Eagles at Commanders game recap: 3rd quarter summary

Third Quarter

Three turnovers have been the real difference in this game so far. The Eagles last 4 drives ended: punt, punt, punt, missed field goal. Washington’s defense picked up their game in the 2nd quarter. If the offense stops giving the ball away, this game is still winnable.

Following the Commanders kick, Kenny Pickett brought his offense out for its 9th drive of the game at the 25-yard line following a crunching tackle on the kickoff by Tyler Owens.

Lattimore was called for pass interference on 2nd down, moving the ball 38 yards the wrong direction. The replay showed that it was a cunning play by Brown to draw the DPI call.

Two plays later, there was another DPI flag against Lattimore; this one was a travesty and put the ball at the 11-yard line.

Two short runs by Barkley led to 3rd & 3 at the 4-yard line. On this huge play, the Eagles went wildcat to Barkley, who showed pass, but was tackled for a 2-yard loss by Johnny Newton.

Elliott came on to kick the field goal to make the score 24-14. The 6-play drive covered 69 yards with the two questionable DPI calls being the key plays.

Following the kickoff, Washington took over at their 37-yard line with a chance to get within 4 points for the first time since the scoring began.

Daniels dirted the ball on a busted screen on the first play; then, Dyami Brown put both hands on a screen pass to the right and then the ball was on the ground following a hit by Zack Baun. It was ruled a fumble recovered by the Eagles, which looked like a good call to me. This is the 3rd Commanders lost fumble and fourth turnover of the game.

Turnovers are killing the Commanders offense.

Gardner-Johnson was called for a 2nd personal foul and was ejected from the game.

With 11:24 in the quarter, Philly has the ball 1st & 10 at their 42-yard line with a chance to expand the lead to 3 scores.

On first down, Clelin Ferrell stripped the ball out of Pickett’s hand from behind, causing a sack-fumble, but an Eagles player, Lane Johnson, landed on the ball to retain possession. Washington’s defense is playing well.

On 3rd & 16 from the 36, Barkley gained just a yard, but the drive is extended by a facemask penalty against Daron Payne. Another huge penalty to negate a great defensive stand.

The defense kept coming, though. Barkley was buried on 1st down.

But then Pickett threw a 13-yard completion to Davonta Smith. After a scramble and a gun for no gain by Barkley, it was 3rd & 9 at the Washington 26-yard line. A stop here could force a field goal and keep the Commanders in the game.

On the 3rd down play, Lattimore drew his 3rd defensive pass interference flag of the half, giving the Eagles a fresh set of downs at the 29-yard line.

Barkley was stuffed again on 1st down, and following a short scramble by Pickett, it was 3rd & 6 at the 26 yard line. Unfortunately, PIckett hit on another completion to Smith for 12 yards and a 1st down at the 13-yard line.

A short Barkley run and an incomplete pass well-defended by Lattimore in the end zone brought up 3rd & 8 at the 11-yard line. On the money down, Philly burned a time out before Dante Fowler broke through for a sack on Kenny Pickett from his LDE position.

Elliott hit his second field goal of the half from 40 yards to make it 27-14 with 03:31 remaining in the 3rd quarter.

The Washington defense is doing its job. Now it’s time for the offense to step up with a couple of scoring drives.

Following the kickoff, Washington started the next drive at the 39-yard line after another good return by McCaffrey.

On 3rd & 4 from the 45-yard line, Jeremy McNichols broke a tackle to earn the first down, and then Daniels hit Zaccheaus for another 10 yards and anther 1st down at the PHI 40-yard line.

Two plays later, Washington faced 3rd & 11, and Daniels threw incomplete on a good pass break up by the Eagles secondary on a target for Terry McLaurin in the middle of the field.

On 4th & 11, Jayden Daniels — stop me if you’ve heard this before — scrambled for 30 yards and a huge first down at the Philly 11-yard line as the 3rd quarter came to an end with the Eagles leading 27-14.