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GREEN BAY, Wis. – For 10 games the Eagles had been the model of how to change a game in a positive way on special teams. In Game 11, Sunday at the Packers, the Eagles felt the sting of giving up a big play on special teams in a 53-20 loss to Green Bay.
Trailing 10-0 in the first quarter, the Eagles' offense had a three-and-out series and Donnie Jones dropped back to punt. His kick was caught by Micah Hyde in the middle of the field at the Green Bay 25-yard line and the Eagles appeared to have him surrounded with gunners Josh Huff and Nolan Carroll II.
And suddenly they didn't.
Hyde caught the ball on the left hash mark and slipped past Huff, who did not close the gap effectively, and then turned up the field down the gut, cut to the right sideline and outraced Jones into the end zone.
"He had space down the middle and took off," Carroll said. "We were right there. I should have taken a shot. I saw the guy on my inside and I tried to backpedal and get over the top and I couldn't get there and he ran down the field free."
Said Huff: "I did my job. I was doing what the coaches told me to do, to slow down before I got to the returner so that's what I did. That was the end result. I was in position to make the play but I was doing what the coaches told me to do."
The Packers dominated in every way on Sunday, including making the big play on special teams. Green Bay had its share of troubles in the kicking game, botching a PAT snap, having Brandon Bair block a PAT, missing a 50-yard field goal attempt and late in the game permitting Bryan Braman to burst up the gut to block a punt, but the punt return that went for a Packers touchdown was a huge moment in the first half.
It was the first punt return for a touchdown allowed by the Eagles since Detroit's Jeremy Ross did so in the Snow Bowl game on December 8, 2013 at Lincoln Financial Field.
"I didn't see much," Jones said. "I thought maybe our left gunner (Huff) was in his face and all of a sudden I saw him make a move and come up our sidelines. I tried to chase him down and catch him and I couldn't. We have to figure out what happened and get it fixed."
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The Eagles are in Green Bay to take on QB Aaron Rodgers and the Green Bay Packers in a critical NFC showdown ...
WR Jordan Matthews getting into the touchdown for an Eagles touchdown!
RB Darren Sproles zigging and zagging
RB LeSean McCoy in open space
LBs Trent Cole and Mychal Kendricks on the tackle
Team tackling for the Eagles defense
RB LeSean McCoy heading out to the field prior to the game
QB Matt Barkley warming up before today's game
Lambeau Field in Green Bay
Lambeau Field is ready for this NFC showdown!
Selfies before the game on Lambeau Field
Eagles fans out in full force in Green Bay
Fans are bundled up ready for the game
Welcome to the Leap Nest!
It's great seeing so many fans in Green Bay
TheRealMcCoy with some fans at Lambeau Field
Breaking it down before the game
QB Mark Sanchez is looking to have another big game
Inside the huddle
Head Coach Chip Kelly walking out to the field
C Jason Kelce and G/T Andrew Gardner walking out to the field
QB Mark Sanchez is ready for the elements of Green Bay
Eagles players getting their hands ready for the cold
RB Chris Polk getting warmed up in the cold weather
Covering the receiver on the downfield pass
LB Mychal Kendricks trying his luck at #Barwinning
QB Mark Sanchez back in the pocket
RB LeSean McCoy cutting through potential tacklers
WR Jeremy Maclin falling forward after catching the crossing route
LB Connor Barwin falling on the QB after the fumbled snap
G Evan Mathis blocking at the line of scrimmage
DT Bennie Logan prior to the game handling the cold weather
CB Cary Williams, TE Brent Celek, and S Chris Maragos during today's National Anthem
The captain for today's game
RB Chris Polk running down the field on kick coverage
LB Emmanuel Acho looking to make a tackle
CB Brandon Boykin making the tackle
LB Connor Barwin staring into the backfield prior to the snap
CB Cary Williams on the defense
RB LeSean McCoy breaking through the line of scrimmage
RB LeSean McCoy finding a hole and making plays
T Lane Johnson blocking for QB Mark Sanchez
QB Mark Sanchez looking for a downfield target
RB Darren Sproles getting tackled after a tough run
RB Darren Sproles fighting for extra yards
RB Chris Polk on the kick return
T Jason Peters doing his usual thing and being #TheBodyguard
RB Darren Sproles in the open field after a screen pass
K Cody Parkey making the first quarter field goal
S Malcolm Jenkins making the tackle
DE Fletcher Cox pushing through the offensive line
TE Zach Ertz making a catch and getting some extra yards
RB Darren Sproles cutting around defenders
TE Zach Ertz diving for extra yards
Head Coach Chip Kelly
T Lane Johnson
QB Mark Sanchez making a pass during the 2nd half
QB Mark Sanchez sliding up in the pocket
S Nate Allen standing in the defensive backfield
S Malcolm Jenkins making the tackle
LB Trent Cole down at the line of scrimmage before the snap
RB Darren Sproles in open space
TE Zach Ertz getting down on the grass to make a catch
WR Jordan Matthews fighting through contact and making the catch
WR Jordan Matthews completing the pass
K Cody Parkey is two for two on field goals thus far
WR Jeremy Maclin completing the pass and throwing out a stiff arm
WR Riley Cooper making a big catch
WR Jeremy Maclin with the stiff arm
QB Mark Sanchez slinging the ball
TE Zach Ertz running with the ball after the catch
WR Jeremy Maclin driving through the tackle with his shoulder
WR Jordan Matthews getting into the end zone
LB Trent Cole fighting through the block
The Eagles defense swarming the running back
WR Jordan Matthews diving into the end zone for a touchdown
RB Chris Polk returning kicks for the Eagles today
RB LeSean McCoy falling forward for extra yards
RB LeSean McCoy cutting past tackles
TE Zach Ertz making a 4th down catch
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