The Philadelphia Eagles, staring down a potential 2-6 record and last place in the NFC East, just put the first points on the board against the Washington Commanders in their Week 8 Sunday Night Football matchup, taking a 3-0 lead. This team is desperate for a win, entering as 5.5-point road underdogs, and the first quarter showed exactly why this game is already a rollercoaster.
Commanders Miss Opportunities Amidst Penalties and Bad Luck
The Commanders kicked off the game with a 44-yard return, setting up at midfield. They looked set to roll, easily punching through for a first down on 3rd-and-inches. But then things got messy. Facing 3rd-and-6, Jonathan Greenard jumped early, giving Washington a free play. Jayden Daniels threw a pick to Andrew Mukuba on that play, which, while technically a free play, showed some sloppiness. Washington then shot themselves in the foot with back-to-back false start penalties on two separate third downs, turning a 3rd-and-1 into a 3rd-and-11. Cooper DeJean had solid coverage on Stefon Diggs on that long down, and the pass was wide anyway. The Commanders then shanked a 55-yard field goal attempt wide right, leaving the Eagles off the hook.
Eagles Scramble, Sirianni’s Questionable Call, Then Finally Score
The Eagles offense started slow too. Taking over at their own 45, Saquon Barkley picked up two yards, then Tanner McKee scrambled for four on 3rd-and-3. But McKee’s attempt to Darius Cooper on the next 3rd-and-3 was too high for an impressive leaping grab. Then, head coach Nick Sirianni pulled out the infamous fake snap, delay of game penalty move on 4th-and-3, which, let’s be real, never works. Three plays, one yard, and a punt. After the Commanders’ Treylon Burks dropped a sure first down on their next drive, the Eagles got the ball back at their 38-yard line. McKee finally connected with Makai Lemon for 20 yards on a nice play-action, then hit Darius Cooper again for another first down over the middle. Facing 3rd-and-6 just outside the red zone, McKee’s throw to Cooper was off target, with the QB and receiver seemingly not on the same page. Jake Elliott came in and drilled a 40-yard field goal to put the Birds up 3-0.
The Eagles have the lead, but this first quarter was a scramble for both teams. The Commanders are now getting the ball back at their own 20 after Elliott’s kickoff. Can the Eagles hold onto this early lead, or will the sloppiness catch up to them as this Sunday Night Football battle continues?
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Bleeding Green Nation.
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