By Art Beitchman, DOCBLOG
After two weeks of off-the-field turmoil the NFL would like to forget, but can’t, the Redskins and Eagles played a 60-minute white knuckler of an NFC East death struggle won by the Birds 37-34 Sunday at the Linc.
The game ignited the bitterness between the two rivals, 2014 style, that will be remembered as “Body Bag Bowl” part II. The Eagles’ third victory will stand out as the game QB Nick Foles earned his “Wings,” getting hammered play after play, while he kept delivering TD passes, and leading the Birds to their first 3-0 start since the 2004 Super Bowl year.
With the Redskins stacking the box, virtually rendering the running game moot, Eagles coach Chip Kelly just tilted the field on the Skins and utilized WR Jeremy Maclin for 154 yards, capped off with a 27 yard TD in the fourth quarter. And rookie Jordan Matthews broke the seal on his NFL career with two TD receptions as he is starting to resemble the player they drafted. Chris Polk made the most of his first action of the season, running a kickoff return 102 yards for the Birds’ first score.
Center Jason Kelce was the biggest casualty suffered by the Eagles, and he will require surgery to repair his torn stomach muscles. He is expected to be out two months. The constant juggling of the offensive line with backups — all the while winning games — is a real testament to the overall depth on the O-line, with another big test coming this Sunday at the 49ers new Levi Stadium, in Santa Clara.
Since 1990, NFL team that start the season 3-0 make the playoffs 75 percent of the time, and the Eaagles, Bengals and Cardinals are the only remaining undefeated teams in the NFL.
