Eagles make biggest statement yet
Eagles top Rams, demonstrate they’re team to beat in NFC
Philadelphia clinches division but loses QB Wentz in win over Rams
LOS ANGELES – Carson Wentz wasn’t finished contributing to the cause of the Philadelphia Eagles after he was knocked out of the huge showdown in crunchtime at the Coliseum with a knee injury.
When the Eagles filed into the locker room after their resilient 43-35 victory against the Los Angeles Rams, Wentz was there to greet his teammates.
He passed out the fresh hats commemorating the NFC East title the Eagles clinched after rallying to make up for the loss of their star quarterback, whose left knee injury — the worst fear is a torn ACL that will end Wentz’s season — represented the less-filling aspect of winning big.
“Carson was there waiting on everybody when they came in,” Nick Foles, Wentz’s backup, told reporters. “He was congratulating everybody, celebrating with everybody else.”
cool in the last minute of the game when defensive tackle Sheldon Richardson and defensive end Quinton Jefferson were ejected for fighting.
Jefferson tried to climb into the stands at EverBank Field after fans tossed drinks on him as he was heading to the Seahawks locker room through a tunnel behind the Jaguars bench.
All the drama came after the Jaguars offense went into victory formation to run out the clock.
To Jaguars players, it was a sign that a perennial playoff team was unraveling.
“They’re not used to losing,” Jaguars defensive tackle Malik Jackson told USA TODAY. “Their coach probably told them that we aren’t (expletive), told them we can’t beat them.
“We went out there, smacked them in the mouth, and they don’t know how to act.”
The Seahawks fell to 8-5 and remain a game back of the Rams in the NFC West heading into next week’s game between the two in Seattle, a game the Seahawks might have to play without star linebacker Bobby Wagner, who left Sunday’s game with a hamstring injury early in the third quarter and did not return.
The Seahawks have already lost defensive starters Richard Sherman, Kam Chancellor and Cliff Avril this season, but losing Wagner — a defensive player of the year candidate and the Seahawks’ on-field leader — might be one injury they can’t survive.
Seattle also might be short-handed on the defen- sive line if Jefferson or Richardson is disciplined by the NFL for their antics in Jacksonville.
“It’s really important that we bounce back and get back on track and take this trip home tonight and see if we can rally,” Seahawks coach Pete Carroll said. “We’ve got a huge championship game coming up next week, and we’ll see if we can get it done.”
The Seahawks’ loss also knocked Seattle out of the second wild-card spot, replaced by the Atlanta Falcons, who kicked off the wild weekend with a win at home on Thursday night against NFC South leader New Orleans.
Then the Minnesota Vikings lost to the Carolina Panthers early Sunday, keeping the Panthers firmly in contention for both the NFC South and a wild-card spot.
Even after the loss, the Vikings hold on to the No. 2 seed in their quest to win the NFC North and secure a first-round bye. But neither are secure, thanks to a comeback win by the Packers on Sunday at Cleveland and the potential that Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers might return from a broken collarbone in coming weeks.
Minnesota has to travel to Green Bay on Dec. 23.