Who can you stop if you can’t stop a backup quarterback from leading a 92-yard game-winning touchdown drive with less than two minutes left?
Recently, the Eagles’ answer has been nobody.
Since Russell Wilson took over at quarterback in 2020, the Seahawks had not put together a game-winning drive of at least 90 yards in the closing two minutes of a game.
The Eagles hadn’t given up a game-winning drive of at least 90 yards in the last two minutes since the Bears and Brian Griese in 2007.
However, here we are.
In Matt Patricia’s debut game as de facto defensive coordinator, the Eagles’ defense was excellent for 58 minutes. They tackled, covered, and hit. On their first eight drives, they limited the Seahawks to 13 points, 205 yards, and 4-for-12 on third down.
That’s not awful at all.
Then calamity struck.
Drew Lock – Drew Lock, for crying out loud – marched the Seahawks 92 yards in 10 plays during the last 1:52 to defeat the Eagles 20-17 at Lumen Field in Seattle.
Drew Lock – Drew Lock, for crying out loud – marched the Seahawks 92 yards in 10 plays during the last 1:52 to defeat the Eagles 20-17 at Lumen Field in Seattle.
Lock passed for 208 yards, 44 percent of which came in the final two minutes of the game.
The Seahawks gained 292 yards, with 31 percent of those yards coming in the final two minutes.
The Seahawks had two 25-yard or longer plays in the final two minutes.
The Eagles’ defense simply ceased to exist. In the NFL, two bad minutes of football may easily cancel out 58 good minutes. And now the Eagles have lost three straight games, dropping from 10-1 and atop the football world to 10-4 and coming off three consecutive humiliating defeats.
Lock completed three touchdown passes to D.K. Metcalf with 2022 all-pro James Bradberry in coverage on the Seahawks’ last drive.
Eighteen yards to pull the Seahawks out of the bind and to the 26-yard line, 34 yards to the Eagles’ 29 on a third-and-10 with 40 seconds left, and 29 yards for a touchdown with 28 seconds left.
Ballgame.
“Very frustrating,” added Bradberry. “I need to improve my game.” I simply did not do properly today.”
Bradberry stated he didn’t expect safety help on the touchdown.
“I was just playing with the sticks,” he explained. “We were in man.”
When asked what he could have done differently, he paused for a time before replying, “Nothing, really.” He simply rushed right by me since I was sitting at the sticks.”
It was heavily hinted that the play call directed him to sit at the sticks, allowing Metcalf to speed by him.
“I think we did pretty well,” Bradberry remarked. “I just didn’t play well today.”
The final drive sealed a 10-point comeback by a squad that had lost four consecutive games with their backup quarterback.
This was not Brock Purdy’s 49ers. It wasn’t Dak Prescott or the Dallas Cowboys. Drew Lock had lost seven consecutive starts dating back to December of 2020.
“Felt like we did a lot of good things in this game,” Kevin Byard said. “I didn’t handle it really well. It’s just a two-minute drill, situational football, and we need to improve there.
Obviously, we had a fantastic first half. We did some excellent things, but we didn’t play properly in the most important scenarios, which were near the conclusion of the game. At the end of the game, we weren’t very good.”
The Eagles were last defeated on a go-ahead touchdown in the final 30 seconds of a game in October 2015 at FedEx Field by Kirk Cousins’ 4-yard TD pass to Pierre Garcon with 26 seconds left.
The last time they were defeated in the last 30 seconds by a touchdown of at least 20 yards was in 2001 at the Vet on Jake Plummer’s 35-yard 4th-down TD to MarTay Jenkins with 17 seconds left.
“They made some plays, and we didn’t,” remarked Fletcher Cox. “That’s the way football works.” It was just another one of those games. It’s already three games in a row. Everything is still the same. We did not finish the game. We didn’t play strong enough defense. Obviously, we didn’t do a good enough job as a team, and I believe the most important thing is that we need to focus on ourselves. We must stick together. This crew has had a difficult three weeks.
They, like all good teams, face some difficulties, no matter how good they are. I still believe we’re a great team, but we’re up against a lot of obstacles. We’re quickly running out of options. We’re in the playoffs, but we’re keeping an eye on the broader picture.”
The Eagles complete the regular season against the Giants, Cards, and Giants, and despite everything, they will win the NFC East if they win all three.
But it’s fair to wonder if they can beat anyone right now.
“We’ve got to win a game,” stated Cox. “We have to rekindle that feeling.” We haven’t had that sensation. I’m currently ill.”
