LANDOVER, Md. --The snaps were clean, the holds true. Everything was in place for kicker Caleb Sturgis to have success in his first game as an Eagle on Sunday at FedEx Field.
But two missed kicks -- one a 33-yard field goal to end the first half and a PAT after the Eagles scored on their first possession of the second half -- were critical in the 23-20 loss in a key NFC East game to Washington.
"It's very disappointing. I just missed them. No excuses," said Sturgis, who was signed on Tuesday after Cody Parkey tore three groin muscles in last Sunday's victory over the New York Jets. "They were short kicks. They were easy kicks.
The extreme weather couldn't keep the Eagles from traveling to Washington for their Week 4 match up. View the full gallery here...
RB DeMarco Murray takes off
PHIvsWAS
Waiting to make their attack
WR Nelson Agholor makes the one-handed grab
S Malcolm Jenkins celebrates the stop
Waiting for the verdict
The pass is in the air
QB Sam Bradford takes the field
Eagles Chairman and Chief Executive Officer Jeffrey Lurie and Vice President of Player Personnel Ed Marynowitz watch pregame
Heading to the field
Kickers Caleb Sturgis and Cody Parkey talk during pregame
RB DeMarco Murray prepares for the game
Catching up before the game
Ready to run
An intense practice
Ready to take the field!
Eagles on three!
Ready for the game to start
Pregame focus
Stretching out for #PHIvsWAS
RB Kenjon Barner catches a pass during pregame
The #SproleTrain has arrived
LB Connor Barwin gets the pass
Preparations...
C Jason Kelce
RB Darren Sproles goes through his routine
DB Walter Thurmond and WR Nelson Agholor jog on the field
T Dennis Kelly goes for the block during pregame warm-ups
WR Miles Austin flies high for the ball
Suit up
FlyEaglesFly!
RB Darren Sproles and QB Sam Bradford take the field
Ready to rock!
LB Mychal Kendricks is in position
Ready to make his move
LB Najee Goode looks on
DT Bennie Logan takes in the moment
WR Josh Huff shoes his #EaglesTBC support
LB Jordan Hicks during the National Anthem
The Eagles defense makes the stop
QB Sam Bradford looks down the field
Always prepared
EaglesNation is well-represented at the game!
High-fives all around
Ready to support their Eagles!
LB Connor Barwin goes for the ball
RB DeMarco Murray protects on the run
T Jason Peters protects along the outside
QB Sam Bradford looks for a receiver
P Donnie Jones kicks it away
RB DeMarco Murray tries to shake off the tackle
Walking the sidelines after the play
A true Eagles fan!
QB Sam Bradford scrambles
K Caleb Sturgis makes his debut as an Eagle
Watching it soar
DE Fletcher Cox sticks with the tackle
Hitting the open field
WR Nelson Agholor pulls the ball in
Blocking for RB DeMarco Murray
DT Bennie Logan sets up
Head Coach Chip Kelly
LB Jordan Hicks is ready for the snap
Examining the coverage
LB Connor Barwin eyes up the offense
On the run!
RB Darren Sproles escapes for the open field
QB Sam Bradford has time to make the throw
T Dennis Kelly runs off
DB Eric Rowe and LB DeMeco Ryans make the tackle
Protecting the ball
WR Nelson Agholor takes off
Now that's control!
RB Darren Sproles makes his move
Sproles in stride
As the National Anthem is sung...
It's a celebration!
WR Jordan Matthews runs with the ball
TE Brent Celek celebrates the touchdown!
DE Fletcher Cox marks up
The Eagles defense stops the offense
WR Jordan Matthews has no problem making the catch
WR Jordan Matthews hits traffic
WR Riley Cooper has the touchdown!
WR Riley Cooper celebrates with LB Connor Barwin
QB Sam Bradford joins in on the celebration
TE Brent Celek makes the catch!
Celek scores!
CB Byron Maxwell doesn't let him get away
T Jason Peters braces for impact
DE Fletcher Cox and LB DeMeco Ryans power through the tackle
DE Fletcher Cox tracks down the ball
The kick is good!
K Caleb Sturgis gets ready for the kick
The handoff to RB Ryan Mathews
LB Brandon Graham goes for the tackle
RB Darren Sproles slips through the tackles
Pressure on QB Sam Bradford
Going for it
A pile of Eagles make the tackle
WR Jordan Matthews prepares to take off
WR Miles Austin finds the endzone
The defense attacks from all angles
C Jason Kelce congratulates WR Miles Austin
The offense protects QB Sam Bradford
Incoming!
It's good!
All smiles for the wide receivers
Everyone is pumped up for WR Miles Austin
A beautiful throw from QB Sam Bradford and an amazing catch from WR Miles Austin
DE Vinny Curry tires to block the pass
The defense working together
Before the throw...
Stopped in his tracks
TE Trey Burton and LB Bryan Braman are fired up
RB Darren Sproles keeps running
RB Ryan Mathews runs through traffic
RB Ryan Mathews finds the opening
WR Miles Austin protects the ball
"The guys gave such great effort and played so well, and I didn't do my part."
The weather conditions were dicey at FedEx Field with some gusting winds, but there are no excuses. Sturgis just missed his kicks. His field goal went wide left as the first half ended with the Eagles trailing 13-0 and Sturgis then missed a 33-yard PAT after quarterback Sam Bradford connected with wide receiver Riley Cooper for a 62-yard touchdown early in the third quarter to make the score 13-6.
"The wind wasn't a factor," Sturgis said. "They were short kicks. I should have made them. Missing field goals that short, I've got to correct a few things."
FedEx Field has become a bit of a nightmare for Eagles kickers of late. Parkey missed kicks of 34 and 46 yards in last December's 27-24 loss that officially ended the Eagles' playoff chances.
"I have to look at what went wrong," Sturgis said. "I just know I feel like I didn't do my job and I'm disappointed about it."
