Eagles fall a yard short to 49ers, 26-21

SANTA CLARA, Calif. - The chance to remain undefeated came down to two plays about five feet from the end zone.

But instead of reveling in another dramatic victory, the Eagles spent a cross-country flight back to Philadelphia on Sunday night lamenting a failure to move the ball just more than 1 yard in a 26-21 loss to the San Francisco 49ers.

A potential game-winning drive stalled near the goal line, dropping the Eagles to 3-1 and sealing the third game since Chip Kelly arrived in Philadelphia that the offense failed to score a touchdown.

"It was an embarrassing display by the offense," wide receiver Jeremy Maclin said.

Kelly's electric attack had sputtered for much of the afternoon, but the Eagles were able to move the ball about 90 yards on a drive that started with 6 minutes, 26 seconds remaining in the fourth quarter. They generated only 128 yards during the first 53 minutes of the game, and the only reason to believe that the final drive would be any different was Kelly's ingenuity and a team that has uncovered second-half magic throughout the first month of the season.

Sunday was different. Kelly admitted that his play-calling was limited by a patchwork offensive line. The running game could not find space, and quarterback Nick Foles was consistently under pressure.

"We got whupped up front," said Kelly, citing three new starters on the interior of the offensive line. "That's not an excuse, that's just the reality of it."

At the two-minute warning, the Eagles faced third and goal from just beyond the 1-yard line. The Eagles had the NFL's best rushing offense last season, but they averaged only 1.8 yards per carry on Sunday. Kelly did not want to risk a running play.

He knew that the 49ers would pack the line, and Kelly thought he could "surprise" them with a pass. He decided on a crossing route with an underneath throw to tight end Brent Celek, but Foles was under duress and overthrew Celek out of the end zone.

The Eagles had one more chance. Kelly kept a running look to make the 49ers think they would hand off the ball, but the call was a designed Foles rollout to the right.

"We didn't think we were going to be able to run it in," Kelly said. "We weren't moving the ball against that front."

Kelly entrusted Foles with a run-pass option. If the defense did not collapse on him, he could try to race past the line. He also had two options in the end zone.

Niners linebacker Aaron Lynch chased the quarterback, forcing Foles to throw it on the run. Maclin was open in the back of the end zone, but Foles' pass sailed too high. When Foles saw the incompletion, the unemotional quarterback slammed his fist to the ground in disgust - a rare sign of frustration on a frustrating afternoon.

"We just didn't execute; it's as simple as that," Foles said. "In that situation, I have to give the guys an opportunity to make a play, and I didn't do that."

The Eagles regained possession 69 yards from the end zone with 83 seconds to go and no timeouts. The offense had little chance. Foles threw an interception with 40 seconds remaining, effectively ending the game.

Foles finished 21 of 43 for 195 yards and two interceptions. LeSean McCoy's horrid opening month continued with only 17 yards on 10 carries. Maclin led receivers with 68 yards, although only five of his 16 targets ended with receptions. The Eagles finished with 213 total yards, 206 yards shy of their season average.

All of the Eagles' scoring came from special teams and defense. Trey Burton blocked a first-quarter punt that was recovered by Brad Smith for a touchdown. Safety Malcolm Jenkins recorded his third interception in three weeks, and returned it 53 yards for a score. And Darren Sproles continued to excel with an 82-yard punt-return touchdown.

"If you take all those three and put it on paper, statistically, we're probably 100 percent winner," Jenkins said. "But when you're playing on the road in this league, so much is unpredictable. We just needed one more play, and we didn't get it."

That's why the failed chances from the goal line will haunt the Eagles. They could have escaped an afternoon when they were undermanned and often overmatched with an improbable win, if only they had gained five feet as easily as the 5.9 yards per play they averaged entering the game.

"We totally thought we would score," tight end Brent Celek said. "When you're a great team, you do."

The Eagles might still be a great team, but they must prove what happened Sunday was an aberration. They host the St. Louis Rams next weekend, when the Eagles' offensive line could be bolstered by the return of Lane Johnson.

There was progress from a defense that recorded four sacks. The special teams also excelled. Both units were let down by the unit that was supposed to be the strength of the team.

"They got us close," Kelly said, "but we couldn't finish it offensively."

42.3

Nick Foles' rating, his lowest since his second career start vs. the Redskins (40.5) on Nov. 18, 2012.

1.3

Yards per carry for LeSean McCoy over the last two games (29 carries for 39 yards).

16

Passes targeted for Jeremy Maclin. He caught 5.

17:43

Eagles' time of possession, compared with 42:17 for the 49ers.

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The Eagles, trailing by 26-21, had first and goal at the 49ers' 6-yard line with 2 minutes, 50 seconds remaining in the fourth quarter. Coach Chip Kelly said he didn't think they could run the ball in, using LeSean McCoy only once, on second down, when he gained 5 yards. On the three other pass plays, McCoy was a decoy and none of the passes came close, with Foles twice throwing the ball out of the end zone.

First and goal from the 6-yard-line, 2:50

Foles, in a no-huddle from the shotgun, three wide left - Riley Cooper, Jeremy Maclin, Jordan Matthews - Zach Ertz tight right, McCoy backfield right. Foles drops back, gets pressured, and throws the ball out of the back of the end zone toward Maclin.

Second and goal from the 6, 2:43

Same formation, no huddle from shotgun. Foles hands off to McCoy, who goes off the left side for 5 yards as Jason Peters and Matt Tobin open a hole.

Third and goal from the 1, 2:00

Foles, shotgun, play-action right. Kelly thought he could "surprise" the Niners but Foles, under duress, overthrows tight end Brent Celek in the end zone.

Fourth and goal from the 1, 1:55

Foles, shotgun, fakes a handoff to McCoy left, rolls right, but no one is open. He gets chased and overthrows Maclin in the back of the end zone.    "We didn't think we were going to be able to run it in," Kelly said. "We weren't moving the ball against that front."

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