LANDOVER, Md. — Jason Kelce was beside himself.
The Eagles overcame a horrid first half to take a lead on the Redskins only to lose it in the final minute and fall to 1-3 (see Instant Replay).
But don't blame the defense, which once again was on the field two-thirds (over actually) of the game (more on the defense here). Blame the offense, and specifically the offensive line.
Kelce had to get his frustrations off his chest, and he did.
"Bottom line is our defense plays good enough, our offense struggles to move the ball when we don't do our job, and that's been the thing from the f------ beginning of the season," Kelce said. "That's been exactly what stalled out our offense from the beginning all the way through these first four games. And right now we don't run the ball when we need to, we don't pass block when we need to, and it's a disgrace right now."
When healthy, the offensive line was still a question mark with journeymen Andrew Gardner and Allen Barbre starting at guard. Now, the line isn't healthy. Gardner (foot) is out for the year and has been replaced by Matt Tobin, who on Sunday had to move from right guard to left tackle when Jason Peters aggravated his quad injury. (Peters said it's "nothing long term.") Dennis Kelly replaced Tobin at right guard.
Then Lane Johnson suffered a knee injury — he thinks he re-sprained his MCL — but was able to finish the game (see story).
But don't bother asking Kelce about injuries or subs or their effect on the line's productivity.
"My job isn't to worry about that," he said. "My job is to go out there, set the assignment, set the scheme, then block these dudes. It's just very, very frustrating that we're not putting our guys in better positions."
That the Eagles were in position to win the game given how they played in the first half is miraculous (and obviously a credit to the defense).
They had 95 total yards, just four first downs and possessed the ball for only eight minutes and 13 seconds (see 10 observations). The Redskins had it for 21:47.
Head coach Chip Kelly prefers plays run to time of possession, so we'll go there. The Eagles in the first half ran only 19 plays. The Redskins ran 37.
Sam Bradford was sacked three times in the first half and none in the second, when the Eagles' bipolar offense rediscovered something called the deep pass. But don't bother asking Kelce about that. When someone did, he changed the subject.
"All I'm worried about right now is getting the offensive line fixed," Kelce said. "Right now we've got to pass block better, we've got to run block better, we've got to communicate better. There's just way too many mistakes, way too many errors, especially at this point in the season, and we're costing our team wins right now. We've got to get this fixed, and we should have had it fixed yesterday; (we) should have had it fixed right from the beginning, and it's very frustrating right now."
It's baffling.
"Sometimes we look great," Peters said. "Sometimes we look like we don't know what we're doing."
DeMarco Murray returned from a hamstring injury and started his day with a 30-yard run, his longest as an Eagle. Then he carried the ball only seven more times and gained only six more yards and admitted that he's not getting enough carries (see story).
He also exonerated the O-line a bit.
"I think it's a total group effort," Murray said. "It starts with us as players, no matter who's in there, no matter what play they call — it's up to us to get the plays. I think every guy has to look in the mirror and take accountability for their actions. I'm the first to do it at all times, and you know, Kelce's a great player. He's the leader of that group, and you know, guys are banged up and when your number is called, you have to step up to the plate and do your best."