The Eagles have last four of their last five games after starting the season 3-0. The blame game is pointing to bad decisions by rookie head coach Doug Pederson and rookie quarterback Carson Wentz, Photo by TJ Engler / contrastphotography.com

EAST RUTHERFORD: The New York Football Giants tried and tried to hand the Eagles a win Sunday afternoon and failed.

The Birds offense would have none of it.

Eli Manning threw two fourth-quarter interceptions and Eagles rookie quarterback Carson Wentz failed to get a single point from either turnover that handed the ball to the second overall pick in great field position.

The second pick happened at the 1:55 mark of the fourth quarter when Eagles linebacker Jordan Hicks snagged a tipped ball that gave the Birds a first down at the Giants 34-yard line with 1:48 left.

Wentz teased the stunned home crowd completing a 17-yard pass to Nelson Agholor setting up a first down on Big Blue’s 17-yard line at the 1:41 mark.

Everyone…fans, Giants players, Eagles players, security guards and vendors expected another Giants collapse, only this time it didn’t happen.

Four consecutive incompletions sealed the deal including a fourth-down fade route to Jordon Matthews that never looked like it had a chance.

After the game, Wentz was asked about the final pass, and where he was actually looking to put the ball.

“Obviously a little more inside,” Wentz said. “I didn’t want to fade him too much like that. That’s red zone football. You’ve got to be precise down there and we just missed that one.”

Wentz was asked about why the offense wasn’t able to score on the last drive after the Birds defense set them up to steal the game.

“We just didn’t finish, plain and simple,” said Wentz who finished 27 of 47 for 364 yards, no TD passes and two interceptions. He was sacked twice. “It was tough. Just throughout the whole game, we struggled finishing in the red zone, and that’s something we’ve got to go back and we’ve got to be sharp on our details. I know that’s one thing we’ve all got to emphasize, but we’ve got to find a way to finish in the red zone.”

Wentz was reminded it was the fourth time this season the offense had the ball with one possession late in the game. Are he and the guys in the huddle still confident going into those situations?

“Without a doubt, we never lose our confidence,” Wentz said. “We never lose our composure. Every guy in there strictly believes we’re going to win, and that’s the mindset we all have, and I haven’t seen that waver yet, but it’s just one of those things. We haven’t gotten it done, and you guys can call it what you want, we’ve just got to find a way to finish these ballgames.”
Wentz may believe that but the Eagles cannot expect to win games, especially on the road, spotting their opponent two touchdowns in the first quarter.

But that is exactly what the Birds did Sunday at MetLife Stadium.

The Eagles defense stopped Manning and the Giants on their opening drive with a three-and-out. IN football that is not unlike breaking your opponent’s serve.

That stop should energize your offense to take advantage of the opportunity and score knowing – since your team won the coin toss, and would get the ball to start the second half.

But the Eagles offense did the opposite not just once, but on their first two possessions.
Wentz threw a terrible ball intended for Agholor right into the hands of safety Landon Collins at the 38-yard line and returned it seven yards. On the Giants second play, Manning hit Odell Beckham, Jr. with a 26-yard touchdown pass.

On the ensuing drive, Wentz threw a pass deep to the middle to a receiver only he saw because it landed right in the hands of Giants free safety Andrew Adams who returned it 19-yards to Eagles 30-yard line.

Again Manning struck quickly hitting wide receiver Roger Lewis with a 30-yard pass that looked easy.
It is a tough way to start a game and expect to win.

Wentz took the blame for the turnovers.

“You know, I’ll have to go back and watch the tape, but I thought the reads were fine, the decisions were fine – I just airmailed them,” Wentz said. “The ball sailed on me on both of them.”

The Eagles moved the ball well the first half–216 yards in the air, 47 rushing–but could manage just 10 points. The Eagles scored on a 34-yard field goal by Caleb Sturgis and an eight-yard run by Ryan Mathews.

What also hurt the Eagles was the confounding play calling by Doug Pederson. The rookie head coach passed on two easy field goals to go for it on fourth down and short only to come up short both times.

The second attempt was on a fourth and one from the Giants six-yard line.

The Giants stuffed Sproles for no gain.

The turnover on downs wasted a brilliant 66-yard punt return by Sproles.

Pederson said he was just being aggressive on the road when asked about passing on three-points and going for it on fourth down.

He was asked about the fine line between being aggressive and squandering points, especially on the road, especially in the division.

“My belief and my feeling, again, is going back to the way our offense was actually operating at the time,” Pederson said. “In the first five plays of the game, we’re down 14-0 and have two turnovers. But, I still have confidence in this group. I think, if we do a little better to start the game, we’re not in this situation at the end of the game, personally. I’m going to continue to stay aggressive that way, trust in the guys and let our guys play.”

Eagles fans still have trust in the head coach and Wentz, they need to start rewarding that trust.