LANDOVER, Maryland – Quarterback Nate Sudfeld has learned to be ready at all times. But after he tossed his first NFL touchdown pass late in the 24-0 win over Washington on Sunday at FedEx Field, Sudfeld wasn't prepared. His short completion to wide receiver Nelson Agholor turned into a 22-yard score and Agholor handed the ball to an Eagles fan in the stands and, well, then it became kind of awkward for Sudfeld.
He wanted the football. It was his first NFL touchdown pass. It had to be a keepsake. But how?
"I went up to Nelly and said, 'No, no, please keep it!' But he gave it to a little kid, so I went up to his dad and asked them if I could switch out a football for them. They were really nice about it," Sudfeld said. "We switched out the ball and got them another ball and they were really nice about it."
It was a special afternoon for Sudfeld, who had his parents and his brother in attendance. Starter Nick Foles left the game with a chest injury after completing 28 of 33 passes for 221 yards, two touchdowns, and an interception, compiling a 102.1 passer rating. Foles tied an NFL record with 25 consecutive completions at one point and left the game early in the fourth quarter.
Sudfeld, who threw one incomplete pass in the win over Houston at Lincoln Financial Field when Foles left the game for one play after taking a shot in the chest from defensive end Jadeveon Clowney, was the No. 2 quarterback on Sunday with Carson Wentz again inactive.
"Being the backup quarterback, I wouldn't say it's a very easy job. You're there to support the starter but you're also staying in the game (mentally), so you want to be able to go in there and not skip a step," Sudfeld said. "You see the ebbs and flows, you've seen what's gone right, you see what looks we're getting (from the defense). I felt really good and confident. Fortunately, we were in a good situation (leading 17-0) where we were establishing the run, we had good field position, and I was just trying to go one play at a time."
The play call on the touchdown was a naked bootleg to the left side and Sudfeld flipped a pass to Agholor and the speedy wide receiver did the rest as he scored his second touchdown of the day, with a scamper up the sideline.
Sudfeld said the Eagles "have bigger fish to fry" than him thinking about his first scoring pass, but he'll have time for that later. He's got the ball the prove it, after all, and nobody can ever take that away from him.
Check out the best photos from the Eagles' Week 17 game against Washington.
WR Nelson Agholor
Philadelphia Eagles vs. Washington Redskins at FedExField in Landover, Md. On December 30, 2018
Philadelphia Eagles vs. Washington Redskins at FedExField in Landover, Md. On December 30, 2018
Philadelphia Eagles vs. Washington Redskins at FedExField in Landover, Md. On December 30, 2018
Defensive coordinator Jim Schwartz
Philadelphia Eagles vs. Washington Redskins at FedExField in Landover, Md. On December 30, 2018
Philadelphia Eagles vs. Washington Redskins at FedExField in Landover, Md. On December 30, 2018
Philadelphia Eagles vs. Washington Redskins at FedExField in Landover, Md. On December 30, 2018
Philadelphia Eagles vs. Washington Redskins at FedExField in Landover, Md. On December 30, 2018
LB Jordan Hicks
Philadelphia Eagles vs. Washington Redskins at FedExField in Landover, Md. On December 30, 2018
Philadelphia Eagles vs. Washington Redskins at FedExField in Landover, Md. On December 30, 2018
TE Zach Ertz
Philadelphia Eagles vs. Washington Redskins at FedExField in Landover, Md. On December 30, 2018
QB Nick Foles
Philadelphia Eagles vs. Washington Redskins at FedExField in Landover, Md. On December 30, 2018
LB Jordan Hicks
Philadelphia Eagles vs. Washington Redskins at FedExField in Landover, Md. On December 30, 2018
Philadelphia Eagles vs. Washington Redskins at FedExField in Landover, Md. On December 30, 2018
S Corey Graham
Philadelphia Eagles vs. Washington Redskins at FedExField in Landover, Md. On December 30, 2018
DE Chris Long
Philadelphia Eagles vs. Washington Redskins at FedExField in Landover, Md. On December 30, 2018
DB Avonte Maddox
Philadelphia Eagles vs. Washington Redskins at FedExField in Landover, Md. On December 30, 2018
DT Fletcher Cox
Philadelphia Eagles vs. Washington Redskins at FedExField in Landover, Md. On December 30, 2018
S Tre Sullivan
Philadelphia Eagles vs. Washington Redskins at FedExField in Landover, Md. On December 30, 2018
Philadelphia Eagles vs. Washington Redskins at FedExField in Landover, Md. On December 30, 2018
Philadelphia Eagles vs. Washington Redskins at FedExField in Landover, Md. On December 30, 2018
QB Nick Foles
Philadelphia Eagles vs. Washington Redskins at FedExField in Landover, Md. On December 30, 2018
DB Avonte Maddox
Philadelphia Eagles vs. Washington Redskins at FedExField in Landover, Md. On December 30, 2018
Philadelphia Eagles vs. Washington Redskins at FedExField in Landover, Md. On December 30, 2018
Philadelphia Eagles vs. Washington Redskins at FedExField in Landover, Md. On December 30, 2018
DT Fletcher Cox
Philadelphia Eagles vs. Washington Redskins at FedExField in Landover, Md. On December 30, 2018
Philadelphia Eagles vs. Washington Redskins at FedExField in Landover, Md. On December 30, 2018
P Cameron Johnston
Philadelphia Eagles vs. Washington Redskins at FedExField in Landover, Md. On December 30, 2018
RB Darren Sproles
Philadelphia Eagles vs. Washington Redskins at FedExField in Landover, Md. On December 30, 2018
C Jason Kelce
Philadelphia Eagles vs. Washington Redskins at FedExField in Landover, Md. On December 30, 2018
Philadelphia Eagles vs. Washington Redskins at FedExField in Landover, Md. On December 30, 2018
RB Wendell Smallwood
Philadelphia Eagles vs. Washington Redskins at FedExField in Landover, Md. On December 30, 2018
Philadelphia Eagles vs. Washington Redskins at FedExField in Landover, Md. On December 30, 2018
Philadelphia Eagles vs. Washington Redskins at FedExField in Landover, Md. On December 30, 2018
TE Dallas Goedert
Philadelphia Eagles vs. Washington Redskins at FedExField in Landover, Md. On December 30, 2018
OT Jason Peters
Philadelphia Eagles vs. Washington Redskins at FedExField in Landover, Md. On December 30, 2018
RB Josh Adams
Philadelphia Eagles vs. Washington Redskins at FedExField in Landover, Md. On December 30, 2018
WR Golden Tate
Philadelphia Eagles vs. Washington Redskins at FedExField in Landover, Md. On December 30, 2018
OT Jason Peters
Philadelphia Eagles vs. Washington Redskins at FedExField in Landover, Md. On December 30, 2018
Philadelphia Eagles vs. Washington Redskins at FedExField in Landover, Md. On December 30, 2018
Offensive coordinator Mike Groh
Philadelphia Eagles vs. Washington Redskins at FedExField in Landover, Md. On December 30, 2018
Philadelphia Eagles vs. Washington Redskins at FedExField in Landover, Md. On December 30, 2018
CB Rasul Douglas
Philadelphia Eagles vs. Washington Redskins at FedExField in Landover, Md. On December 30, 2018
Philadelphia Eagles vs. Washington Redskins at FedExField in Landover, Md. On December 30, 2018
Philadelphia Eagles vs. Washington Redskins at FedExField in Landover, Md. On December 30, 2018
QB Nick Foles
Philadelphia Eagles vs. Washington Redskins at FedExField in Landover, Md. On December 30, 2018
Philadelphia Eagles vs. Washington Redskins at FedExField in Landover, Md. On December 30, 2018
WR Alshon Jeffery
Philadelphia Eagles vs. Washington Redskins at FedExField in Landover, Md. On December 30, 2018
RB Darren Sproles
Philadelphia Eagles vs. Washington Redskins at FedExField in Landover, Md. On December 30, 2018
Philadelphia Eagles vs. Washington Redskins at FedExField in Landover, Md. On December 30, 2018
Philadelphia Eagles vs. Washington Redskins at FedExField in Landover, Md. On December 30, 2018
WR Alshon Jeffery
Philadelphia Eagles vs. Washington Redskins at FedExField in Landover, Md. On December 30, 2018
K Jake Elliott
Philadelphia Eagles vs. Washington Redskins at FedExField in Landover, Md. On December 30, 2018
Philadelphia Eagles vs. Washington Redskins at FedExField in Landover, Md. On December 30, 2018
G Stefen Wisniewski
Philadelphia Eagles vs. Washington Redskins at FedExField in Landover, Md. On December 30, 2018
Defensive coordinator Jim Schwartz
Philadelphia Eagles vs. Washington Redskins at FedExField in Landover, Md. On December 30, 2018
LB Nathan Gerry
Philadelphia Eagles vs. Washington Redskins at FedExField in Landover, Md. On December 30, 2018
WR Alshon Jeffery
Philadelphia Eagles vs. Washington Redskins at FedExField in Landover, Md. On December 30, 2018
Philadelphia Eagles vs. Washington Redskins at FedExField in Landover, Md. On December 30, 2018
RB Darren Sproles
Philadelphia Eagles vs. Washington Redskins at FedExField in Landover, Md. On December 30, 2018
WR Alshon Jeffery
Philadelphia Eagles vs. Washington Redskins at FedExField in Landover, Md. On December 30, 2018
WR Golden Tate
Philadelphia Eagles vs. Washington Redskins at FedExField in Landover, Md. On December 30, 2018
OT Jason Peters
Philadelphia Eagles vs. Washington Redskins at FedExField in Landover, Md. On December 30, 2018
Philadelphia Eagles vs. Washington Redskins at FedExField in Landover, Md. On December 30, 2018
Philadelphia Eagles vs. Washington Redskins at FedExField in Landover, Md. On December 30, 2018
DE Brandon Graham
Philadelphia Eagles vs. Washington Redskins at FedExField in Landover, Md. On December 30, 2018
Philadelphia Eagles vs. Washington Redskins at FedExField in Landover, Md. On December 30, 2018
Philadelphia Eagles vs. Washington Redskins at FedExField in Landover, Md. On December 30, 2018
Head coach Doug Pederson
Philadelphia Eagles vs. Washington Redskins at FedExField in Landover, Md. On December 30, 2018
RB Darren Sproles
Philadelphia Eagles vs. Washington Redskins at FedExField in Landover, Md. On December 30, 2018
LB Nigel Bradham
Philadelphia Eagles vs. Washington Redskins at FedExField in Landover, Md. On December 30, 2018
CB Rasul Douglas
Philadelphia Eagles vs. Washington Redskins at FedExField in Landover, Md. On December 30, 2018
Philadelphia Eagles vs. Washington Redskins at FedExField in Landover, Md. On December 30, 2018
DT Fletcher Cox
Philadelphia Eagles vs. Washington Redskins at FedExField in Landover, Md. On December 30, 2018
TE Zach Ertz
Philadelphia Eagles vs. Washington Redskins at FedExField in Landover, Md. On December 30, 2018
WR Nelson Agholor
Philadelphia Eagles vs. Washington Redskins at FedExField in Landover, Md. On December 30, 2018
RB Josh Adams
Philadelphia Eagles vs. Washington Redskins at FedExField in Landover, Md. On December 30, 2018
Head coach Doug Pederson
Philadelphia Eagles vs. Washington Redskins at FedExField in Landover, Md. On December 30, 2018
QB Nick Foles
Philadelphia Eagles vs. Washington Redskins at FedExField in Landover, Md. On December 30, 2018
QB Nick Foles
Philadelphia Eagles vs. Washington Redskins at FedExField in Landover, Md. On December 30, 2018
Philadelphia Eagles vs. Washington Redskins at FedExField in Landover, Md. On December 30, 2018
TE Zach Ertz
Philadelphia Eagles vs. Washington Redskins at FedExField in Landover, Md. On December 30, 2018
OT Lane Johnson
Philadelphia Eagles vs. Washington Redskins at FedExField in Landover, Md. On December 30, 2018
DE Michael Bennett
Philadelphia Eagles vs. Washington Redskins at FedExField in Landover, Md. On December 30, 2018
QB Nick Foles
Philadelphia Eagles vs. Washington Redskins at FedExField in Landover, Md. On December 30, 2018
QB Nate Sudfeld
Philadelphia Eagles vs. Washington Redskins at FedExField in Landover, Md. On December 30, 2018
WR Nelson Agholor
Philadelphia Eagles vs. Washington Redskins at FedExField in Landover, Md. On December 30, 2018
DE Brandon Graham
Philadelphia Eagles vs. Washington Redskins at FedExField in Landover, Md. On December 30, 2018
Philadelphia Eagles vs. Washington Redskins at FedExField in Landover, Md. On December 30, 2018
WR Golden Tate
Philadelphia Eagles vs. Washington Redskins at FedExField in Landover, Md. On December 30, 2018
C Jason Kelce
Philadelphia Eagles vs. Washington Redskins at FedExField in Landover, Md. On December 30, 2018
Philadelphia Eagles vs. Washington Redskins at FedExField in Landover, Md. On December 30, 2018
Philadelphia Eagles vs. Washington Redskins at FedExField in Landover, Md. On December 30, 2018
DE Michael Bennett
Philadelphia Eagles vs. Washington Redskins at FedExField in Landover, Md. On December 30, 2018
Philadelphia Eagles vs. Washington Redskins at FedExField in Landover, Md. On December 30, 2018
WR Nelson Agholor
Philadelphia Eagles vs. Washington Redskins at FedExField in Landover, Md. On December 30, 2018
WR Nelson Agholor
Philadelphia Eagles vs. Washington Redskins at FedExField in Landover, Md. On December 30, 2018
RB Josh Adams
Philadelphia Eagles vs. Washington Redskins at FedExField in Landover, Md. On December 30, 2018
K Jake Elliott
Philadelphia Eagles vs. Washington Redskins at FedExField in Landover, Md. On December 30, 2018
LB Nigel Bradham
Philadelphia Eagles vs. Washington Redskins at FedExField in Landover, Md. On December 30, 2018
Philadelphia Eagles vs. Washington Redskins at FedExField in Landover, Md. On December 30, 2018
Philadelphia Eagles vs. Washington Redskins at FedExField in Landover, Md. On December 30, 2018
DE Chris Long
Philadelphia Eagles vs. Washington Redskins at FedExField in Landover, Md. On December 30, 2018
OT Jason Peters
Philadelphia Eagles vs. Washington Redskins at FedExField in Landover, Md. On December 30, 2018
Philadelphia Eagles vs. Washington Redskins at FedExField in Landover, Md. On December 30, 2018
Philadelphia Eagles vs. Washington Redskins at FedExField in Landover, Md. On December 30, 2018
WR Golden Tate with Eagles fans
Philadelphia Eagles vs. Washington Redskins at FedExField in Landover, Md. On December 30, 2018
DT Fletcher Cox and DE Chris Long
Philadelphia Eagles vs. Washington Redskins at FedExField in Landover, Md. On December 30, 2018
