Pederson: Wentz-to-Sanders TD one of best
PHILADELPHIA >> It won’t rank as one of the top Eagles highlights of all time, a formidable list topped by DeSean Jackson’s walk-off punt return to beat the Giants and such iconic moments as the Philly Special.
But take it from Doug Pederson, a man with 21 years in the NFL as a player and a head coach. You’re going to have a tough time finding a better scoring reception than Carson Wentz’s 15-yard throw to Miles Sanders in the 37-27 victory over Washington Sunday.
Wentz broke free of the pocket and in front of the Philly bench, looped the ball over three defenders into the back corner of the end zone.
Sanders literally sat down in the corner to turn it into six points, both butt cheeks tapping the turf to make it count.
It took the replay review people quite a bit of time to confirm it because let’s face it, it was incredibly unusual to judge a catch when both feet are up in the air, not on the ground.
Asked to rate the play, Pederson was just as stupefied as the review crew. He tried to explain the throw, then morphed into the catch.
“I saw it live and I had a great view, right down the sideline from where I was standing, and it was one of the most impressive throws I’ve seen honestly in my career, either as a player or a coach,” Pederson said. “I mean, it was just an impressive throw. Impressive, probably more so the catch, obviously, where Miles was. There were, I believe three Redskins and an Eagle all lined up in a straight line, basically, between Carson and Miles.
“Just a tremendous play by both of those guys. By Carson, to extend the play. Just unbelievable, unbelievable play in that game and one that we needed.”
The score gave the Eagles a 17-14 lead in the third quarter.
“I had a regular flat route,” Sanders said. “Carson started scrambling so I tried to get in the back of the end zone. I tried to stay in the corner because the linebacker that was on me thought I was going to go across the end zone. I’m happy Carson saw me, and
I just tried to make a good catch.”
Sanders rushed for 122 yards and a touchdown, becoming the first Eagle to get 100 rushing yards in 47 games. Sanders certainly knows of LeGarrette Blount, who thundered for 136 yards in a
26-24 win over the Los Angeles Chargers on Oct.
1, 2017.
“It’s awesome, Sanders said.
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It looks like the Eagles could return a handful of key players for their Sunday showed at the Linc with the Dallas Cowboys. Both teams are 7-7.
If the Eagles lose, the Cowboys clinch the NFC East pennant and the playoff man,” berth. A win and the Eagles have to dispose of the New York Giants in the regular season finale to move to 9-7 and clinch the division. If the Eagles lose to the Giants and the Cowboys beat Washington in Week 17, both teams would finish 8-8 and the Cowboys would hold the tiebreaker for better division record.
At any rate, Pederson said he wasn’t going to “risk further injury with anybody for a game” when asked about his injured players. But Pederson wouldn’t rule out offensive tackle Lane Johnson (ankle), wide receiver Nelson Agholor (knee), defensive end Derek Barnett (shoulder) or running back
Jordan Howard (stinger).
“Everybody is trending in the right direction,” Pederson said. “I’m optimistic. Lane obviously is going to be a day-to-day thing. He is getting better. Don’t expect him to do a whole lot today, tomorrow, Wednesday. We’ll see where he’s at later in the week.
“Nelly is in the same situation. Jordan is in the same situation. So really no change or anything further with them. Barnett is doing better. We expect him to do something later in the week. See where he’s at, get him on land and get him going. Everybody’s getting there. It’s a slow process but they’re healing.”
The Cowboys, who blew out the Los Angeles Rams,
44-21, Sunday, are favored by one point over the Eagles. The Cowboys have beaten the Eagles in four straight games overall and four of the last five meetings at the Linc.
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NOTES >> Twenty-four-yearold Greg Ward, whose four-yard scoring catch with 26 seconds gave the Eagles the win over Washington, is the youngest Eagle to catch a game-winning score in the fourth quarter or overtime since
23-year-old Jordan Matthews hauled in a 41-yard score in overtime to beat the Cowboys in 2015. Sam Bradford threw that pass. And this is esoteric but Ward is the youngest undrafted Eagle to catch a game-winning TD in the fourth quarter or overtime since then 24-yearold Hank Baskett hauled in an 89-yarder in 2006 from A.J. Feeley against the Atlanta Falcons. … Wentz has 25 touchdowns against seven interceptions. He’s thrown a scoring pass in 17 straight games, the longest active streak in the league. He’s been sacked 12 times in the last five games. Wentz has 22 completions of 20 or more yards on first down this season to rank among the top five passers in the league. … Howard, though he hasn’t played since the bye, still leads the Eagles with seven TDs. Tight end Zach Ertz has six, Sanders five, Dallas Goedert four. … Ertz has 12 receptions for 20 or more yards this season to rank among the top five tight ends. … Zeke Elliott leads the Cowboys with 1,188 rushing yards and 12 touchdowns. Dak Prescott has thrown 26 touchdowns and 11 interceptions.