It was another rough day for the Washington Commanders, but unlike the previous week, there was no second half comeback. From start to finish, the Philadelphia Eagles were in control.
Jalen Hurts tossed three touchdown passes and 279 yards in the first half, helping hand the Commanders a 1-2 record following a dismal 24-8 defeat.
There was a surplus of frustration and a lack of offensive production in the first half, as the unit dragged its feet in the first two quarters for the second straight game. The passing attack, which was the most productive part of the unit in the first two games, was almost nonexistent thanks to Carson Wentz getting overwhelmed with six sacks in the first half. Through the first two quarters, Wentz had completed just three passes. He was sacked nine times in the game overall.
The defense played well enough until explosive plays from the Eagles' playmakers slowly started to become more consistent. Washington's defense did an admirable job of containing Philadelphia's rushing attack, but DeVonta Smith provided a spark that continued to ignite the Eagles' offense with a career high 169 yards. Hurts finished the day with 340 yards.
The Eagles began to roll after a 45-yard reception from Smith got the Eagles in position for a 32-yard field goal. Two plays into the Commanders' ensuing drive, the ball slipped from Wentz's grasp and was recovered by the Eagles, setting up a 23-yard touchdown pass from Hurts to tight end Dallas Goedert.
A fourth-down stand from the Commanders did provide some energy, but it was short-lived, as the offense punted the ball back to Philadelphia four plays later. The Eagles then marched down the field on six plays covering 64 yards, and on a third-and-8 at the Commanders' 9-yard line, A.J. Brown stretched into the end zone for the score, extending the lead to 17 points.
The Eagles were not done yet, though. After the Commanders pulled off a third-down stop at their own 1-yard line, Hurts ended the half with a two-yard touchdown to Smith.
By the time the half was over, Philadelphia had out-gained Washington 322-50 net yards. After the sacks, the Commanders' passing game accounted for -16 yards. For the game, the Eagles put up 400 yards compared to the Commanders' 240.
The defense did a better job of keeping Hurts and the Eagles out of the end zone, but the offense did little to muster a response. Two of Washington's most meaningful drives ended with a turnover on downs, one of which was at the 1-yard line.
Washington did get on the scoreboard with a safety when Daron Payne stuffed Boston Scott in the end zone. Later in the fourth quarter, Antonio Gibson crossed the plane on a one-yard run.
The fourth Washington Commanders (1-2) regular season game is Sunday, October 2nd vs Dallas at AT&T Stadium, The Don Geronimo BIG Pregame Show at 10am, Commanders Pregame at 11am, Kickoff at 1pm. Listen for your chance to win tickets all-season long on BIG100, DC101, WASH FM, HOT99.5 & WMZQ!
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