‘Big Play’ Slay finally earns his name
It was a long time coming but the Eagles’ marquee free agent addition finally lived up to his “Big Play” moniker Sunday.
Darius Slay notched his first interception with the Eagles, picking off Andy Dalton in the fourth quarter Sunday of a 37-17 loss to the Cowboys.
Was it worth a three-year, $50 million contract plus third and fifth-round draft picks?
Defensive coordinator Jim Schwartz pushed for Slay, a guy he’d drafted in 2013 with the Detroit Lions. Eagles veteran defensive end Brandon Graham sounded like there’s a chance Schwartz isn’t around for Slay’s next Big Play with the Birds.
“He’s just been coaching us, doing the same things that he does,” Graham said. “That’s what I would do if
I’m about to be done or go out. I’m going to go out being me. I’m going to go out making sure I put my players in great position to win. It sucks that we didn’t get it done for him this year and I know things always move around. But that’s above me. I just know that while he’s been here, he’s been a great coach.”
Graham and Vinny Curry sacked Dalton, Graham collecting his eighth of the season. But the Eagles defense gave up 513 yards Sunday, including 377 passing yards and three touchdowns to the 33-year-old Dalton.
Dalton is 3-0 lifetime against the Eagles, beating the Birds twice while playing for the Bengals.
Michael Gallup (two TD catches) and Amari Cooper each netted 121 receiving yards. Zeke Elliott rushed for 105 yards.
A total of 990 yards was gained by both teams, a record in the 121-game history
of games between the teams.
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The Eagles amassed 477 yards, rookie quarterback Jalen Hurts throwing for
342 yards and two TDs with two picks and rushing for 69 yards. Hurts also lost a fumble.
Sacked three times, Hurts played through a couple of
hard hits in the second quarter It’s not a loss, it’s a lesson,” said Hurts, who led the Eagles to a 14-3 lead in the second quarter. “That’s how I look at it. And we truly will be better. We’re going to learn from it. There’s no doubt in my mind. That failure kind of teaches you a leslast week. Barnett flagged on the play.
Cornerback Keyvon Seymour wasn’t billed for the shot he put on Dan Arnold, which drew a roughness penalty, earlier in that game against the Arizona Cardinals.
Barnett was scratched Sunday with a calf injury. Seymour was placed on injured reserve with a knee issue.
was son and that pain does nothing but motivate you.
“I think it’s a big-time learning experience. You’ve got to make the plays when you have the opportunity, and I take it very personally.
Today I came up short.”
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Fletcher Cox fought off a neck injury that kept him from practicing much of the week to run his streak to 58 straight regular season starts, second-longest ••• among active players behind The Eagles also scratched only Dalvin Tomlinson of the quarterback Nate Sudfeld, Giants. wide receivers JJ Arcega-Wh
However, Cox was unable iteside and John Hightower, to complete the first half. He running back Jason Huntentered the weekend tied for ley, linebacker Duke Riley fifth among all NFL defen(biceps), tight end Richard sive tackles with 6.5 sacks. Rodgers (ankle) and defen
.“
Jason Kelce started his sive end Josh Sweat (wrist),
104th straight regular season who was placed on injured game, tops among centers. reserve.
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The NFL fined Eagles defensive end Derek Barnett
$10,500 for unnecessary roughness for hitting DeAndre Hopkins out of bounds
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DeSean Jackson’s lone reception Sunday, an 81-yard TD catch, was his 25th reception of 60-or more yards, the most by any NFL player.