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No one in Philadelphia was happy when the NFL decided to bring the Eagles-Washington game back to prime time in Week 17. We all thought the same thing, “I have to stay up late to watch this ?!
I get it.
I might have even whispered a few choice words when I heard the news. But there are still plenty of reasons to watch this game on Sunday night, and none of them have to do with Jim Schwartz’s “no hat rule”.
Here are five of them:
1. Can they lose?
Yep, it’s one of those weird games where Eagles fans really need their team to lose. It can be difficult to take root during the game, but it’s pretty clear that it’s the best thing that can happen. Now I understand if the Cowboys beat the Giants and you don’t want to send the most hated rival to the playoffs… but you have to think about your own team for a second.
The Eagles will likely be in a scenario where losing this game gives them a better draft pick. The only good thing about Sunday night’s game is that when it kicks off, we’ll know exactly where the Eagles end up drafting with a win or a loss.
Here is an overview of the interim situation as it currently stands:
3. Houston (Miami): 4-11
4. Atlanta: 4-11
5. Cincinnati: 4-10-1
6. Philadelphia: 4-10-1
7. Detroit: 5-10
8. New York Giants: 5-10
9. Panthers: 5-10
10. Denver: 5-10
So, depending on what happens earlier on Sunday, the Eagles could end up hitting No.3 or No.10.
2. Jalen Hurts gets another shot
Hurts will get his fourth start of the 2020 season, which means the Eagles will have a quarterback of the season to try to determine if he’s their future franchise quarterback.
A few weeks ago, I asked Doug Pederson if this was enough time to form an appropriate assessment:
“I think you have a good idea,” Pederson said in December. “Obviously, we haven’t had a full body over 16 games, a preseason. We really don’t necessarily know. I think you can go back and watch him from his college days. Again, in Alabama, Oklahoma, how he led these teams and the success there has been, I think that gives you a good indication of maybe who he is and what he can be, I think, on the road.
“We still have to improve, however. There is room to grow. Nothing is perfect, and there are still some mistakes we need to correct, even in his game. It’s a small, small sample size to really possibly make that determination, overall. “
In his three starts Hurts is 1-2, he’s been far from perfect, but he has done some great things. Overall, he completed 55% of his passes for 847 yards, 5 touchdowns, 2 interceptions and also rushed for 238 yards and another score.
Will this game change opinions about him? Probably not. But it will be a chance for him to bounce back from a game in Dallas where he didn’t perform very well and returned the ball several times.
3. See the future
Hurts isn’t the only young player we’ll be watching on Sunday. There are several young guys who will have an extra chance to play a lot of snaps on offense or defense. And while the Eagles’ coaches want to win the game, they have to let some of these young players out.
Here are some names I want to see a lot on Sunday: (I’ll just go alphabetically) Grayland Arnold, Genard Avery, Shaun Bradley, Travis Fulgham, John Hightower, Jason Huntley, Jalen Reagor, Davion Taylor, Brett Toth, K’Von Wallace , Quez Watkins.
4. Doug Pederson always makes the most of his guys
The one thing we always hear about Pederson is that his players never give up on him, that they are always going to try hard. But all of those other examples came when the Eagles had a chance to make it to the playoffs again. That luck is gone.
So will the Eagles play hard on Sunday? Pederson better hope so.
It is highly unlikely that the outcome of Sunday’s game will really determine the future of the head coach, but if Jeff Lurie sees that the roster is still fighting with nothing more to fight for other than pride, it is reflected instead. positively about the head coach. Of course, you are probably saying that you don’t care about the effort; you want wins. But one of the main reasons Lurie brought Pederson to Philly was his ability to connect with players and get the most out of them. It’s an important part of Pederson’s role as a coach.
5. Say goodbye to some greats
If you don’t want to get too sentimental about this game, I get it. But this could be your last chance to see all-time greats in Eagles uniform.
It could be the Eagles’ last game for Zach Ertz, Vinny Curry, Alshon Jeffery, DeSean Jackson and more. And there’s even a chance Jason Kelce will retire. As bad as this season has been, take a second Sunday to remember it.
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