What We Saw: Week 15 Tuesday Night Edition

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Ben Brown
What We Saw 3 Years Ago
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Introduction
Football Team @ Eagles
Seahawks @ Rams

Football Team @ Eagles

Final Score: Eagles 27, Football Team 17

Writer: Benjamin Haller (@benjaminhaller1 on Twitter)

 

A brilliantly entertaining NFC East matchup between the Washington Football Team and the Philadelphia Eagles made everyone feel better about football after a catastrophic Week 15 slate of games that left a lot to be desired in terms of highlights. Jalen Hurts‘ quality rose to the top in the fourth quarter as he engineered two scoring drives to open up a 10-point lead with 7:46 to go in the game. This beautiful throw and even better catch from Greg Ward bringing the crowd in Philly to life.

 

Stand-in Washington quarterback Garrett Gilbert, who had managed the game well to keep his team in the contest, couldn’t find any fourth quarter magic as the Eagles defense brought the pressure with the game on the line. This throw falling incomplete on fourth down, ending Washington’s resistance.

 

With both teams fighting to get back to .500 and a wildcard spot on the line, it was a thrilling watch. Washington’s grit, Philadelphia’s aggressiveness, and the dreams of playoff football in the air. “Fly Eagles Fly” could be heard from the crowd as the Eagles picked up a win that puts them in contention to grab a wildcard spot going into a favorable matchup with the Giants in Week 16.

It was also a record-setting day for Jalen Hurts.

 

Washington Football Team

 

Quarterback

 

Garrett Gilbert: 20/31, 194 yards, 2 sacks

 

Performing admirably wasn’t enough sadly for practice-squad quarterback Garrett Gilbert, who completed 70% of his passes but only for 194 yards. He didn’t turn the ball over but six completions were dump-offs to Antonio Gibson, one was a 29-yard throw to John Bates, and one was a 46-yard contested catch hauled in by Terry McLaurin, which accounted for 24% of his total yards on one play.

 

Gilbert didn’t have it when his team needed it in the fourth quarter, turning the ball over on downs after failing to move the chains on third and fourth down with just 2:43 left on the clock.

 

Running Back

 

Antonio Gibson: 15 carries, 26 yards, TD | 7 targets, 6 receptions, 39 yards

Jaret Patterson: 4 carries, 20 yards, TD

Jonathan Williams: 1 carry, 5 yards

 

Antonio Gibson and Jaret Patterson combined for a measly 1.8 yards per carry before a 13-yard rush on the final play of the game. The Eagles did a fantastic job of stuffing the box and forcing the run game to the outside where they dominated with their linebackers – Alex Singleton and T.J. Edwards each putting in double-digit tackles. Gibson also suffered a toe injury during the game that visibly effected him in the second half. Gibson saved his fantasy day by equalling his season-high seven targets, and going airborne for Washington’s first score of the day.

 

That score came off an Eagles turnover and Gibson took advantage of the short field position. Gibson was robbed of another opportunity in the red zone as Jaret Patterson was given the rock on first down from the goal line midway through the fourth quarter.

 

This Washington backfield has disappointed fantasy managers all season, so why would today be any different.

 

Wide Receiver/Tight End

 

Terry McLaurin: 4 targets, 2 receptions, 51 yards

John Bates: 1 target, 1 reception, 29 yards

Ricky Seals-Jones: 7 targets, 4 receptions, 29 yards

Adam Humphries: 6 targets, 3 receptions, 23 yards

Cam Sims: 1 target, 1 reception, 13 yards

DeAndre Carter: 3 targets, 2 receptions, 12 yards | 1 carry, 12 yards

Dax Milne: 1 target, 1 reception, -2 yards

 

Even with Taylor Heinicke, this passing offense has grounded to a halt in the second half of the season. Terry McLaurin looked to be in for a surprisingly big day after an early 46-yard connection with Gilbert on Washington’s third drive of the game. However, “Scary Terry” only caught one more ball on three other targets. It’s been that kind of a year for McLaurin, who has been starved of decent quarterback play all season. In a big game like this one, he needs to be a bigger part of the game plan.

John Bates seems to crop up regularly when it comes to big splash plays over the last month. He hauled in this fantastic grab on third down and short to setup Washington’s second rushing touchdown of the day and give them hope in the fourth quarter.

 

DeAndre Carter had a big rush called back by a dubious penalty for a blindside block, however he has now failed to muster more than 20 yards in three straight contests. The speedster is a good weapon for this offense but as the other main elements, they don’t seem to be given enough chances to impress.

 

Philadelphia Eagles

 

Quarterback

 

Jalen Hurts: 20/26, 296 yards, TD, INT, 3 sacks | 8 carries, 38 yards, 2 TD

 

It wasn’t the most complete of performances from Jalen Hurts but he did cash in on the matchup against a Washington defense that has given up the most fantasy points to quarterbacks this season. His 30.64 fantasy points was his fourth 30+ fantasy point outing of the season. It started in bizarre fashion, with an errant throw to Dallas Goedert bouncing back up off the tight end’s foot for an interception.

 

On the following drive, Hurts coughed up the ball under pressure from Montez Sweat. It could have been a costly fumble at a crucial time but Washington failed to capitalize with a touchdown and the Eagles stayed in touch during the first half.

 

Hurts then found his rhythm and led an 11-play, 77-yard touchdown drive before the half to bring the Eagles level. This lovely lobbed pass to Jalen Reagor inspiring the Eagles offense into life.

 

Hurts then snook in for the score himself.

 

His second rushing touchdown gave the Eagles the lead on the first drive of the second half. Hurts has established himself as the red zone back this season and it remains one of the reasons why he is a fantasy darling at quarterback.

 

Running Back

 

Miles Sanders: 18 carries, 131 yards | 2 targets, 2 receptions, 15 yards

Jordan Howard: 15 carries, 69 yards

Kenneth Gainwell: 1 target

 

The Eagles ran all over the Washington defense in this one and Miles Sanders is now being used to his strengths for the first time this season. His 131 yards on the ground was a season high, eclipsing last week’s 120 yards. Sanders has back-to-back 100+ yards, his only two 100+ yard games of the season. Sanders setup Hurts’ first touchdown with a run up the middle through a huge hole in the Washington defense.

 

Sanders also did the hard yards for Hurts’ second touchdown run – this 38-yard run outside left providing the spark for the Eagles to edge ahead, a lead they would not relinquish for the rest of the contest.

 

Jordan Howard became a big factor in this game as soon as the Eagles went ahead in the third quarter. Howard ran six times in seven plays on the Eagles’ final series of the game to go along with three carries on the touchdown drive that gave them a 10-point lead on the drive prior.

 

Wide Receiver/Tight End

 

Dallas Goedert: 9 targets, 7 receptions, 135 yards

Jalen Reagor: 3 targets, 3 receptions, 57 yards

DeVonta Smith: 5 targets, 3 receptions, 40 yards

Greg Ward: 3 targets, 2 receptions, 28 yards, TD

Quez Watkins: 2 targets, 2 reception, 14 yards

Jack Stoll: 1 target, 1 reception, 7 yards

 

Star tight end Dallas Goedert led the Eagles in targets for the second week in a row, his 135 yards being the second game in a row in which Goedert has gone over 100 yards and amassed over 20 fantasy points. This elite production has fantasy managers smiling at a perfect time in the year.

 

This route by Goedert highlights his value to this offense and he is the perfect target for Hurts’ arm range. Goedert has catapulted himself into the top tier tight end conversation, his ability to dominate over defensive backs with his size is a key factor to his production.

 

After a promising start to his career in the NFL, DeVonta Smith has slowed in the second half of the year. Still, he continues to standout by making plays for his quarterback. This phenomenal grab was the best catch of the day from either team.

 

Smith did see an end zone target on third-and-goal from the 2-yard line but Hurts failed to throw him a catchable ball. Not like the throw he delivered to Greg Ward for his only passing touchdown. It was Ward’s first touchdown since Week 4 and came completely out of the blue. Ironically, it was his third touchdown of the season on just seven targets. Maybe throw him the ball more?!

 

— @benjaminhaller1 on Twitter

Series Navigation
Introduction
Football Team @ Eagles
Seahawks @ Rams

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