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
Ryan Fitzpatrick believes Washington is the best situation he’s had
“Physically, I feel great, mentally, emotionally. I’m in the right spot. I just think I am set up for success this year and really looking forward to it.”
New Washington Football Team quarterback Ryan Fitzpatrick has endeared himself to his new team and fans alike after stating his new team may be his best situation yet.
“This is the best situation I’ve ever been in or the best situation that I’ve ever gone into as the guy,” Fitzpatrick said on the ESPN Daily podcast.
“I signed to be the starter in Houston. I signed to be the starter in Miami, so this is now the third team that I’ve signed to come in and be the starter for.
“I just feel like the way that I’m playing the last four years, kind of the progression of my career, it doesn’t really make a whole lot of sense that 17 years in, physically, I feel great, mentally, emotionally. I’m in the right spot. I just think I am set up for success this year and really looking forward to it.”
Fitzpatrick, now 38 years young, has played for 8 teams — excluding Washington — for context, that’s 25% of the league!
Despite father time closing in, Fitzmagic is still feeling it and is ready to rock out in the nation’s capital.
He is embracing whatever time he has left playing the game he (almost always) loves.
“The other major point in my career when there was a transition was after my year in 2016 with the Jets, which was miserable and the first time in my life I hated football and just didn’t want to play anymore,” Fitzpatrick said. “Since then, it’s almost like I’ve been playing on borrowed time. The last four, I’ve really been able to enjoy. Hopefully everybody has been able to see that for me on the field, from some of the goofy stuff and the interviews. My personality has really come out the last four.”
According to the latest Fanduel odds, Fitzmagic and WFT are second favorite to clinch the NFC East (+270), trailing only Dak Prescott and his Dallas Cowboys (+105).
“I’m ready to play ball” - Adrian Peterson wants year 15 in NFL
Despite accomplishing so much throughout his decorated NFL career, Adrian Peterson isn’t done wrecking opposition defenses yet — well, according to him anyway.
Peterson may not be the force he once was but All Day believes teams will be interested in him soon enough.
"The training is going well and I'm going to control the things that I can control right now, and, when that time comes, somebody will give me a call," Peterson said, via Aaron Wilson of SportsTalk 790.
“That’s all I’m asking for. My body feels good. I came out healthy from last season. My body feels strong. I still feel young. I still feel good. I’m ready to play ball.”
AP knows what he’s got plenty left in the tank and has his sights set on getting at least another 450 yards to break Barry Sanders’ rushing total. The feat would move Peterson up one spot to third on the NFL’s all-time rushing yards list.
"Yeah, I've been chasing it for a long time. It would be nice to finally get one."
Peterson has still managed to cause havoc in later years, rushing 156 times for 604 yards and seven touchdowns with Detroit last season.
Who will play under the franchise tag in 2021?
The NFL list of franchise tagged players is relatively short this season. Only six players will go through the 2021-22 NFL season under the conditions of the tag.
Dallas Cowboys quarterback Dak Prescott, Giants defensive lineman Leonard Williams and Broncos safety Justin Simmons were all tagged and looked likely to remain that way until they agreed new deals with their respective teams.
Carolina right tackle Taylor Moton was similarly fortunate after agreeing a four-year, $72 million deal with the Panthers just before today’s deadline.
The unlucky six on this season’s franchise tag are:
Chris Godwin (Tampa Bay Buccaneers WR)
Allen Robinson (Chicago Bears WR)
Marcus Maye (New York Jets S)
Marcus Williams (New Orleans Saints S)
Cam Robinson (Jacksonville Jaguars T)
Brandon Scherff (Washington Football Team G)
Terry McLaurin - WFT receivers are ready to flourish after new additions
There’s a reason he’s called Scary Terry.
McLaurin was Washington’s undisputed #1 receiver last season, establishing himself as one of the best pass-catchers in the NFC East. With the addition of free-agent wideouts Curtis Samuel and Adam Humphries this offseason, Scary Terry should be left in single coverage far more often…frightening indeed.
“I just think it’s going to open it up, for me personally, down the field, intermediate and short,” McLaurin said, via the WFT website. “But also, it’s gonna allow other guys to make some plays. . . . Most top receivers have another guy or another two guys outside of them and that helps everybody.”
Head Coach Ron Rivera delivered new quarterback Ryan Fitzpatrick and his receiver group another gift via the draft, adding North Carolina stud Dyami Brown.
One thing is for sure, the Football Team will be a terrifying prospect on offense with burners on the outside with a little bit of Fitzmagic sprinkled in.