For the Eagles to pull out a 25-22 victory over the New York Giants on Sunday at Lincoln Financial Field, they needed their quarterback Carson Wentz to lead the way.
With the score tied at 22 and 2:39 to play, the Eagles faced a fourth-and-1 at the Giants' 42-yard line. It was a challenging situation, but there was no hesitation for head coach Doug Pederson or quarterback Carson Wentz. The Eagles were going to go for it.
With the game on the line, Wentz dropped back, surveyed his options, and found wide receiver Nelson Agholor over the middle for a 12-yard gain and a game-saving first down. The Eagles drained the clock and Jake Elliott nailed a 42-yard field goal with just 22 seconds left to give the Eagles the late lead.
Clutch.
"This was a big one for us, obviously in terms of divisional standings, all that fun stuff, but really, mentally, to show the resilience that we did," Wentz said. "To get down early the way we did and then battle back, this really builds a lot of confidence for really all three phases of this game and to come from behind and get it done today, I think that will speak volumes about our confidence going forward."
Wentz finished the game 20-of-28 for 236 yards, a touchdown, and no interceptions. His passer rating of 108.6 marked his sixth game in his last seven with a passer rating higher than 100.
In the Eagles' loss to the Panthers, the game ended with a fourth-down sack of quarterback Carson Wentz in the red zone when the Eagles needed a touchdown. The loss to the Cowboys two weeks ago was sealed when the Eagles' offense couldn't keep up with Dallas in the fourth quarter.
Those losses opened the floodgates with questions about whether Wentz could lead a late game-winning drive. He answered those questions emphatically against the Giants.
"We just executed," Wentz said. "In all those other past games, it just came down to a play or two here and there and we didn't execute and today, we got it done. It didn't take anything extra from us, we just had to dial it in and execute and we got it done."
Wentz and the offense didn't just come up clutch on the final drive of the comeback win. The offense had to respond on multiple occasions on Sunday and did.
Giants running back Saquon Barkley broke off a 51-yard touchdown run that made the score 19-3 with 4:06 left in the first half. The Giants seemed to have total control of the game. That is until the Eagles went 72 yards in six plays as Wentz connected with Ertz for a 15-yard touchdown to make it 19-11 at halftime.
"The way we answered in the first half was big for us," Wentz said. "We just were able to use that momentum going into the second half and that was huge for us."
As the defense dominated the second half, Wentz and the offense took advantage after a Giants three-and-out with a 61-yard drive in seven plays that ended with a 1-yard Josh Adams touchdown punch. That gave the Eagles their first lead of the game at 22-19 with 10:11 remaining in the game.
And after the Giants tied the game, the offense began at its own 25 with 5:25 to play. Wentz first found wide receiver Alshon Jeffery on the right sideline for a 21-yard gain. He then connected with Zach Ertz for a 10-yard pass a first down.
The Eagles remained balanced with runs by Adams and then Wentz came up with the fourth-down pass to Agholor.
"It was just a progression read," Wentz said. "And he was next in the progression and they went zone coverage and they just kind of parted there in the middle and he came up with arguably the biggest catch of the day."
Wentz said the key this week was keeping things simple offensively. That was the message the entire offense used in this must-have game. The formula was effective, and the comeback was a massive victory for Wentz and the Eagles.
"Right now, I'm just thrilled we got a win," Wentz said. "Obviously, doing it from behind, you never want to be down, but coming back the way we did, it's just huge for our confidence offensively, defensively, the way they kind of stiffened up at the end, and it was big for us."
Take a look at the best photos from the Eagles' NFC East clash against the New York Giants.
Head Coach Doug Pederson
Philadelphia Eagles vs. New York Giants at Lincoln Financial Field on November 25, 2018
Philadelphia Eagles vs. New York Giants at Lincoln Financial Field on November 25, 2018
QB Carson Wentz
Philadelphia Eagles vs. New York Giants at Lincoln Financial Field on November 25, 2018
RB Josh Adams
Philadelphia Eagles vs. New York Giants at Lincoln Financial Field on November 25, 2018
TE Dallas Goedert
Philadelphia Eagles vs. New York Giants at Lincoln Financial Field on November 25, 2018
WR Golden Tate
Philadelphia Eagles vs. New York Giants at Lincoln Financial Field on November 25, 2018
TE Zach Ertz and WR Jordan Matthews
Philadelphia Eagles vs. New York Giants at Lincoln Financial Field on November 25, 2018
WR Golden Tate
Philadelphia Eagles vs. New York Giants at Lincoln Financial Field on November 25, 2018
Philadelphia Eagles vs. New York Giants at Lincoln Financial Field on November 25, 2018
Philadelphia Eagles vs. New York Giants at Lincoln Financial Field on November 25, 2018
TE Zach Ertz
Philadelphia Eagles vs. New York Giants at Lincoln Financial Field on November 25, 2018
LB Kamu Grugier-Hill
Philadelphia Eagles vs. New York Giants at Lincoln Financial Field on November 25, 2018
DE Chris Long
Philadelphia Eagles vs. New York Giants at Lincoln Financial Field on November 25, 2018
WR Alshon Jeffery
Philadelphia Eagles vs. New York Giants at Lincoln Financial Field on November 25, 2018
QBs Carson Wentz and Nick Foles
Philadelphia Eagles vs. New York Giants at Lincoln Financial Field on November 25, 2018
LB Nate Gerry
Philadelphia Eagles vs. New York Giants at Lincoln Financial Field on November 25, 2018
QB Carson Wentz
Philadelphia Eagles vs. New York Giants at Lincoln Financial Field on November 25, 2018
QB Carson Wentz
Philadelphia Eagles vs. New York Giants at Lincoln Financial Field on November 25, 2018
Philadelphia Eagles vs. New York Giants at Lincoln Financial Field on November 25, 2018
Philadelphia Eagles vs. New York Giants at Lincoln Financial Field on November 25, 2018
C Jason Kelce
Philadelphia Eagles vs. New York Giants at Lincoln Financial Field on November 25, 2018
S Malcolm Jenkins
Philadelphia Eagles vs. New York Giants at Lincoln Financial Field on November 25, 2018
Philadelphia Eagles vs. New York Giants at Lincoln Financial Field on November 25, 2018
Philadelphia Eagles vs. New York Giants at Lincoln Financial Field on November 25, 2018
WR Golden Tate
Philadelphia Eagles vs. New York Giants at Lincoln Financial Field on November 25, 2018
DT Tim Jernigan
Philadelphia Eagles vs. New York Giants at Lincoln Financial Field on November 25, 2018
Philadelphia Eagles vs. New York Giants at Lincoln Financial Field on November 25, 2018
TE Zach Ertz
Philadelphia Eagles vs. New York Giants at Lincoln Financial Field on November 25, 2018
RB Corey Clement
Philadelphia Eagles vs. New York Giants at Lincoln Financial Field on November 25, 2018
QB Carson Wentz
Philadelphia Eagles vs. New York Giants at Lincoln Financial Field on November 25, 2018
CB De'Vante Bausby
Philadelphia Eagles vs. New York Giants at Lincoln Financial Field on November 25, 2018
Philadelphia Eagles vs. New York Giants at Lincoln Financial Field on November 25, 2018
RB Corey Clement
Philadelphia Eagles vs. New York Giants at Lincoln Financial Field on November 25, 2018
S Malcolm Jenkins
Philadelphia Eagles vs. New York Giants at Lincoln Financial Field on November 25, 2018
K Jake Elliott
Philadelphia Eagles vs. New York Giants at Lincoln Financial Field on November 25, 2018
Philadelphia Eagles vs. New York Giants at Lincoln Financial Field on November 25, 2018
TE Dallas Goedert
Philadelphia Eagles vs. New York Giants at Lincoln Financial Field on November 25, 2018
TE Dallas Goedert
Philadelphia Eagles vs. New York Giants at Lincoln Financial Field on November 25, 2018
TE Dallas Goedert
Philadelphia Eagles vs. New York Giants at Lincoln Financial Field on November 25, 2018
RB Corey Clement
Philadelphia Eagles vs. New York Giants at Lincoln Financial Field on November 25, 2018
WR Alshon Jeffery
Philadelphia Eagles vs. New York Giants at Lincoln Financial Field on November 25, 2018
QB Carson Wentz and Head Coach Doug Pederson
Philadelphia Eagles vs. New York Giants at Lincoln Financial Field on November 25, 2018
RB Josh Adams
Philadelphia Eagles vs. New York Giants at Lincoln Financial Field on November 25, 2018
S Malcolm Jenkins
Philadelphia Eagles vs. New York Giants at Lincoln Financial Field on November 25, 2018
TE Zach Ertz
Philadelphia Eagles vs. New York Giants at Lincoln Financial Field on November 25, 2018
TE Zach Ertz
Philadelphia Eagles vs. New York Giants at Lincoln Financial Field on November 25, 2018
RB Corey Clement
Philadelphia Eagles vs. New York Giants at Lincoln Financial Field on November 25, 2018
S Malcolm Jenkins
Philadelphia Eagles vs. New York Giants at Lincoln Financial Field on November 25, 2018
DE Michael Benett
Philadelphia Eagles vs. New York Giants at Lincoln Financial Field on November 25, 2018
Philadelphia Eagles vs. New York Giants at Lincoln Financial Field on November 25, 2018
Philadelphia Eagles vs. New York Giants at Lincoln Financial Field on November 25, 2018
RB Josh Adams
Philadelphia Eagles vs. New York Giants at Lincoln Financial Field on November 25, 2018
RB Josh Adams
Philadelphia Eagles vs. New York Giants at Lincoln Financial Field on November 25, 2018
RB Josh Adams
Philadelphia Eagles vs. New York Giants at Lincoln Financial Field on November 25, 2018
CB Cre'Von LeBlanc
Philadelphia Eagles vs. New York Giants at Lincoln Financial Field on November 25, 2018
S Corey Graham
Philadelphia Eagles vs. New York Giants at Lincoln Financial Field on November 25, 2018
WR Golden Tate
Philadelphia Eagles vs. New York Giants at Lincoln Financial Field on November 25, 2018
LB Kamu Grugier-Hill
Philadelphia Eagles vs. New York Giants at Lincoln Financial Field on November 25, 2018
C Jason Kelce
Philadelphia Eagles vs. New York Giants at Lincoln Financial Field on November 25, 2018
WR Golden Tate
Philadelphia Eagles vs. New York Giants at Lincoln Financial Field on November 25, 2018
QB Carson Wentz
Philadelphia Eagles vs. New York Giants at Lincoln Financial Field on November 25, 2018
LB Kamu Grugier-Hill
Philadelphia Eagles vs. New York Giants at Lincoln Financial Field on November 25, 2018
RB Corey Clement
Philadelphia Eagles vs. New York Giants at Lincoln Financial Field on November 25, 2018
RB Josh Adams
Philadelphia Eagles vs. New York Giants at Lincoln Financial Field on November 25, 2018
Philadelphia Eagles vs. New York Giants at Lincoln Financial Field on November 25, 2018
Philadelphia Eagles vs. New York Giants at Lincoln Financial Field on November 25, 2018
RB Josh Adams
Philadelphia Eagles vs. New York Giants at Lincoln Financial Field on November 25, 2018
Philadelphia Eagles vs. New York Giants at Lincoln Financial Field on November 25, 2018
OT Jason Peters and RB Josh Adams
Philadelphia Eagles vs. New York Giants at Lincoln Financial Field on November 25, 2018
RB Josh Adams
Philadelphia Eagles vs. New York Giants at Lincoln Financial Field on November 25, 2018
RB Josh Adams scores
Philadelphia Eagles vs. New York Giants at Lincoln Financial Field on November 25, 2018
QB Carson Wentz
Philadelphia Eagles vs. New York Giants at Lincoln Financial Field on November 25, 2018
RB Josh Adams
Philadelphia Eagles vs. New York Giants at Lincoln Financial Field on November 25, 2018
P Cameron Johnston
Philadelphia Eagles vs. New York Giants at Lincoln Financial Field on November 25, 2018
RB Corey Clement
Philadelphia Eagles vs. New York Giants at Lincoln Financial Field on November 25, 2018
Philadelphia Eagles vs. New York Giants at Lincoln Financial Field on November 25, 2018
RB Corey Clement
Philadelphia Eagles vs. New York Giants at Lincoln Financial Field on November 25, 2018
K Jake Elliott
Philadelphia Eagles vs. New York Giants at Lincoln Financial Field on November 25, 2018
Philadelphia Eagles vs. New York Giants at Lincoln Financial Field on November 25, 2018
Philadelphia Eagles vs. New York Giants at Lincoln Financial Field on November 25, 2018
TE Zach Ertz
Philadelphia Eagles vs. New York Giants at Lincoln Financial Field on November 25, 2018
K Jake Elliott
Philadelphia Eagles vs. New York Giants at Lincoln Financial Field on November 25, 2018
TE Zach Ertz
Philadelphia Eagles vs. New York Giants at Lincoln Financial Field on November 25, 2018
Philadelphia Eagles vs. New York Giants at Lincoln Financial Field on November 25, 2018
Philadelphia Eagles vs. New York Giants at Lincoln Financial Field on November 25, 2018
Philadelphia Eagles vs. New York Giants at Lincoln Financial Field on November 25, 2018
Philadelphia Eagles vs. New York Giants at Lincoln Financial Field on November 25, 2018
