let a very catchable pass from Hurts go right through his hands and into the arms of defensive lineman Da' Shawn Hand in the second quarter.
The ten-yard holding call on second team All Pro Jordan Mailata in the second quarter that nullified a two-yard touchdown pass from Hurts to A.J. Brown sticks out.
The Eagles settled for a field Jake Elliott 30-yard field goal.
Elliott would add to the misery by missing a 48-yard attempt as time expired in the first half and the Birds trailing 10-6.
The attempt was a gift from Eagles cornerback Adoree' Jackson, who intercepted Herbert at the Chargers 46 and the referee, who called a 15-yard unsportsmanlike conduct penalty on running back Kimani Vidal for his hard tackle on Jackson. The miss, under perfect conditions, sent the Eagles into intermission on a down note for sure.
It sure didn't help earlier in the game when an interception by Cooper DeJean that was nullified by by a defensive offside call on defensive tackle Moro Ojomo is another that stung.
“Yeah, I mean no one likes losing,” DeJean said at his locker after the game. “We have to clean up the little things we're doing...to be able to keep points off the board as a defense, and play complimentary football...put the offense in a good position to be able to put points on the board.”
Head coach Nick Sirianni was asked what part of the game sung the most. His defense sacked Chargers quarterback Justin Herbert seven times and pounded him into a 12 of 26 for 139 yards performance.
“I think that that one stinks.,” Sirianni said. “That one stinks, and I think at the end of the day we had some turnovers in this game, uncharacteristic of ourselves, and every time it's going to come down to coaching well enough and executing well enough.
“I thought the defense did a lot of good things. I thought the offense moved the ball on a really good defense, but we didn't finish. Kicked a lot of field goals and had some turnovers, so hard to beat a team on the road when you're not finishing drives and getting three points and I got to take that on myself.”
Except for the Chargers opening drive, that was highlighted by an unscripted play with Justin Herbert on the run and tossing a ball into the flat to Kimani Vidal that turned into a 60-yard catch-and run play that went to the Eagles 17-yard yard line.
Three plays later Herbert passed to Omarion Hampton to the right for 4 yard touchdown.
After that drive the Birds held the home to five field goals, five punts and three turnovers.
DESPITE AN INJURED NON-THROWING HAND, HERBERT BURNED THE BIRDS TOO MANY TIMES
Herbert, who played with a glove on his non-throwing hand after undergoing a procedure on that hand to stabilize a broken bone suffered the week before against Las Vegas, was hit 11 times and had five of his passes blocked by the Eagles.
“We also sacked him seven times,” offered DeJean, who got a hand on two of those passes. “When you're rushing the quarterback like that and you sack him that many times, he's going to look to find a way to get out quicker. He did a good job of that throughout the game. He did it at the right moments too when they needed it.”
Herbert killed the Eagles too many times Monday by scrambling out of harm's way and keeping drives alive to at least get three points on five occasions. The six-year veteran led the Chargers in rushing with 66 yards on ten carries.
Brandon Graham was asked how he got away from defenders so many times.
“I just feel like he just made some plays with his legs,” Graham said at his locker after the game. “We knew that going in that's how he extends plays. I feel like for the most part...that first drive, when they went down and scored, we just a couple missed assignments. But then I feel like we managed after that.
“It's just about us rushing together. We really liked to strike up the middle ans soon as he saw it, he took off.
“I just feel like as the game went on, he really used his hands, making plays do they could get closer to make field goals. We stayed together defensively. We did the best we could especially against a running quarterback.”
Graham was asked how frustrating was it to sack Herbert seven times, force two fumbles and hold him to 139 yards passing?
“It's tough,” Graham said. “This is where adversity makes grown men for sure. We've got to be able to handle this little bit of adversity now. Our team, we've still got everything in front of us...three in a row...it's been awhile since we've had that.
"But I'm not worried at all. I just think that...we just can't make mistakes and think we're gonna win the game. We almost came out of it still, but we've got some things to clean up. I'm up for the challenge.”
SAQUON BARKLEY'S BIG NIGHT DID NOT PRODUCE A VICTORY
Barkley had a big night. He rushed 20 times for 122 yards and 52-yard touchdown. The only trip the Eagles made to the end zone
“We have to keep our foot on the gas and keep going,” Barkley said at his locker. “I know we keep saying that, but we have to keep working.”
Barkley was asked about the mood on the sideline. Over the past few games, with the offense struggling to score, the visuals of the Eagles sideline has looked less than positive.
Barkley was asked to address the sideline vibe.
“I feel like I was doing my best to be on the sideline, try to keep the energy up, be a leader,” Barkley said. I feel like other guys too and responded. I don't think the energy, I don't think the mindset is the reason why we didn't win this football game. We weren't detailed enough and didn't make more plays. When that happens, more times than not, you're going to lose the football game.
“We have to go back to the drawing board. I'm sick of saying 'go back to the drawing board,' make sure its all back to business and get it right.”
CANTON IS NOT GOING TO BE CALLING FOR ANY VIDEO ON EITHER QUARTERBACKS.
Hurts finished 21 for 40 for 240 yards, no touchdown passes, four interceptions and a quarterback rating of 31.2. Hurts was sacked once.
Herbert was 12 of 26 for 139 yards, 60 of those was on one play in the opening drive, one touchdown pass, an interception and a quarterback rating of 59.6.
Herbert was asked if it was painful to play in Monday night’s game.
“Yeah, It was a broken hand so....” he deadpanned at his post game press conference.
Well, how did he navigate through the pain?
“At that point it was probably just instinctual,” Herbert said. “Obviously, I’d love a couple plays back. Dropped a couple on the ground. I did everything I could to hold on to the ball and I just got to be smarter with it and use two hands and be able to grip it as best as I can.”
Herbert downplayed a question about his ability to play through injuries throughout career.
“Honestly, I just think about the guys in that locker room,” he said. “They’d do it for us. There have been multiple guys, Troy Dye and Elijah Molden both broke their hands, and I think that they were playing the next week too. They probably don’t get enough credit for that.
“Just because I’m the quarterback I get the talk about that but those guys, they battle. There's definitely guys in that locker room that are fighting through so many different injuries and things worse than what I’m going through so it’s the least that I can do to show up and give my best.”
Herbert was asked about decisions he makes when choosing to run.
“I think its more so play-to-play,” he said. “We’re going to watch the film and there’s going to be a bunch of throws that I missed today and plays that I’d love to have back but if the pocket breaks down and there’s a chance to go get the first down running the ball, it’s tough on the defense because they do a really good job of covering everyone and then the quarterback breaks out and has to make something happen.
“I think a lot to learn from and definitely plays I’d love to have back but I thought it was good for us to just be able to go fight and get us in position where (Cameron) Dicker can bail us out.”
Hurts was asked at his post game press conference for an overall assessment of the game.
“I didn’t play well enough,” Hurts said. “Too many turnovers. Lots of opportunities especially when we get on the other side of the 50 (yard-line) and I wasn’t able to get us in the box.”
He was asked what happened on the final play of the game.
“I knew it was going to be a tight window throw,” Hurts said. “I have to watch the film to see it from the eyes of film’s point of view. Ultimately, it’s a play that I didn’t make. I got to handle the ball and I didn’t make the play.”
One positive...the Eagles get the 2-11 Las Vegas Raiders next week at the Linc. *
Email Al Thompson at al.thompson@footballstories.com
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