| Advertisement |
LANDOVER, Md. -- Spreading 30 carries over three running backs, the Washington Redskins rushed for 230 yards in Sunday's 27-20 win over the Philadelphia Eagles. That total was the most by Washington since it gained 274 in Week 17 of the 2012 season vs. Dallas.
Advertisement
Lead back Matt Jones carried 16 times for 135 yards, including a 57-yarder with 1:27 left that iced Washington's fourth straight win. Robert Kelly carried five times for 59 yards and Chris Thompson added 37 yards on nine attempts.
"I think they're all good players," Redskins head coach Jay Gruden said.
"And Chris gives you something a little different. He's our third down back but he can do some first-down carries. Matt's a big plugger and then the great change up is Fat Rob. He did a good job today, great vision, he runs through tackles."
Kelly set up Washington's second touchdown with a 45-yard run early in the second quarter.
--Philadelphia rookie quarterback Carson Wentz had the lowest passer rating of his young career, 77.7, after completing 11 of 22 passes for 179 yards. He had no touchdowns or interceptions and was sacked five times.
"Yeah, I have to be better, especially late in the game," Wentz said. "Any time the offense has the chance to win at the end of the game and you come up short it's frustrating. I put that on myself and we have to get better, and it's one of those things I have to go back and watch the tape and really critique."
Eagles coach Doug Pederson wasn't down on his quarterback.
"Listen, last week, this week, these are going to be great learning lessons for Carson," Pederson said. "Being able to mature as a quarterback, still taking a lot of reps. He's still a rookie, but he's our guy and I'm so excited to continue to work with him."
--One of the reasons the Eagles offense struggled Sunday was the absence of right tackle Lane Johnson, who was serving the first game of a PED suspension. Rookie right tackle Halapoulivaati Vaitai started in place of Johnson and struggled.
"Had a couple of missed assignments early and felt like he settled into the game as the game wore on," Pederson said. "He's a warrior. He's a battler. He stepped up and did a good job. He'll learn from it and be ready for next week."
Pederson used his tight ends to chip Washington's outside rushers, including Ryan Kerrigan (two sacks) as well as Philadelphia's running backs, and was asked if doing this affected the play calling on a day the Eagles offense didn't reach the end zone.
"It doesn't because you can still utilize your backs and tight ends in those situations and still be able to run their routes," Pederson said. "We just favored that a little more the second half and once we got going, it helped us a little bit in the passing game, being able to throw it downfield."
--With Jordan Reed (concussion) out, veteran Vernon Davis got the start for Washington. He was targeted four times and caught two passes for 50 yards, including a 13-yard touchdown.
"Vernon did a phenomenal job today, but no surprise. He's been doing that from the first day of OTA's until now," quarterback Kirk Cousins said.
Davis was flagged for unsportsmanlike conduct for shooting a free throw with the football after his touchdown and Philadelphia's Wendell Smallwood returned the ensuing kickoff back for a touchdown.
"I showed all the videos of illegal celebrations the other day and shooting a basketball through the goal post wasn't one of them," Gruden said. "I don't consider the ball as a prop on that one. I might have done the same thing, but now we know and he won't ever do it again."
