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Grading the Eagles: Nick Foles and Jeremy Maclin awesome; o-line struggles; no pass rush

Handing out grades for the Eagles following their 37-34 win over the Redskins after re-watching the game:

OFFENSE – B

Quarterback – A

The numbers were striking, but what impressed most about Nick Foles' performance was the toughness and fearlessness he displayed in staying and throwing out of the pocket under intense duress. Returning after Chris Baker's cheap shot block in the fourth quarter deserved applause. After taking a blow to the ribs, Foles stayed in the game and drove the Eagles to the go-ahead touchdown and made terrific throws to Jeff Maehl for 15 yards, Jeremy Maclin for 21 yards on third down and another 27 yards to Maclin for the score. Overall, Foles completed 14 of 21 passes for 162 yards when under pressure, per Pro Football Focus.

His best throw was probably the 11-yard touchdown pass to Jordan Matthews just before the half. Foles had only a tight window to thread the needle and zipped the ball the only place it could be for his receiver to get it. He had many other strong throws in the pocket: a 21-yard back shoulder toss to Riley Cooper in the second, the first 11-yard touchdown to Matthews on a pop pass, a 26-yarder to Maclin in the first, and a 22-yarder over the middle to Darren Sproles in the third. He was also effective out of the pocket, once buying time and hitting Zach Ertz for ten yards in the second. Foles had a few misses – he overshot a streaking Maclin and Brent Celek twice in the fourth, and once could have been picked off on a toss to Cooper in the third. But those misses paled in comparison to the plays and toughness Foles showed. He also scrambled for two first downs.

Running back – C-

LeSean McCoy ran 20 times for 22 yards at 1.1 yards a pop. It was his lowest rushing average since his rookie season in 2009 when he was held to two yards on six carries against the Falcons. The Redskins did an effective job clogging the middle and disabling the Eagles' inside zone read plays. McCoy managed only nine yards on seven carries up the middle. He left with an apparent head injury in the first and took another shot to the back area in the third. There were hardly many holes for McCoy to run through, but he didn't take advantage of outside one-on-one opportunities in the second and later in the third. He fumbled in the third out of bounds and lost yards. He made something out of nothing in the third and picked up two yards when he was met by two Redskins in the backfield.

Darren Sproles had the Eagles' longest carry of the day – an 18-yarder up the middle – but he fumbled. He didn't take another handoff. Chip Kelly said it wasn't because of the turnover. Sproles had three catches for 30 yards and an 18-yard punt return in the third when he shot up the middle and could have gone all the way had he not been tripped up.

Wide receiver – A

Jeremy Maclin was excellent. His diving 17-yard grab near the sideline in the fourth was a big-time catch. He turned on the jets on a screen pass that would have been an 80-yard touchdown had Jason Kelce not been called for an illegal block. He took advantage of a mismatch whenever Redskins linebacker Brandon Merriweather happened to be covering him. Eighty-three of his 154 receiving yards came after the catch.

Jordan Matthews caught 8 of 9 targeted passes for 54 yards. He also drew a 40-yard pass interference penalty when he beat the cornerback out of the slot. Aside from his two touchdowns, he caught a 13-yard pass in the third and made a diving 6-yard catch in the third. He blocked well, but may have missed his guy on a screen pass to Maclin in the second.

Riley Cooper caught four passes for 34 yards, the highlight coming on the 21-toss when he high pointed the ball and got both feet inbounds. Jeff Maehl played only seven snaps but his 15-yard reception came on second and 20 on the go-ahead fourth quarter drive. Brad Smith logged three snaps.

Tight end – C

Zach Ertz was targeted only three times. He caught two for 14 yards. In the fourth quarter, Foles went to him twice with a linebacker covering and Ertz drew a pass interference penalty on the first throw. Foles overthrew him on the second. Ertz struggled as a blocker and allowed two hurries.

Brent Celek played 46 snaps – eight more than Ertz. He didn't have a catch, but Foles missed him a few times downfield when he was free. Celek seemed to handle his run blocking responsibilities. He has only three catches for 15 yards this season.

James Casey had a 7-yard catch nullified by a Redskins penalty in the first. He came up with the game-clinching 19-yard catch when Foles rolled out and threw low.

Offensive line – C

It's difficult to kill Andrew Gardner considering the circumstances, but he struggled against a good set of edge rushers. Foles was forced to throw incomplete in the first when he was beat on an inside rush and in the third when Brian Orakpo blew past him. Gardner allowed six quarterback hurries, per Pro Football Focus. As a run blocker, he had his problems, as well. He was beat when McCoy was held to one yard in the first and again in the fourth after he moved from right tackle to left tackle. He also was called for a false start in the second.

Dennis Kelly wasn't nearly as shaky. He had trouble with defensive end Jason Hatcher on a McCoy carry in the first. He pulled and blocked with Jason Peters on a McCoy nine-yard run a few plays later, though. He was called for holding in the fourth. Overall, Kelly held up well in pass protection, although he was charged with three hurries by Pro Football Focus.

Jason Peters allowed only one pressure by my count when he allowed Ryan Kerrigan to get around him in late in the third. The left tackle was otherwise a wall in pass pro. His best move may have been an offensive one when stood up for Foles and went after Baker. Peters was penalized and ejected from the game.

Jason Kelce's 50-yard run on the Maclin screen was remarkable. He probably figured he needed to hit someone since he ran so far and took an illegal block penalty. It looked like a good call. Kelce left early in the third with an abdomen injury that it now being called a sports hernia.

Aside from Peters, Todd Herremans was probably the Eagles' most consistent linemen in pass protection. He appeared to miss a block on a screen set up for Celek in the fourth that was thwarted.

David Molk had a number of issues after he jumped in for Kelce. It was a tough spot. He was beat on one of his first plays and McCoy was met in the backfield. Baker powered over him and laid out Foles in the third. Foles was pressured when Molk was beat inside and he threw incomplete to Cooper in the fourth.

Wade Smith was called on after Peters left and filled in at left guard. He played 18 snaps and didn't appear to allow any pressure on passing downs.

DEFENSE- C-

Defensive line – C

Bennie Logan was the most effective run stopper up front. Eagles coaches credited him with eight solo tackles. He held Alfred Morris to no gain in the first and later than series picked up a tackle for loss when he dropped Morris inside the five. He stopped Morris at the line in the second. He read a screen in the first and made the tackle after a short gain. He got little pressure on 21 pass rushing opportunities.

Fletcher Cox made a big stop on the Redskins' final drive when he slammed Morris for no gain on first down. He teamed up with Casey Matthews to stop Morris after two yards in the first. He rushed the passer on 42 plays but Eagles coaches didn't award him any quarterback hurries or hits. He was once called for illegal use of the hands.

Cedric Thornton had a quiet afternoon. He strung out Morris for a short gain in the first. He stopped Morris after a 2-yard tote in the second. Thornton wasn't credited with any pressures despite 28 pass rush chances.

Vinny Curry played 21 snaps or 27 percent of the plays. He rushed 18 times and didn't get any pressure. Beau Allen and Brandon Bair each played 13 snaps. Allen was driven back by the center on a Morris 6-yard run in the first. He was credited with two run stops. Bair didn't show up on the coach's stat sheet.

Outside linebacker – C+

Connor Barwin had a solid outing and was free of any major errors. He hurried Redskins quarterback Kirk Cousins into a short pass in the second. He delivered a hit on Cousins in the third after an errant toss.

Trent Cole was close but never quite got to the quick-throwing Cousins. Eagles coaches credited him with four quarterback hits and one hurry. He dropped and held the tight end to a 1-yard catch in the third. He had three run stops.

Brandon Graham forced a Morris fumble in the first, but the Redskins retained possession. He had Morris squared up in the third, but missed the tackle and the tailback picked up seven yards. Graham rushed only 11 times and recorded no hurries.

Inside linebacker -- C

DeMeco Ryans had seven tackles total with four of them solos. He stopped Morris after three yards in the second. He turned Morris inside to Logan in the third. Ryans played every snap, including in the dime package, with Mychal Kendricks out.

Casey Matthews played 24 snaps and Eagles coaches gave him one solo tackle and two assists. He teamed up with Cox to hold Morris to two yards in the first. He struggled to contain the tight end when he caught a 6-yard pass in the third. He never rushed.

Emmanuel Acho, like Matthews, was credited with one solo tackle and two assists. He held Morris to no gain in the fourth. He played 27 snaps. Marcus Smith played 18 snaps and dropped into coverage nine times and was never targeted.

Cornerback – C-

Bradley Fletcher had a forgetful game, especially in the first half. The Redskins picked on him mercilessly. Pierre Garcon beat him for 19 yards in the first on a curl route. DeSean Jackson beat him for 13 yards on a dig route. Fletcher was late to stop Darrel Young after he caught a 4-yard touchdown in the first. He was beat by the tight end for 37 yards in the first. He was beat on a Garcon inside slant for a 4-yard score later in the first. He was called for holding on third down in the second. He broke up a pass later that drive in the second. Fletcher settled down in the second half.

Cary Williams wasn't much better than Fletcher. Garcon made a great 23-yard grab over him in the second. He broke up a slant in the third. He missed a tackle deep on Jackson's 81-yard touchdown catch in the third. He allowed a 13-yard completion in the fourth. He shed a block to make a stop after a short gain on a misdirection screen in the first.

Brandon Boykin played only 35 percent of the defensive snaps. He allowed an early 10-yard catch, but was excellent the rest of the way. He read a screen and made a tackle for no gain in the fourth. He broke up a big pass attempt on third down on the Redskins' final drive. Nolan Carroll played 11 snaps in the dime package. He was targeted for a 9-yard catch in the third. He missed an open field tackle in the fourth.

Safety -- C

Malcolm Jenkins was probably the Eagles' best defensive player. He had the diving fourth quarter interception, but made other plays. He had tight coverage on a third quarter pass that was incomplete. Eagles coaches awarded him three solos and five assists and one pass breakup.

Nate Allen had all sorts of issues. He was beat for ten yards in the slot on third down in the first. He appeared to allow another third down completion in the first. He missed an open field tackle in the second. He broke up a pass to the tight end in the second. He bit on the underneath route when Jackson ran a post for an 81-yard touchdown in the third. Eagles coaches credited him with six solos.

Special teams – A-

Chris Polk had a 102-yard kick return touchdown and another for 35 yards. Cody Parkey booted 5 of 8 kickoffs for touchbacks and drilled a 51-yard field goal. Donnie Jones averaged only 35.8 yards net on four punts. He had to re-punt after Brad Smith was called for an illegal block on a 51-yard boot and managed only 31 yards. The coverage units were strong. Trey Burton had a key block on Polk's touchdown and made a stop on kickoff.

STAT SHEET

-- Bradley Fletcher has been targeted 30 times through three games, per Pro Football Focus, more than any other cornerback in the NFL. He's allowed 15 catches for 172 yards and two touchdowns.

-- The Eagles are averaging 2.66 yards per carry on first down. Last season, they averaged a league-leading 5.04 yards per rush.

-- The Eagles are 11-1 since Bennie Logan first started at nose tackle at the halfway point of last season.

EXTRA POINT

Chip Kelly didn't want to talk about it.

Given two opportunities to address Jason Peters defending quarterback Nick Foles after Chris Baker blindsided him, the Eagles coach gave the same answer: "Next question."

Kelly has always used the motto, "Play with emotion, don't let emotion play with you," when confronted with players that let anger get the best of them in what is an emotional and physical game. But are there exceptions, like when Baker's cheap shot looked like it could have been a devastating blow to the Eagles starting quarterback?

The guess here is that Kelly didn't want to criticize a leader, arguably the best player on the team, for doing something that potentially could have cost the Eagles the game. Peters was ejected and the offensive line was already barely stitched together.

But that doesn't mean the coach didn't [italic]understand[/italic] why Peters acted the way he did. There's something to be said for getting your teammate's back in the heat of what every player said was an all-out battle. It is likely Peters' retaliation galvanized the Eagles who went on to victory.

Some offensive players actually stood out of the fray even as a dozen Redskins went after Peters near their sideline; likely for fear they would be fined. But players like Riley Cooper and even defensive starters like Trent Cole, Malcolm Jenkins and Nate Allen ran across the field and into the scrum.

Kelly said that he didn't think Peters would be suspended by the league. Asked if he thought Baker's hit warranted further discipline, Kelly said, "I don't control that so I don't worry about that.

"But it was a penalty. No question about it. You can't hit a defenseless player. The referee called it the right way, and he was ejected from the game."

He let emotion play with him and the Redskins lost.