Mark Sanchez played well enough to win. In fact, the final stat line would impress any Eagles or fantasy football fan alike. But with the game truly on the line, Mark delivered in typical Sanchez fashion, tossing a late game interception that ultimately cost his team the win — and dashed any hope of the Eagles making the playoffs.
Sanchez finished the game with impressive numbers, completing 37 of 50 passes with a pair of touchdowns for the Eagles. But he also added a fumble and the aforementioned pick that ultimately sealed the comeback win for RGIII and the Washington Redskins.
As could be expected, Philly nation is stunned. But Bleacher Report sees Sunday’s uneven performance as typical of Sanchez’s entire NFL career.
“Since seeing the Eagles through to a 31-21 win over the Houston Texans in Week 9, Sanchez has played unevenly but creditably,” lead writer Ty Schalter explains. “When he led the Eagles to a 33-10 victory over the Dallas Cowboys on Thanksgiving, it looked like Sanchez had conquered his demons—and the Eagles were on their way to conquering the NFC. Since then, the Eagles are 0-3.”
Schalter even goes so far as to blame the loss on Mark’s overall limitations as a quarterback.
“A few critical Eagles mistakes — including some untimely penalties and two missed field goals — wouldn’t have cost them the game if Sanchez had been able to make a big play or two, or avoid the big mistake.”
The loss has undoubtedly pushed the Eagles to the brink of elimination and turned them into major Colts fans, as Dallas hosts Andrew Luck and company this Sunday with a chance to clinch the NFC East. In fact, CBS Philly has the Eagles playoff hopes down to a meager 40 percent following the loss to the Redskins.
So what’s next for Mark Sanchez and the Eagles, if they do end up on the outside looking in when the NFL playoffs begin in two weeks? As reported by Inquisitr , the notion of trading for embattled quarterback Jay Cutler could be on the table. According to NJ.com , Sanchez has played his way out of the discussion as the Eagles long-term solution at his position.
“Watching the play of quarterbacks Mark Sanchez and Nick Foles this season,” writer Eliot Shorr-Parks states, “it is hard not to look ahead and think about how the team is absolutely going to have to address the quarterback position this offseason.”
In the end, it could have been worse for Mark Sanchez and the Philadelphia Eagles last night. His fourth quarter turnover could have been a butt fumble.
[Mark Sanchez image via Bleacher Report ]