Eagles backup QB Gardner Minshew falls simply brief vs. Cowboys
Gardner Minshew falls just short vs. Cowboys initially appeared on NBC Sports Philadelphia
It’s arduous to ask any extra of your backup quarterback than to throw for 355 yards and two touchdowns, put up 27 factors on a top-10 protection in its personal stadium and drive the offense contained in the 20 with an opportunity to win within the closing minute.
Gardner Minshew gave all the pieces he had Saturday in Dallas. It simply wasn’t fairly sufficient.
“Man, we misplaced, in order that sucks,” Minshew mentioned. “You all the time need to do your job effectively sufficient to win, and I really feel like I didn’t do it. Clearly, disenchanted. Issues to develop on, issues to construct on, however loads to wash up.”
Minshew, making his first begin of the yr, put up 27 factors in opposition to a protection permitting 18 per recreation and 15 per recreation at AT&T Stadium.
He fired two touchdowns to DeVonta Smith, threw 19 first down passes – the Eagles’ most this yr and matching their 7th-most within the final 20 years – and hit on seven completions of at the least 20 yards (and two extra for 19 yards).
The most important mistake he made was concentrating on Quez Watkins 5 instances, two of which became ugly interceptions.
These have been amongst 4 turnovers the Eagles dedicated.
The Eagles have dedicated eight turnovers of their two losses and 9 of their 13 wins.
They’re now 1-21 since 2008 once they’re minus-three or worse in turnover ratio. The one win got here in opposition to the Texans in 2014.
“We shot ourselves within the foot,” Minshew mentioned. “You possibly can’t flip the ball over 4 instances and count on to beat a superb staff. You possibly can’t cease your self.”
It’s a disgrace the Eagles misplaced as a result of the offense did some actually spectacular issues.
They piled up 442 whole yards of offense – 2nd-most in opposition to the Cowboys this yr and most in opposition to Dallas in regulation for the reason that Eagles had 477 in Dallas in 2020. And so they held the Cowboys with out a sack for less than the second time this yr.
DeVonta Smith made a pair miraculous catches and picked up his third 100-yard recreation within the final 4 week, growing his season totals to 79-for-1,014. A.J. Brown was 6-for-103 and is now over 1,300 yards this yr. They’ve 17 touchdowns between them.
“It was superior,” Minshew mentioned. “All the blokes fought their tails off. These are those that harm, while you battle like that and are available up brief. However I do know there’s not a bunch I’d somewhat step on the market with, and I’m actually grateful for the hassle they gave and the battle that that they had.”
Minshew’s 355 yards are essentially the most in opposition to the Cowboys since Derek Carr threw for 373 in time beyond regulation final November. The final QB to throw for 355 yards in opposition to the Cowboys in regulation in North Texas was Philip Rivers of the Chargers in 2017, when Nick Sirianni was the Chargers’ receivers coach.
“Simply attempting to win, man,” Minshew mentioned. “Any time you step on the market, that’s all it’s. There’s a ton of fellows who’ve put in a variety of effort into this season and I don’t need to allow them to down. I’ll do all the pieces I can for them to win and get that first seed within the NFC East.”
As tough a day because it was, the Eagles nonetheless had an opportunity within the closing minutes.
Minshew drove the Eagles from their very own 25-yard-line with 1:41 left to the Dallas 19 and a 1st-and-10 with 34 seconds left.
However the Eagles simply couldn’t punch within the recreation winner.
“Now we have some actually good guys who can go get the ball, we’ve bought an important offensive line that may defend us,” he mentioned. “It was only a matter of getting a pair chunks and giving ourselves an opportunity. We did, after which we didn’t capitalize after we bought there.”
Minshew could get one other alternative to begin relying on how Hurts’ sprained proper shoulder heals. If Hurts isn’t at follow on Wednesday, there’s a fairly good probability it will likely be Minshew in opposition to Sunday on the Linc vs. the Saints, when the Eagles get one other alternative to lock up prime seed within the NFC.
“Jalen’s been superior, simply serving to me getting on top of things with what it actually seems like with these guys in a recreation. He’s bought a variety of expertise taking part in Dallas, and I used to be capable of lean on that.
“However actually I’ve realized from Jalen the final two years. He’s performing some actually unimaginable stuff on the market and to have the ability to watch him not solely in video games however each day in follow, I’ve realized a ton from him. Actually grateful to him and the position he performed this week.”
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