Foles leads Eagles past Redskins 24-0, into playoffs
LANDOVER, Md. (AP) — Nick Foles’ magic stretched all the way back to Minnesota.
Foles did it again, leading the Philadelphia Eagles to a 24-0 victory over the Redskins and the defending Super Bowl champions earned the NFC’s final wild-card berth when Chicago beat the Vikings on Sunday.
The Eagles (9-7) will play at the Bears (12-4) next weekend.
Foles tied Philip Rivers’ NFL record by completing 25 straight passes and threw two touchdown passes before a chest injury forced him out of the game. Nate Sudfeld fired a 22-yard TD on his only pass.
It felt like a home game for the Eagles. Philadelphia fans filled FedEx Field, sang “Fly! Eagles! Fly!” and chanted “Let’s Go Bears!” There were several thousand empty seats and Redskins fans could only cheer for the Vikings to spite Eagles fans.
Foles, the Super Bowl MVP in Philadelphia’s win over New England last February, is 6-0 in must-win games filling in for Carson Wentz.
Foles stepped in after Wentz was sidelined by a back injury earlier this month and guided Philadelphia to an upset on the road against the Rams as a 13 1/2-point underdog. He set a franchise record for yards passing in a game with 471 in a 32-30 comeback win last week against Houston.
The Eagles dominated the Redskins, controlling the ball for 43:19. Philadelphia’s defense held Washington to only 89 yards total offense.
The Redskins (7-9) lost six of seven after leading the NFC East at 6-3.
Foles finished 28 of 33 for 221 yards, two TDs and one interception.
He tossed a 2-yard pass to Alshon Jeffery to cap a 19-play, 87-yard drive that took 11:49 in the second quarter, giving Philadelphia a 10-0 lead. Foles was 10 of 10 on the drive and the Eagles converted three times on third downs and once on fourth-and-1.
Foles connected with Nelson Agholor on a 6-yard pass to make it 17-0 late in the third quarter. On the previous play, Foles had a chance to break the completion record but misfired on a pass to Agholor.
Sudfeld hit Agholor on a catch-and-run TD to extend the lead to 24-0 in the fourth.
Josh Johnson, making his third start for the Redskins after Alex Smith and Colt McCoy sustained season-ending injuries and Mark Sanchez was ineffective, was 12 of 27 for 91 yards and one pick.
Rasul Douglas intercepted Johnson on the first play from scrimmage.
SHUTOUTS
The Redskins hadn’t been shut out since losing 24-0 to the Rams on Dec. 7, 2014. It was Philadelphia’s first shutout since a 27-0 win over the Giants on Oct. 12, 2014.
DRIVE TIME
The nearly 12-minute drive by Philadelphia was the longest in the NFL since the Browns had a field-goal drive that lasted 12:01 against the Chiefs in 2015. The 19 plays were the most in a drive against Washington since 1999.
GETTING TRICKY
Redskins punter Tress Way threw a 7-yard pass to Jehu Chesson on a fake punt on fourth-and-2, but Johnson followed with three straight incomplete passes and Way had to punt.
INJURIES
Redskins: RG Tony Bergstrom left with a knee injury.
Eagles: Foles left in the fourth quarter with a chest injury.
UP NEXT
Redskins: Finished third in NFC East and missed the playoffs for the third straight season.
Eagles: Play at Chicago in a wild-card game next weekend.
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