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The Independent UK
The Independent UK
Sport
Ben Burrows

Eagles vs Jaguars, NFL London 2018 - as it happened: Carson Wentz leads Philadelphia to victory at Wembley

The Philadelphia Eagles delivered when it mattered to down the Jacksonville Jaguars at Wembley Stadium to keep themselves well and truly in the NFC playoff race.

Carson Wentz's fourth quarter touchdown throw to tight end Zach Ertz proved decisive as the world champions outlasted the hometown Jags 24-18 in front of a capacity crowd in London.

They move to 4-4 to keep themselves in the hunt in the NFC East. Conversely Jacksonville, who fall to 3-5, see their hopes of returning to the sharp end in the AFC take another hit with this defeat a fourth in a row.

Here's how it all played out on Sunday:

Another week, another very watchable NFL game at Wembley Stadium.
 
This wasn't an offensive classic but it was high on drama with Carson Wentz's fourth quarter touchdown throw to Zach Ertz proving decisive as the Eagles outlasted the slumping Jaguars.
 
Both leave London with much to prove but Philadelphia will be much the happier as they continue to keep themselves in the hunt in the NFC playoff race.
 
Ed Malyon was at Wembley. Here's what he made of it.
 
Final: Jaguars 18-24 Eagles
 
Wentz takes a knee and this one is over as the Eagles move to 4-4. 
 
The Jaguars fall to 3-5 and with the Texans on the charge in the AFC South their hopes of making the playoffs look bleak.
 
For the world champions they still look like the team to beat in the NFC East and will return after the bye confident of playing January football again.
 
Jaguars 18-24 Eagles
 
The Eagles will be looking to chew the hell out of the clock here. Jags instinctively play the run but Wentz keeps it on a run-pass option and fires to Matthews for a big first down.
 
Smallwood, who we haven't seen for quite a while here, gets it and rumbles up for a yard, maybe two.
 
The Jags, now out of timeouts, know they need to find a stop here.
 
Smallwood again and that could be huge. A barrelling run downhill sees him through two would be tacklers and that's another first as we hit the two-minute warning.
 
Philly on the verge of taking this one.
Jaguars 18-24 Eagles
 
Jacksonville at midfield now as they look to get the seven they need to take the lead here at Wembley.
 
Philly bring pressure again and it's that man Cox who sticks a big mitt up and bat down a pass on third down.
 
4th and 2 but Bortles' pass is incomplete and the Eagles will takeover on downs with less than four minutes to go.
 
Was that the play that won the game?
 
 
Jaguars 18-24 Eagles
 
Bortles is getting heated up now as the Eagles continue to bring a tonne of pressure. 
 
They nearly get to him again but he squeezes one out underhanded to Yeldon for nine before his second down throw falls incomplete.
 
One needed but the screen is blown up and it's fourth but the Jags keep the offense on the field despite being deep in their own half.
 
Bortles keeps it, rolls out to his left and scrambles for the conversion. On they go.
Jaguars 18-24 Eagles
 
Wow. The call is overturned as the officials back in New York deem Adams to be down by contact prior to the fumble. The Eagles will keep possession.
 
Wentz is buried on second down by a careering Jaguar through the line and a screen is diagnosed before it had even began and the Eagles will punt.
 
Jacksonville didn't get the turnover but they will get the ball back. Five minutes for Bortles.
Jaguars 18-24 Eagles
 
Philly ball once again here as they look to take some time off the clock and also try to edge up their lead.
 
Oh boy. That won't do it though. Adams pounds it up the middle on the very first play only to cough it up after Avery Jones forces it free.
 
Jacksonville recover and the refs call it a fumble on the field. They'll go upstairs but, if this one stands, this could be the play of the game.
 
Tick tock. 
Jaguars 18-24 Eagles (Field goal - Lambo)
 
The stats are modest but it must be said, Bortles has had a decent game here and has the Jags knocking on the door again now.
 
Jacksonville in a goal to go situation as he takes off on first for a modest gain. Pass falls incomplete on second before he looks to Chark on third.
 
He's open, Bortles finds him but the rookie can't corral it and it falls to the turf. 
 
Lambo on to chip the three. Six points in it.
Jaguars 15-24 Eagles
 
Bortles back again and he needs, NEEDS, points here if Jacksonville are to have any chance of pulling this one out. 
 
He has time on his side though with nine and change still on the watch.
 
That doesn't help though as Westbrook, who makes a great play to move the chains, jaws back at his opponent afterwards and is flagged for taunting. Dumb.
 
Bortles back to pass on 3rd and four and there's Yeldon on the wheel who snaffles for a huge gain right down into Philly territory. Huge play.
 
 
Jaguars 15-24 Eagles (Touchdown - Ertz)
 
The rookie Adams back in the game as Philly look to continue the balanced attack they've shown today. He rumbles forwards and picks up a bunch and the Eagles are first and goal.
 
Wentz back to pass, looks for the corner of the endzone and, boom, there's Ertz who comes down with it and that's six.
 
Touchdown Eagles.
 
That was a no contest as Philly's No. 1 tight end beats Jags' sixth choice corner. TD all day. 
 
Elliott's point after is good and Philly lead by nine.
Jaguars 15-17 Eagles
 
Hands up who had this as a two-pointer heading down the stretch? Nope, me neither.
 
Anywho, that's where we're at and Wentz has possession as Philly looks to put this one beyond Jacksonville's reach. 
 
That'll help. Wentz uncorks a beauty down the seam and Matthews is there to snatch it for a gain of 36.
 
And the very next play Wentz rolls out and scrambles for 9 more. Philly on the move.
 
 
Jaguars 15-17 Eagles (Field goal - Lambo)
 
Bortles looks for Westbrook in the red area again but this time Jenkins is wise to it and a great play sees him knock the ball down when it looked a touchdown all day long.
 
Bortles looks for Grinnage on third but that one falls incomplete and it'll be Lambo to kick for three. 
 
Up and good. It's a two point game in London.
Jaguars 12-17 Eagles
 
Jags at the 30-yard line as we kick off the final stanza here at Wembley. 
 
Well they were at the 30-yard line but a rarely seen offensive pass interference on Moncrief puts them back 10 yards. Not ideal.
 
Bortles finds Bell on first for some Blake to Blake action to get them into second and manageable and DJ Chark picks up the remaining seven and the Jags are in business in the Philly redzone again.
 
Bortles heating up now with the Jags on the 15. 
 
 
Jaguars 12-17 Eagles
 
If the Jags pull this one off this one may end up being remembered for Westbrook's performance.
 
The last time he touched the ball he was catching a touchdown, the next he's returning the ball right up to midfield from the kick off. 
 
Bortles sacked on second down but he takes off on third and we can move those chains again. Jags in field goal range already.
 
Yeldon with another chunk and we can move them again as we hit the fourth quarter.

Jaguars 12-17 Eagles

We have a ballgame out of nowhere and it's time to see how Wentz and Co. respond.

Philly have been the better team for much of this one but with only five points in it you feel they need to find points on this drive, even if it's just a field goal to take some of the momentum away from Jacksonville.
 
An injury timeout once again before Wentz, facing third and nine, is sacked by a free rushing Myles Jack. Huge stop by Jacksonville.
 
Eagles will punt. Not what they were looking for at all.
Jaguars 12-17 Eagles (Touchdown - Westbrook)
 
Bortles looks for Grinnage again on first but that one is overthrown and goes out of bounds out the back of the endzone. 
 
He finds Moncrief on second for a handful and we're back to third.
 
Bortles back to pass again and over the middle he goes looking for Dede Westbrook who gets his feet down in time.
 
Touchdown Jaguars.
 
Great read and a better throw from Bortles there. Just what this game needed.
 
Down five the Jags go for two instead of one... but fail and we have a five point ballgame. 
Jaguars 6-17 Eagles
 
There is time, plenty of it, but you feel Jacksonville need to respond sooner rather than later here.
 
Bortles, who hasn't been at it here today, finds Moncrief on first, however, and the Jags are at midfield. Two more needed for the first.
 
Bortles waits, looks to scramble, waits and loops a perfect throw over the coverage and that's a first down with tight end David Grinnage coming down with it for a big, big gain.
 
The Jags, in the redzone now, give it to Yeldon on the ground and that's another first. They'll have three plays at the endzone here.
 
A crucial point in the game you feel and Bortles knows it. He calls a timeout to think it over.
 
 
Jaguars 6-17 Eagles (Touchdown - Smallwood)
 
Eagles needed that third down conversion and on the very next play Wentz dumps it off to Smallwood on the far sideline on the screen and in acres of space he gallops untouched into the endzone.
 
Touchdown Eagles.
 
Quite how he is was that open I don't know but credit where credit is due. A great play call, great blocking and a great play as Smallwood navigates his way in for six.
 
Elliott notches the extra point and the lead is 11. Your move, Blake.
Jaguars 6-10 Eagles
 
Both teams need to dial up their respective run games and that is better as Adams gashes forwards for a big gain.
 
Great run from the rookie, a season-long for Eagles which tells you all you need to know about their struggles on the ground this year.
 
The Eagles have found themselves in third down an awful lot today and here they are again needing two more to move the chains.
 
Wentz under pressure, buys some time and then launches a beauty to Matthews on the sideline who catches safely for a gain of 13 and a first. 
Jaguars 6-10 Eagles
 
Philly backed right up after the punt takes a very Jaguar bounce so Wentz will start on his own five right in the shadow of his own endzone.
 
We talked about Wentz's elusiveness earlier and that is brilliant as he somehow avoids Campbell for what would've been a costly sack. His ball deep over the middle is incomplete, however.
 
That one is on the money though as Jeffrey on the slant pouches a perfectly thrown ball from Wentz. Some breathing room for Philly.

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