Huff's TD return turns game in Eagles' favor
AS THE kickoff hit a wall of wind, Josh Huff flashed back two seasons ago, when he rushed forward almost 20 yards, botched an early kickoff reception at Lincoln Financial Field and helped hand a game to the Cowboys.
AS THE kickoff hit a wall of wind, Josh Huff flashed back two seasons ago, when he rushed forward almost 20 yards, botched an early kickoff reception at Lincoln Financial Field and helped hand a game to the Cowboys.
This time, facing the Vikings, who were kicking into a similar wind, Huff had moved up to the 5-yard line. He retreated 3 yards, found Zach Ertz and a wall of blockers and took off behind them, streaking up the right sideline.
Ninety-eight yards later Huff was in the end zone, the Eagles had turned a 3-0 deficit into a 8-0 lead (after a successful two-point conversion) with 8:48 to play in the second quarter, en route to a 21-10 win.
Huff had redeemed himself.
"It was huge," said quarterback Carson Wentz. "That kick return at that point in the game, it just kind of got the game going a little bit."
At that point in the game, the Eagles had netted 63 yards and turned the ball over three times.
The significance of the moment became more apparent to Huff as the game progressed. Both offensive lines were poor, both defenses were ravenous and points were scarce. The Eagles' offense managed just 13 points (a touchdown and two field goals) but the Vikings got just three points before a meaningless final drive.
"I really didn't start paying attention until toward the end of the game," Huff admitted. "I was like, 'That touchdown changed the course of the game.' "
If that touchdown saved the game, it might have saved even more. In their next five games, the Eagles face the Cowboys, Giants and Seahawks on the road and host the Falcons and Packers. Now 4-2, the Eagles would do well to be 6-5 five weeks from now.
Huff contributed on offense, too. His four catches and 39 receiving yards led the team. A running back in high school, Huff has become a short-pass, yards-after-the-catch weapon for coach Doug Pederson and Wentz.
"Huff made some plays today," Wentz said. "Any time you can get the ball in his hands, he's dynamic."
Last week the Birds wasted Wendell Smallwood's dynamic, 86-yard kickoff return in a loss at Washington. Huff's TD return, his second in three seasons, marked the first time in franchise history the team logged kickoff returns for a touchdown in consecutive weeks. It also served notice that this kickoff unit can be deadly if given the chance.
Huff shook one defender and ran through kicker Blair Walsh's arm tackle, but, as he blazed toward the end zone Huff looked at the video board and noticed speedy defensive back Marcus Sherels, who runs a 4.3-second 40-yard dash, hot on his heels for the last 30 yards.
"Once I got past the kicker, I saw (Sherels) on the big screen. I couldn't let him catch me," Huff said. "That would (diminish) all the hard work they did for me up front. I was able to find another gear I didn't know I had."
Now he knows.
Now everybody knows; especially the Cowboys.
The Eagles visit Dallas on Sunday night.