Parkey's day is no good

LANDOVER, Md. - Cody Parkey didn't flinch, refused to offer any excuses, and took his share of blame for the Eagles' 27-24 loss to the Washington Redskins Saturday at FedEx Field.

The Eagles rookie entered the game having connected on 29 of 31 field-goal attempts this year, then inexplicably missed his first two tries, from 34 and 46 yards. They both went wide right.

And now so have the Eagles' playoff chances.

The Eagles (9-6) have to beat the New York Giants next week and hope the Dallas Cowboys lose their last two games against Indianapolis and these same Redskins.

"It stinks, I missed kicks and we lost the game," said Parkey, who coming into the contest had been 12 of 13 between 30 and 39 yards and 4 of 5 between 40 and 49.

Parkey did tie the score at 24-24 on a 22-yard field goal with 6 minutes, 17 seconds left. He was desperately hoping to earn another chance that never came.

On that field goal, he tied Paul McFadden's rookie team record of 30 field goals that was set in 1984.

Parkey, who is 4 for 4 on field-goal attempts 50 yards or longer and had been 18 for 18 against NFC teams, has been bothered recently by a groin injury, but he said that health was not a factor.

"The [missed] kicks had nothing to do with my groin," he said.

Parkey refused to blame the wind, the footing at FedEx Field, or especially the execution of his teammates.

"It is on me," he said. "I had a great snap, great hold, great protection. Obviously I just mis-hit the ball a little bit and it is one of those things you wish to have back."

Both of the misses came in the third quarter, the first after the Eagles' Malcolm Jenkins forced a fumble on the second-half kickoff that was recovered by teammate Nolan Carroll on the Washington 16. At the time, the Eagles were leading, 14-10.

The Eagles were stalled and then Parkey missed the 34-yarder.

"That was huge for us," Redskins linebacker Ryan Kerrigan said. "That could have been a real game-changing moment to lose the ball there and give up points."

When asked if the first miss was in his head when he attempted the second, Parkey shot that down with a one-word answer.

"No," he said.

Parkey said his teammates were great to him. In fact nobody was harder on the rookie from Auburn than he was on himself.

"I don't think there are any words to describe it," Parkey said. "You let your teammates down, you let yourself down. I am my biggest critic and I hate to miss, and unfortunately I did."

Receiver Jeremy Maclin shared the sentiments of his teammates toward Parkey.

"He has been fantastic all season," Maclin said. "We are not going to blame anything on anybody. It is unfortunate that it happened, but he is one of the best kickers in this league. It happens."