NASHVILLE, Tenn. – One play. A chance to make something special happen. For wide receiver Jordan Matthews, who played his collegiate football at nearby Vanderbilt University, everything fell into place on Sunday. His 56-yard catch-and-run on a pass from quarterback Carson Wentz broke the ice for the Eagles' offense in a heartbreaking 26-23 overtime loss to the Tennessee Titans at Nissan Stadium.
Matthews, lined up on the left side of the formation on a first-and-10 play from the Philadelphia 44-yard line midway through the second quarter, ran past cornerback Malcolm Butler and hauled in Wentz's perfect pass and streaked into the end zone, knelt down in prayer, and celebrated as the Eagles erased a 3-0 deficit.
"We want to be able to finish games like this, so it's disappointing to walk out with a loss," Matthews said. "That's what matters the most. Our expectation is to win and to put teams away when we have the opportunity. We didn't do that.
"On the touchdown, they were in Cover 4 and we knew that if we saw that coverage we would have a chance to hit one deep. It's like getting a handoff from Carson on balls like that. We had a 'scissors' concept and the safety took (tight end Dallas) Goedert and I had outside leverage and it was bombs away."
Matthews was an All-American selection at Vanderbilt in 2012 and 2013. In 2013, Matthews set Southeastern Conference records with 112 receptions for 1,477 yards and seven touchdowns. He finished his career with the Commodores with 262 career catches for 3,759 yards and 24 touchdowns. The Eagles selected him in the second round of the 2014 NFL Draft.
It's been a gratifying last couple of weeks for Matthews, who signed with the Eagles prior to last week's win over Indianapolis and caught two passes for 21 yards in the 20-16 victory at Lincoln Financial Field. On Sunday, with the Eagles enjoying the return of Alshon Jeffery to the wide receiver corps, Matthews capped an eight-play, 97-yard drive with his big catch and sprint to the end zone. On that drive, Wentz was a perfect 5-for-5 for 85 yards.
For Matthews, reaching the end zone was emotional.
"It's been a crazy journey and for a lot of people, I'm probably the last person they expected to be in the end zone," Matthews said. "Everybody is acting like I'm slow or something. That's not the case. I can catch the balls deep and when I have that opportunity Carson is going to hit me. When you get open, he's going to put it where it needs to be.
"It would have been a loooottt better if we had been able to get the win."
Matthews had his parents in attendance, thanks to his agent, Bus Cook. Cook represented the late Steve McNair, the former great Titans quarterback. After McNair's death, the Titans provided Cook two tickets at the 50-yard line for each home game. Cook gave them to Matthews and on Sunday's Matthews had his parents in the seats.
Very special.
"What are the chances that in my second game in the city that I live now, that my parents would be here for me?" Matthews said. "It's just funny how things work out sometimes."
Check out the best photos from the Eagles' Week 4 game against the Tennessee Titans.
WR Alshon Jeffery catches a TD
Philadelphia Eagles vs. Tennessee Titans at Nissan Stadium on September 30, 2018
Philadelphia Eagles vs. Tennessee Titans at Nissan Stadium on September 30, 2018
Philadelphia Eagles vs. Tennessee Titans at Nissan Stadium on September 30, 2018
Philadelphia Eagles vs. Tennessee Titans at Nissan Stadium on September 30, 2018
Philadelphia Eagles vs. Tennessee Titans at Nissan Stadium on September 30, 2018
Philadelphia Eagles vs. Tennessee Titans at Nissan Stadium on September 30, 2018
Philadelphia Eagles vs. Tennessee Titans at Nissan Stadium on September 30, 2018
Head coach Doug Pederson
Philadelphia Eagles vs. Tennessee Titans at Nissan Stadium on September 30, 2018
DT Fletcher Cox
Philadelphia Eagles vs. Tennessee Titans at Nissan Stadium on September 30, 2018
QB Carson Wentz
Philadelphia Eagles vs. Tennessee Titans at Nissan Stadium on September 30, 2018
TE Zach Ertz
Philadelphia Eagles vs. Tennessee Titans at Nissan Stadium on September 30, 2018
LB Kamu Grugier-Hill
TE Dallas Goedert
Philadelphia Eagles vs. Tennessee Titans at Nissan Stadium on September 30, 2018
RB Jay Ajayi
Philadelphia Eagles vs. Tennessee Titans at Nissan Stadium on September 30, 2018
G Stefen Wisniewski
Philadelphia Eagles vs. Tennessee Titans at Nissan Stadium on September 30, 2018
DE Michael Bennett
Philadelphia Eagles vs. Tennessee Titans at Nissan Stadium on September 30, 2018
LB Jordan Hicks
Philadelphia Eagles vs. Tennessee Titans at Nissan Stadium on September 30, 2018
C Jason Kelce
Philadelphia Eagles vs. Tennessee Titans at Nissan Stadium on September 30, 2018
TE Joshua Perkins
Philadelphia Eagles vs. Tennessee Titans at Nissan Stadium on September 30, 2018
LB Jordan Hicks
Philadelphia Eagles vs. Tennessee Titans at Nissan Stadium on September 30, 2018
G Chance Warmack
Philadelphia Eagles vs. Tennessee Titans at Nissan Stadium on September 30, 2018
DE Chris Long
Philadelphia Eagles vs. Tennessee Titans at Nissan Stadium on September 30, 2018
Philadelphia Eagles vs. Tennessee Titans at Nissan Stadium on September 30, 2018
CB Ronald Darby
Philadelphia Eagles vs. Tennessee Titans at Nissan Stadium on September 30, 2018
QB Carson Wentz
Philadelphia Eagles vs. Tennessee Titans at Nissan Stadium on September 30, 2018
Philadelphia Eagles vs. Tennessee Titans at Nissan Stadium on September 30, 2018
DT Haloti Ngata
WR Alshon Jeffery
CB Jalen Mills
Philadelphia Eagles vs. Tennessee Titans at Nissan Stadium on September 30, 2018
LB Kamu Grugier-Hill
Philadelphia Eagles vs. Tennessee Titans at Nissan Stadium on September 30, 2018
DT Fletcher Cox (left) and DE Michael Bennett
Philadelphia Eagles vs. Tennessee Titans at Nissan Stadium on September 30, 2018
Offensive coordinator Mike Groh
Philadelphia Eagles vs. Tennessee Titans at Nissan Stadium on September 30, 2018
QB Carson Wentz
Philadelphia Eagles vs. Tennessee Titans at Nissan Stadium on September 30, 2018
K Jake Elliott
Philadelphia Eagles vs. Tennessee Titans at Nissan Stadium on September 30, 2018
WRs Shelton Gibson (left) and Alshon Jeffery (center), and RB Wendell Smallwood
CB Jalen Mills
Philadelphia Eagles vs. Tennessee Titans at Nissan Stadium on September 30, 2018
CB Ronald Darby
Philadelphia Eagles vs. Tennessee Titans at Nissan Stadium on September 30, 2018
Philadelphia Eagles vs. Tennessee Titans at Nissan Stadium on September 30, 2018
WR DeAndre Carter
Philadelphia Eagles vs. Tennessee Titans at Nissan Stadium on September 30, 2018
WR Nelson Agholor
Philadelphia Eagles vs. Tennessee Titans at Nissan Stadium on September 30, 2018
DE Michael Bennett
Philadelphia Eagles vs. Tennessee Titans at Nissan Stadium on September 30, 2018
RB Jay Ajayi
Philadelphia Eagles vs. Tennessee Titans at Nissan Stadium on September 30, 2018
RB Jay Ajayi
Philadelphia Eagles vs. Tennessee Titans at Nissan Stadium on September 30, 2018
QB Carson Wentz
Philadelphia Eagles vs. Tennessee Titans at Nissan Stadium on September 30, 2018
WR Jordan Matthews
Philadelphia Eagles vs. Tennessee Titans at Nissan Stadium on September 30, 2018
WR Jordan Matthews
Philadelphia Eagles vs. Tennessee Titans at Nissan Stadium on September 30, 2018
QB Carson Wentz
Philadelphia Eagles vs. Tennessee Titans at Nissan Stadium on September 30, 2018
WR Jordan Matthews (left) and TE Dallas Goedert
Philadelphia Eagles vs. Tennessee Titans at Nissan Stadium on September 30, 2018
WR Alshon Jeffery
Philadelphia Eagles vs. Tennessee Titans at Nissan Stadium on September 30, 2018
WR Jordan Matthews
Philadelphia Eagles vs. Tennessee Titans at Nissan Stadium on September 30, 2018
WR Jordan Matthews
Philadelphia Eagles vs. Tennessee Titans at Nissan Stadium on September 30, 2018
WR Nelson Agholor
Philadelphia Eagles vs. Tennessee Titans at Nissan Stadium on September 30, 2018
WR Nelson Agholor
Philadelphia Eagles vs. Tennessee Titans at Nissan Stadium on September 30, 2018
QB Carson Wentz
Philadelphia Eagles vs. Tennessee Titans at Nissan Stadium on September 30, 2018
WR Jordan Matthews
Philadelphia Eagles vs. Tennessee Titans at Nissan Stadium on September 30, 2018
Philadelphia Eagles vs. Tennessee Titans at Nissan Stadium on September 30, 2018
RB Wendell Smallwood
Philadelphia Eagles vs. Tennessee Titans at Nissan Stadium on September 30, 2018
Philadelphia Eagles vs. Tennessee Titans at Nissan Stadium on September 30, 2018
CB Sidney Jones and DE Derek Barnett
CB Avonte Maddox
Philadelphia Eagles vs. Tennessee Titans at Nissan Stadium on September 30, 2018
QB Carson Wentz
Philadelphia Eagles vs. Tennessee Titans at Nissan Stadium on September 30, 2018
K Jake Elliott
Philadelphia Eagles vs. Tennessee Titans at Nissan Stadium on September 30, 2018
TE Zach Ertz
Philadelphia Eagles vs. Tennessee Titans at Nissan Stadium on September 30, 2018
DE Derek Barnett
Philadelphia Eagles vs. Tennessee Titans at Nissan Stadium on September 30, 2018
Philadelphia Eagles vs. Tennessee Titans at Nissan Stadium on September 30, 2018
Philadelphia Eagles vs. Tennessee Titans at Nissan Stadium on September 30, 2018
Philadelphia Eagles vs. Tennessee Titans at Nissan Stadium on September 30, 2018
DE Derek Barnett sacks Titans QB Marcus Mariota
Philadelphia Eagles vs. Tennessee Titans at Nissan Stadium on September 30, 2018
DE Chris Long
Philadelphia Eagles vs. Tennessee Titans at Nissan Stadium on September 30, 2018
WR Alshon Jeffery catches a TD
Philadelphia Eagles vs. Tennessee Titans at Nissan Stadium on September 30, 2018
WR Alshon Jeffery
Philadelphia Eagles vs. Tennessee Titans at Nissan Stadium on September 30, 2018
WR Alshon Jeffery celebrates with QB Carson Wentz
Philadelphia Eagles vs. Tennessee Titans at Nissan Stadium on September 30, 2018
CB Jalen Mills
Philadelphia Eagles vs. Tennessee Titans at Nissan Stadium on September 30, 2018
QB Carson Wentz
Philadelphia Eagles vs. Tennessee Titans at Nissan Stadium on September 30, 2018
Head coach Doug Pederson
Philadelphia Eagles vs. Tennessee Titans at Nissan Stadium on September 30, 2018
RB Jay Ajayi
Philadelphia Eagles vs. Tennessee Titans at Nissan Stadium on September 30, 2018
WR Nelson Agholor
CB Rasul Douglas
Philadelphia Eagles vs. Tennessee Titans at Nissan Stadium on September 30, 2018
QB Carson Wentz
Philadelphia Eagles vs. Tennessee Titans at Nissan Stadium on September 30, 2018
WR Alshon Jeffery
Philadelphia Eagles vs. Tennessee Titans at Nissan Stadium on September 30, 2018
WR Jordan Matthews
Philadelphia Eagles vs. Tennessee Titans at Nissan Stadium on September 30, 2018
DE Michael Bennett
Philadelphia Eagles vs. Tennessee Titans at Nissan Stadium on September 30, 2018
QB Carson Wentz and head coach Doug Pederson
Philadelphia Eagles vs. Tennessee Titans at Nissan Stadium on September 30, 2018
WR Alshon Jeffery and QB Carson Wentz
Philadelphia Eagles vs. Tennessee Titans at Nissan Stadium on September 30, 2018
Philadelphia Eagles vs. Tennessee Titans at Nissan Stadium on September 30, 2018
RB Jay Ajayi
Philadelphia Eagles vs. Tennessee Titans at Nissan Stadium on September 30, 2018
WR Nelson Agholor
Philadelphia Eagles vs. Tennessee Titans at Nissan Stadium on September 30, 2018
P Cameron Johnston
Philadelphia Eagles vs. Tennessee Titans at Nissan Stadium on September 30, 2018
S Corey Graham
Philadelphia Eagles vs. Tennessee Titans at Nissan Stadium on September 30, 2018
WR Nelson Agholor
Philadelphia Eagles vs. Tennessee Titans at Nissan Stadium on September 30, 2018
DE Derek Barnett
Philadelphia Eagles vs. Tennessee Titans at Nissan Stadium on September 30, 2018
Philadelphia Eagles vs. Tennessee Titans at Nissan Stadium on September 30, 2018
S Corey Graham
Philadelphia Eagles vs. Tennessee Titans at Nissan Stadium on September 30, 2018
LB Nigel Bradham
Philadelphia Eagles vs. Tennessee Titans at Nissan Stadium on September 30, 2018
Philadelphia Eagles vs. Tennessee Titans at Nissan Stadium on September 30, 2018
Philadelphia Eagles vs. Tennessee Titans at Nissan Stadium on September 30, 2018
Assistant head coach/running backs Duce Staley
Philadelphia Eagles vs. Tennessee Titans at Nissan Stadium on September 30, 2018
Philadelphia Eagles vs. Tennessee Titans at Nissan Stadium on September 30, 2018
QB Carson Wentz
Philadelphia Eagles vs. Tennessee Titans at Nissan Stadium on September 30, 2018
Philadelphia Eagles vs. Tennessee Titans at Nissan Stadium on September 30, 2018
WR Alshon Jeffery
Philadelphia Eagles vs. Tennessee Titans at Nissan Stadium on September 30, 2018
WR DeAndre Carter
Philadelphia Eagles vs. Tennessee Titans at Nissan Stadium on September 30, 2018
Philadelphia Eagles vs. Tennessee Titans at Nissan Stadium on September 30, 2018
WR DeAndre Carter
Philadelphia Eagles vs. Tennessee Titans at Nissan Stadium on September 30, 2018
LB Nathan Gerry
Philadelphia Eagles vs. Tennessee Titans at Nissan Stadium on September 30, 2018
Philadelphia Eagles vs. Tennessee Titans at Nissan Stadium on September 30, 2018
Philadelphia Eagles vs. Tennessee Titans at Nissan Stadium on September 30, 2018
K Jake Elliott
Philadelphia Eagles vs. Tennessee Titans at Nissan Stadium on September 30, 2018
Philadelphia Eagles vs. Tennessee Titans at Nissan Stadium on September 30, 2018
QB Carson Wentz
Philadelphia Eagles vs. Tennessee Titans at Nissan Stadium on September 30, 2018
DT Haloti Ngata
Philadelphia Eagles vs. Tennessee Titans at Nissan Stadium on September 30, 2018
LB Jordan Hicks
Philadelphia Eagles vs. Tennessee Titans at Nissan Stadium on September 30, 2018
Philadelphia Eagles vs. Tennessee Titans at Nissan Stadium on September 30, 2018
LS Rick Lovato
Philadelphia Eagles vs. Tennessee Titans at Nissan Stadium on September 30, 2018
Philadelphia Eagles vs. Tennessee Titans at Nissan Stadium on September 30, 2018
RB Wendell Smallwood
Philadelphia Eagles vs. Tennessee Titans at Nissan Stadium on September 30, 2018
Philadelphia Eagles vs. Tennessee Titans at Nissan Stadium on September 30, 2018
LB Nigel Bradham
Philadelphia Eagles vs. Tennessee Titans at Nissan Stadium on September 30, 2018
Philadelphia Eagles vs. Tennessee Titans at Nissan Stadium on September 30, 2018
Philadelphia Eagles vs. Tennessee Titans at Nissan Stadium on September 30, 2018
RB Wendell Smallwood and DE Derek Barnett
Philadelphia Eagles vs. Tennessee Titans at Nissan Stadium on September 30, 2018
DT Destiny Vaeao, K Jake Elliott, and LB Nigel Bradham
Philadelphia Eagles vs. Tennessee Titans at Nissan Stadium on September 30, 2018
RB Wendell Smallwood
Philadelphia Eagles vs. Tennessee Titans at Nissan Stadium on September 30, 2018
RB Jay Ajayi
Philadelphia Eagles vs. Tennessee Titans at Nissan Stadium on September 30, 2018
WRs Alshon Jeffery and Nelson Agholor
Philadelphia Eagles vs. Tennessee Titans at Nissan Stadium on September 30, 2018
LB Jordan Hicks
Philadelphia Eagles vs. Tennessee Titans at Nissan Stadium on September 30, 2018
QB Carson Wentz and Titans QB Marcus Mariota
Philadelphia Eagles vs. Tennessee Titans at Nissan Stadium on September 30, 2018
DE Brandon Graham and Titans RB Dion Lewis
