The Philadelphia Eagles were in a good spot with just under three minutes remaining in the third quarter of their Sunday night game against the Washington Football Team, needing only five yards to get in the end zone and take the lead. Worst case scenario, they kick a field goal and tie the game at 17. A one-yard run combined with back-to-back incompletions from quarterback Jalen Hurts led to a fourth and goal from the four-yard line. So obviously, it’s time to kick the field and continue to lean on your defense. Well, not exactly. Eagles head coach Doug Pederson left his offense on the field on fourth down. They failed to convert and came away with zero points.
This would be Pederson’s first bad decision of the night.
The next offensive possession for the Eagles saw third-string quarterback Nate Sudfeld enter the game. Hurts showed no signs of an injury and Philadelphia still trailed by just three points. So, why take out your starter when you can still win the game? Pederson claims he was “coaching to win”, but let’s call a spade a spade. There’s no way that’s the case.
#Eagles Coach, Doug Pederson, says the decision to play Nate Sudfeld was his. “I was coaching to win.”
— Not Lawrence (@MrBrijez) January 4, 2021
The rest of the world: pic.twitter.com/cBrQVp8n0W
Does Pederson Think Sudfeld Is a Better Option Than Hurts?
If Pederson really wanted to win that game, then why would he bench his starting quarterback for someone who has attempted more than two passes in a game just once in his four-year career. There’s no way Pederson can convince me that Sudfeld is a better quarterback than Hurts, which he must think if he believes that gave his team a chance to win.
Clearly, Sudfeld was not going to help the Eagles win. The quarterback finished with just 32 passing yards, two turnovers, and a whopping 2.4 QBR.
Nate Sudfeld is in aaaaand it’s gone pic.twitter.com/dhKNqAmjfo
— Barstool Sports (@barstoolsports) January 4, 2021
How Did Jalen Hurts Feel About the Quarterback Change?
Multiple Eagles players looked frustrated on the sidelines after Hurts was pulled from the game. There appeared to be a shot of Hurts sitting on the bench saying “That’s not right.” He seemed disappointed post-game when he spoke to the media, saying “As a competitor, I play to win.”
“It’s not right” pic.twitter.com/uHOaCBttZn
— National Football Post (@FootballPost) January 4, 2021
Final Outcome
The loss means the Eagles will finish last in the NFC East at 4-11-1. More importantly, they will have the sixth pick in the NFL Draft, as opposed to the ninth pick, had they won. If the player they draft turns out to be a superstar, maybe we will all forget about this monstrosity of a game.
For more great sports content, follow me @nsterl3, and visit Belly Up Fantasy Sports for more great content!
