Eagles soar after slow start
Carson Wentz tossed four touchdown passes, and the Philadelphia Eagles overcame losing ninetime Pro Bowl left tackle Jason Peters in a 34-24 win over Washington on Monday night.
Wentz threw for 268 yards and ran for a career-best 63 after a shaky start to lead the NFL-best Eagles (6-1), who host the 49ers on Sunday, to their fifth straight win. But the victory was costly because Peters was carted off the field with a knee injury in the third quarter.
Kirk Cousins had 303 yards passing and three TDs for Washington (3-3).
The Eagles went threeand-out three times in their first four drives and had only 57 total yards before Wentz hit Mack Hollins in stride with a perfect 64yard TD pass to tie it at 10.
That got the offense rolling.
Wentz connected with Stanford product Zach Ertz for 46 yards on the next series and found him again for a 4-yard TD pass to make it 17-10.
After getting the second-half kickoff, the Eagles drove 86 yards for another touchdown. Peters was injured during the series, and fans chanted his name while teammates surrounded the cart.
Wentz finished the drive off with a play that Peters would appreciate.
While being hit by two defenders and falling forward, Wentz lofted a 9-yard TD pass to Corey Clement.
Wentz fired a 10-yard TD pass to Nelson Agholor to expand the lead to 3117. Wentz kept that drive alive by escaping a sack and running 17 yards on third-and-8.
Cousins tossed a 7-yard touchdown pass to Chris Thompson to give Washington a 10-3 lead. He connected with Jordan Reed on a 5-yard TD to cut the deficit to 24-17 and threw a 12-yard pass to Reed to cap the scoring.
The Eagles were penalized on four straight plays to start their first possession before Wentz was intercepted by Quinton Dunbar on a deep pass to Torrey Smith on second-and-31.
Philadelphia swept Washington for the first time since 2013 and has a commanding lead in the NFC East. The Cowboys and Washington are tied for second place.
ELLIOTT PLAYS ON >> Dallas Cowboys running back Ezekiel Elliott will get at least one more game before another court ruling in his fight against the NFL over a six-game suspension on domestic violence allegations. .
The 22-year-old Elliott was cleared for Sunday’s visit to Washington when a federal judge in New York turned down an NFL request for an expedited hearing on the latest attempt to stop the suspension by players’ union attorneys representing Elliott. GIANTS STICKING WITH MANNNG >> Ben McAdoo is sticking with Eli Manning as the New York Giants’ quarterback in what has become a frustrating, lost season.
McAdoo made it clear that the Giants’ 1-6 record is not grounds for handing the quarterback job to third-round draft pick Davis Webb (Cal) so the team can evaluate him in regular-season action.
Webb showed a strong arm and a good touch in training camp. He never got any quality time in the preseason and he has been inactive for every regularseason game. DOLPHINS’ MOORE IN FOR
INJURED CUTLER >> Matt Moore will start by default this week for the Miami Dolphins, leaving their simmering quarterback controversy on hold. Jay Cutler suffered multiple cracked ribs in Miami’s latest win and is unlikely to be available Thursday at Baltimore, coach Adam Gase said. BROWNS STALWART THOMAS OUT FOR SEASON >> Numb from losing, the Cleveland Browns suffered perhaps their biggest loss yet Joe Thomas won’t play again this season. The perennial Pro Bowl left tackle and iron man tore his left triceps Sunday against Tennessee, and an MRI confirmed the severity of an injury that has dealt another devastating blow to an already floundering franchise.