Eagles stay alive in wildcard race after win vs. WFT
Philly stays alive while damaging Washington’s playoff hopes in the process.
Philadelphia kept their postseason push moving and in doing so, damaged rival Washington’s chances with a 27-17 win on Tuesday night.
The victory was the Eagles’ seventh, taking them to 7-7, meanwhile Washington slid back to 6-8 after their second straight loss. Philly can be confident of a playoff berth and have a very good chance of returning to the postseason with the Giants, Washington and Dallas their three remaining games.
Washington were spirited in defeat and amidst trying circumstances after 13 of their players were on the COVID list, crucially including quarterbacks Taylor Heinicke and Kyle Allen — both of whom were unavailable. Enter Garrett Gilbert, signed from New England’s practice squad less than week ago. After just four days in the building, Gilbert gave a fantastic account of himself during started his second ever career game.
The former Cowboys backup went 20-of-31 for 194 yards without throwing an interception, keeping the Football Team in the game for four quarters. Though try as he might, Gilbert and Washington were unable to overcome the absentees and Philadelphia’s running game.
For the fifth time this season, Philly ran for over 200 yards, amassing 238 in total. Star running back Miles Sanders was big-time as he set a a career-high with 131 yards on 18 carries. While backup Jordan Howard more than chipped in, adding 69 yards on 15 carries.
Eagles sophomore quarterback Jalen Hurts started shakily, throwing an interception and losing a fumble early — gifting Washington 10 easy points, but what matters is how he finished. Hurts went 20-of-26 for 296 yards with a touchdown and an interception — adding for 38 yards and two touchdowns on the ground.
Philadelphia’s offense thrived in the air in large part due to the superiority of tight end Dallas Goedert, who is thriving in Zach Ertz’s absence. The 26-year-old also set a career high, in receiving yards, with 135 yards on seven catches.
Meanwhile for Washington, it was a bad night on both sides of the ball. Ron Rivera’s defense gave up a whopping 7.4 yards per play. Their offense wasn’t much better, struggling in both the run and pass game — averaging just 4.4 yards per play. Critically, Washington lost the time of possession battle by almost 11 minutes. It’s one thing to know what the Eagles will do to you, and another to stop it as the Football Team found out. It certainly doesn’t help when you’re missing most of your defensive line to COVID and injury reasons. Though Johnathan Allen was bright spot for WFT, making 5 tackles-for-loss and sacking Jalen Hurts once.
Washington will hope to keep their faint playoff hopes alive at Dallas on Sunday Night Football. While Philadelphia host to the New York Giants as they look to spoil the Eagles’ playoff party as revenge for last season.
NFL announces Preseason TV schedule
An enormous 23 games will be shown on the league’s broadcast channel…this includes to quadruple-headers in Weeks 1 and 2 before two doses of triple-headers in Week 3.
The NFL announced this week there will be a record number of preseason games will be shown on NFL Network.
Let’s hope we’ll see more of this!
Importantly, all preseason games will be shown on NFL GamePass, which is fantastic news for international and American fans alike.
An enormous 23 games will be shown on the league’s broadcast channel will show eight games through Weeks 1-2 before a final seven during the third and final week of preseason.
This includes to quadruple-headers in Weeks 1 and 2 before two doses of triple-headers in Week 3.
The Football Team kick off NFL Network’s coverage on August 12 at New England, where we should get our first official look at Mac Jones in a Patriots uniform.
Trevor Lawrence is likely to hit your screens on August 14 as Urban Meyer and the Jags host AFC rivals, Cleveland.
Media and fans alike will be hoping to get a glimpse of Jordan Love too, which may come as early as Week 2 (August 21) at home to Zac Wilson and Gang Green.
Below is a full list of the games to air on NFL Network across the preseason:
Week 1
Thursday, August 12
7:30 PM ET – Washington Football Team vs. New England Patriots
Friday, August 13
7:00 PM ET – Buffalo Bills vs. Detroit Lions
10:00 PM ET – Dallas Cowboys vs. Arizona Cardinals
Saturday, August 14
1:00 PM ET – Miami Dolphins vs. Chicago Bears
4:00 PM ET – Denver Broncos vs. Minnesota Vikings
7:00 PM ET – Cleveland Browns vs. Jacksonville Jaguars
10:00 PM ET – Los Angeles Chargers vs. Los Angeles Rams
Sunday, August 15
1:00 PM ET – Carolina Panthers vs. Indianapolis Colts
Week 2
Thursday, August 19
7:30 PM ET – New England Patriots vs. Philadelphia Eagles
Friday, August 20
8:00 PM ET – Cincinnati Bengals vs. Washington Football Team
Saturday, August 21
1:00 PM ET – Buffalo Bills vs. Chicago Bears
4:25 PM ET – New York Jets vs. Green Bay Packers
7:30 PM ET – Detroit Lions vs. Pittsburgh Steelers
10:00 PM ET – Las Vegas Raiders vs. Los Angeles Rams
Sunday, August 22
1:00 PM ET – New York Giants vs. Cleveland Browns
7:30 PM ET – San Francisco 49ers vs. Los Angeles Chargers
Week 3
Friday, August 27
8:00 PM ET – Minnesota Vikings vs. Kansas City Chiefs
Saturday, August 28
1:00 PM ET – Green Bay Packers vs. Buffalo Bills
7:00 PM ET – Chicago Bears vs. Tennessee Titans
10:00 PM ET – Los Angeles Chargers vs. Seattle Seahawks
Sunday, August 29
1:00 PM ET – Jacksonville Jaguars vs. Dallas Cowboys
4:00 PM ET – Las Vegas Raiders vs. San Francisco 49ers
6:00 PM ET – New England Patriots vs. New York Giants
For American fans — NFL Network will blackout live games shown concurrently in local markets.
NFL announces joint practices - Who your team is playing and why
After practicing against your own same players throughout OTAs and training camp, it is a great opportunity to move through different plays, schemes against foreign opponents.
Not all 32 teams are participating in joint practices though. Only 21 teams are will involve themselves with another organization.
Joint practices aren’t a new phenomenon in the NFL. They essentially act as an opportunity for teams and players to go through scrimmages against different personnel.
After practicing against your own same players throughout OTAs and training camp, it is a great opportunity to move through different plays, schemes against foreign opponents.
Not all 32 teams are participating in joint practices though. Only 21 teams are will involve themselves with another organization.
New Orleans and Jacksonville were set to meet in Louisiana on August 20, but since the release of the schedule both teams have confirmed otherwise.
Teams NOT involved in joint practices this offseason:
Arizona Cardinals
Buffalo Bills
Cincinnati Bengals
Detroit Lions
Houston Texans
Jacksonville Jaguars
Kansas City Chiefs
New Orleans Saints
Pittsburgh Steelers
Seattle Seahawks
Washington Football Team
Some teams will engage in two bouts of joint practices; the Los Angeles Rams, New England Patriots, Miami Dolphins, Carolina Panthers, Philadelphia Eagles, and both the New York clubs (Jets and Giants).
Arguably, the most famous joint practice moment of recent memory involved then-Houston’s DeAndre Hopkins and Washington’s DeAngelo Hall getting into it. Things got interesting, real quick…
Thankfully for DB’s everywhere their ankles won’t be tested by D-Hop until preseason at the earliest.
Full list of this year’s joint practices:
Courtesy of NFL Communications
LeSean McCoy open to another super bowl tilt before retirement
Fresh off a second Super Bowl ring in two years, LeSean McCoy is hungry to make it a three-peat.
The former Eagle won’t be with Tom Brady and Tampa Bay this season and have one last run at the Lombardi Trophy.
What will a team get in the 33-year-old running back? “A veteran that wants to win, knows how to win and how to be a great teammate and leader,” McCoy said when speaking to NFL Network on Tuesday.
There were thoughts, about hanging up the cleats, McCoy admits, though teams’ interest in his services has relit the fire.
I was contemplating retirement. I’ve had some teams reach out. I think right now it’s just all about being in shape, being ready for the call and also the right road, the right fit,” he said.
“I want to go to a team where I can compete. I want to go to a team where I can contribute and make a playoff, hopefully championship run.That’s the biggest thing, I think from winning two championships it’s hard to go to a team where you don’t see anything happening.
“That’s something that I think about winding my career down and I’m about to finish out. I want to go somewhere so I can have some fun and win.”
We also can’t mention LeSean McCoy without throwing to this incredible story from his days with the Buffalo Bills…
Devonta Smith hoping to recapture old magic with jalen hurts
Former Alabama duo Devonta Smith and Jalen Hurts were reunited after the Eagles traded with division rival Dallas to swoop on Smith with the 10th Pick in this year’s NFL draft.
Smith’s selection has brought newfound optimism to Philly after a shaky offseason which included the firing of Super Bowl winning Head Coach Doug Pederson and the hiring of first-time HC, Nick Sirianni.
Prior to the commencement of OTAs, Smith downplayed the symmetry between he and Hurts.
“Just because we had that connection in college doesn’t mean that it’s the same now,” Smith told Philadelphia reporters.
Now though, his tune has changed. Addressing media at a recent football camp, Alabama’s Heisman Winner hinted there may be some magic left.
“It’s great to have that connection come back,” Smith remarked, via John Clark of NBC Sports Philadelphia. “It just feels like old times. Like back in college.”
If Smith — let alone Hurts — can produce anywhere near his numbers under Nick Saban, Philly won’t have to wait too long to restore the house that Doug built.