Observations: Washington 27, Eagles 24

Here’s what we saw during today’s game between the Eagles and Washington.

OFFENSE

* On 3rd-and-4 with the Eagles driving for the potential game-winning score, Mark Sanchez looked for Jeremy Maclin in the middle of the field, but was intercepted by cornerback Bashaud Breeland.

* The Eagles moved the ball effectively against Washington’s struggling defense (495 total yards), but failed to capitalize on opportunities. And they turned it over twice.

* Sanchez went 37-for-50 for 374 yards, two touchdowns and an interception. He also fumbled on the Eagles’ first possession as Lane Johnson was beaten for a sack.* Key sequence to start the second half. Washington fumbled the kickoff, but the offense failed to capitalize, gaining zero yards, and Cody Parkey missed a field goal from 36 yards out.

* Zach Ertz had a monster game with 15 catches for 115 yards.

* Riley Cooper had a big game with five catches for 53 yards and two touchdowns. He scored on a 3-yard slant in the second and reached up high to make a 16-yard grab in the end zone in the fourth quarter.* Great 18-yard catch near the sideline in the fourth quarter by Jeremy Maclin. Maclin had four catches for 62 yards.

* In the first quarter, the Eagles used the run game to go 79 yards on 10 plays. LeSean McCoy got in the end zone from 11 yards out and imitated DeSean Jackson’s touchdown celebration after he scored. McCoy finished with 22 carries for 88 yards, but failed to convert on a key 3rd-and-1 opportunity in the second half.

* In the second, the Eagles went 93 yards on 15 plays. Sanchez converted a 3rd-and-25, buying time with his legs before finding Jordan Matthews for a 26-yard gain over the middle. The Eagles also faced a 3rd-and-16 on the drive. Darren Sproles took a screen 18 yards for a first down. He got nice blocks from Ertz, Jason Kelce and Jason Peters on the play.

* On the Eagles’ final drive of the first half, they punted on 4th-and-11 from the Washington 46 yard line with 16 seconds left. Matthews had a drop downfield on the drive. Sanchez and Ertz were not on the same page on a third-down incompletion.

* Chip Kelly later opted to punt on 4th-and-1 in Washington territory.

* Cody Parkey missed a pair of field goals – one from 36 and one from 46.

* The Eagles’ only hope for a playoff berth now is to win next week and for Dallas to lose its remaining two games. They have now lost three games in a row for the first time all season.

DEFENSE

* The Eagles’ defense continued to give up too many big plays in this one, and Washington took advantage of the DeSean Jackson–Bradley Fletcher matchup throughout. Jackson caught a 51-yarder down the sideline in the first half against Fletcher and a 56-yarder in the second half.

* In the fourth quarter, Billy Davis pulled Fletcher in favor of Nolan Carroll II.

* The Eagles needed one final stop late in the game, but Cary Williams gave up a 23-yard completion to Pierre Garcon, and Vinny Curry was called for a personal foul. That set up the game-winning field goal.

* Robert Griffin III went 16-for-23 for 220 yards. In the fourth quarter, he looked for Jackson again, but the ball hung, and Nate Allen was able to get over for the interception.

* Jackson finished with four catches for 126 yards. He also drew a pass interference penalty in the end zone.

* On a Washington drive in the third quarter, the Eagles were hit with a pair of costly penalties against Brandon Graham and Curry. Overall, the team had 13 penalties for 102 yards.

* On a drive late in the fourth quarter, Fletcher got back on the field in dime. Washington targeted him. He didn’t get his head turned, but Griffin’s pass hit him in the helmet for an incompletion, and Washington had to punt.

* On Washington’s first drive of the game, Fletcher gave up a 14-yard completion on third down. Williams was called for unnecessary roughness after a third-down play. And Malcolm Jenkins dropped a potential interception. Washington ended up kicking a field goal.

* Alfred Morris had a 28-yard touchdown in the first half, but was otherwise held in check. He had 21 carries for 83 yards.

* Fletcher Cox was called for encroachment on 3rd-and-1 in the second, but continued to be a factor.

* Mychal Kendricks was the Eagles’ best player He beat left tackle Trent Williams for a sack and later hit Griffin on third down. Kendricks had 10 tackles (seven solo, two for loss), one sack, a pass break-up and two QB hits.