Monkey off our back: Eagles 20, Redskins 13

This crucial “W” may have just saved our season… or it merely prolongs our final assessment of a flawed team. Too early to tell…but it sure feels good to go into Eagles Bye week with a win.

TE Brent Celek hits paydirt with a crucial reception for the eventual game-winning difference…

LeSean McCoy ran for 126 yards and a touchdown and safety Kurt Coleman victimized Rex Grossman with three interceptions as the Eagles (2-4) snapped a four-game losing streak with a 20-13 victory over the Washington Redskins (3-2).

McCoy, who became the first player in franchise history to open the season with touchdowns in six straight games, ran for 20 yards and a crucial first down on the Eagles’ final series to help preserve the win over the ‘Skins.

A defense that played its best overall game of the season helped make up for an uneven passing day by Mike Vick (18 for 31, 237 yards, one TD, one interception). Vick was forced out of the game briefly (dirt in his eyes?), before his replacement, Vince Young, tossed an interception while under pressure in the third quarter. But Coleman came up with his second interception right after that to give the momentum back to the Eagles.

Nate Allen added an interception for the Eagles, who limited the Redskins to 287 yards and just one conversion in 10 third-down attempts.

John Beck replaced Grossman in the fourth quarter and rallied his team for a touchdown, but the Eagles were able to run out the clock by running for two first downs behind a tattered offensive line that was down to its last two healthy tackles, Todd Herremans and Sir Winston Justice…

Here’s Guest Columnist Eliot Shorr-Parks from Buzz on Broad.com … and his analysis of the game:

Summary: It took 3 interceptions by Kurt Coleman, a Rex Grossman implosion, and a Brent Celek sighting- but the Philadelphia Eagles have finally won a game. Facing the division leading NFC East leading Washington Redskins, the Eagles went into Washington and saved their season with a 20-13 win. The win puts the Eagles at 2-4 heading into their Bye Week. The Redskins fell to 3-2. 

Just when Eagles fan had to see another heartbreaking loss coming their way, LeSean McCoy stepped up big like he had all day and ran the clock down to secure the victory. McCoy ended the day with 28 carries for 126 yards and 1 touchdown. It was a game of many ups and downs, filled with things the Eagles can build upon as they now enter the Bye Week.

Here is a breakdown of how they scored, what went wrong for the Eagles, and what went right. 

Game Changing Player: Kurt Coleman, Eagles. Today was a game that the defense had to win, and it was Coleman that led the way. Coleman finished with 3 interceptions and made a big defensive play on Redskins tight end Fred Davis in the 3rd quarter. 

Goat of the Game: Rex Grossman, Redskins- Grossman had his first chance to really defend his preseason statement that the Redskins would win the NFC East today, and failed in spectacular fashion. Grossman was pulled at the beginning of the 4th quarter after throwing 4 interceptions and looking lost most of the day…

Quarterbacks:

How They Scored:

Eagles 7, Redskins 0- B. Celek 7 yd TD catch from M. Vick. 6:50 1Q. 11 plays, 82 yds in 5:12

Eagles 14, Redskins 0- L.McCoy 1 yd TD run 14:15 1Q. 10 plays, 72 yds in 5:40

Eagles 17, Redskins 0- A. Henery 28 yd FG 6:58 2Q. 10 plays, 69 yds 4:58

Eagles 20, Redskins 0- A. Henery 24 yd FG 2:27 2Q. 8 plays, 41 yds in 4:13

Eagles 20, Redskins 3- G. Gano 50 yd FG :35 2Q. 8 plays 38 yds in 1:57

Eagles 20, Redskins 6- G.Gano 26 yd FG 12:40 3Q.  5 plays, 52 yards in 2:20

Eagles 20, Redskins 13- J.Beck 2 yd. run  2:44 4Q. 10 plays, 80 yards in 3:40

What Went Wrong:

Kick Off Coverage: The Redskins offense was not able to get much going in the first half, but their kickoff game had some success against the Eagles. It says something that Redskins kick off returner Brandon Banks was willing to take it out from 5 yards deep in the endzone multiple times. Alex Henery saved a kick from being brought back for a touchdown at the beginning of the first half. 

Penalties: The penalties were present again for the Eagles against the Redskins, as they were called for multiple false starts and personal fouls. Kurt Coleman had a big penalty in the 2nd quarter as the Eagles had the Redskins pinned deep on 3rd down, but Coleman bailed them out with a big hit on a defenseless receiver. 

Tipped Passes: Vick has had entirely too many passes tipped this season, and many of them have resulted in an interception. Vick was lucky that of the multiple balls that were tipped in the first half, none of them resulted in an interception. He was not so lucky on the first drive of the second half, as he had a ball tipped at the line and intercepted in the endzone. Needless to say, turnovers kill momentum, and for a team that desperately is seeking any kind of momentum on offense, tipped passes are a good way to kill it. 

Nate Allen: Allen looked good today against the Redskins, but was beat on his interception in the first half. Luckily for Allen, Grossman underthrew the pass and Allen was able to come down with the ball. Against any other quarterback, Allen is remembered for being beat deep and not getting an interception. Ironically, on a play when Allen made a good read on the ball and jumped the route, he dropped what looked like an interception. 

Vince Young: Vince Young came in for two plays, but he looked about as bad as you could for those two plays. On the first, Young tried to scramble up the middle but was tripped up and nearly fumbled the ball. On the second play, Young looked like he tried to throw the ball away, but instead threw it right into the arms of Redskins cornerback DeAngelo Hall. 

What Went Right:

LeSean McCoy: McCoy predicted before the season that he would make the Pro-Bowl, and the way he is playing right now, not only will be there— he’ll be starting. McCoy turned in an outstanding performance when his team needed it, as he found the open holes and hit them hard. Not many linebackers will beat McCoy to the edge, and McCoy did a great job of getting out to the edge on his touchdown rush in the 2nd quarter. 

Juan Castillo: Coaching for his job, Castillo’s unit came out and played a good game. The things that haunted them in the last 4 weeks- missed tackles, blown coverage and run defense- were either nowhere to be found or limited, and the numbers proved it. After being run all over by the Buffalo Bills last weekend to start the game, Castillo’s defense held the Redskins to only 23 first quarter yards. When they were burned for a long pass from Grossman to start the 2nd half, they responded and kept the Redskins out of the endzone. The defense stepped up again after Vick threw an interception to start the second half, and forced a punt by the Redskins. 

Kurt Coleman: Inserted back in the starting lineup, Coleman made his presence felt early as he picked off a Rex Grossman pass on the Redskins first drive. It was a poor throw by Grossman, but with the way things have gone for the Eagles, the fact Coleman stepped up and made the play was big. Coleman made an even bigger play later in the game when he stepped in front of a Rex Grossman pass on the 6-yard line and made another interception. To say the play was huge would be an understatement, as Vick had just been knocked out and Young’s interception had just been thrown. 

Michael Vick: Vick’s numbers did not end up being great, but like he has all season, he made something out of nothing as he was pressured all day by the Redskins defense. Vick had a couple of big runs for first downs in the game, but none was bigger then his rush in the 3rd quarter. The Eagles were starting to lose momentum, but on 3rd and 10, Vick went though a tackle hole and up the sideline for 31 yards for the first. 

Roughing the Passer: The Eagles offense got bailed out when Redskins LB Brian Orakpo nailed Michael Vick with a helmet to helmet hit in the first quarter. A bad snap by Jason Kelce sent the ball boucning towards the endzone, leaving Vick no choice but to throw it out of bounds as he was hit. Luckily for the Eagles, Orakpo hit Vick’s helmet, and sent the Eagles to 1st and 10 on the 31 instead of 3rd and 12 at 16. The referees are finally paying attention to Vick’s earlier complaints….

Brent Celek: Celek has been criticized heavily for his lack of production in the passing game. But he came up big in the first quarter when he caught a 7-yard touchdown pass from Michael Vick. Celek did a great job faking the block before going over the middle. He was wide open as the Redskins fell for it. The touchdown was big, and gave the Eagles the early lead they desperately needed. 

Dion Lewis: Ronnie Brown has been on the sideline since his now infamous “attempted pass” against San Francisco, and Lewis showed at the end of the first why he could be around for a while. Lewis showed flashes of what made him a star at Pittsburgh when he bulldozed 8 yards up the middle to the Redskins 1. It was originally ruled a touchdown, but was called back….but great run at a crucial time by Lewis.

What’s Next: After a brutal start to the season, the Eagles finally get a chance to step back and recover as they enter their Bye Week. They play the Dallas Cowboys in two weeks, in what is another huge divisional game. 

Thanks, Eliot… we’ll continue to break down the positives and negatives of what we saw Sunday against the Redskins… but for right now, I’m just happy with the “W”… as it was getting very tense around here the last few weeks.