Friday I said there was no in-between for Sean Mannion. First bad screen pass and the Linc buries him. First touchdown drive and he's a genius forever.
Genius forever it is.
Eagles 24, Commanders 22. Ugly, stressful, occasionally infuriating, and absolutely a win. That's Week 1 football and I wouldn't change a thing. (I would change several things. We'll get there.)
Hurts came out throwing DARTS
Three touchdown passes. Zero picks. And two throws in the first half that should be framed somewhere — a 64-yard moon shot down the right sideline to Dontayvion Wicks, and then a dart to Goedert in the end zone like the offseason never happened.
Those were like his sixth and seventh passes ever in Mannion's offense. Be honest, you were bracing for three quarters of screen passes and instead the man was airing it out like it's a contract year.
And the 22-yard scramble on third-and-17 in the fourth quarter? That's the play that wins the game. That's the stuff the doubters conveniently forget by Wednesday.
Dallas Goedert, forever underrated, forever ours
Two touchdowns. Four catches, 77 yards. The 43-yarder where he caught a little flip and just ran through the entire Washington defense with six minutes left — that's the dagger, that's the ballgame.
Every offseason somebody floats letting Goedert walk to save money, and every September he does this. Hurts was perfect when he threw his way. Feed him until further notice.
Okay, the annoying part
The offensive line looked like a group project where one guy did all the work. Hurts finished 14 of 25 because he spent half the afternoon running for his life. And we absolutely tried to let Washington back into it — up 24-16, then it's 24-22, then we're all standing on our couches watching a two-point conversion decide whether Monday is fun or miserable.
The defense stuffed it. Zack Baun was everywhere all day. Monday is fun.
But if we're doing that dance against Jayden Daniels in Week 1, let's maybe fix the protection before it costs us one.
Meanwhile, in Atlanta
Deep breath.
Friday: extra-innings walk-off loss, 6-5. Flush it. Saturday: 12-2. I'm not talking about Saturday. Sunday: down goes the sweep — seven-run eighth inning, Bohm with the go-ahead double, Realmuto with three RBIs, and Painter finally looking like the guy we were promised. 9-4, dignity partially restored.
The math: five back, twelve to play. The division is on life support and we all know it. But the wild card series at CBP is still the floor, and I've been saying it for weeks — nobody wants to play October baseball in that building.
One run off a Wheeler gem on Thursday, seven runs in one inning yesterday. This offense is still a light switch. Just be flipped ON in three weeks, that's all I ask.
The week ahead
Birds are 1-0. Phillies are limping toward a home playoff series. Both things are true, and if you told me that in July I'd have taken it without blinking.
Now somebody check on Sean Mannion. He's got about six days of genius left before we re-evaluate.
This city is undefeated in football. Act accordingly.
