PHILADELPHIA _ Carson Wentz returned to the lineup for the Eagles, but left thanking his defense after the Eagles' 20-16 win on Sunday at Lincoln Financial Field.
Derek Barnett tripped Andrew Luck just enough for the Indianapolis Colts quarterback to lose his footing on a decisive fourth down 4 yards away from taking the lead with 73 seconds remaining in the game.
Luck slapped the turf in frustration. The Eagles sideline erupted with excitement, as they've done after other close calls in dramatic victories. Just like the Eagles' Week 1 victory, the Eagles kept their opponent without a touchdown on four of five red-zone visits, including game-saving defensive stands.
Wentz went 25 of 37 for 255 yards, one touchdown, and one interception in his first game back in the lineup. Wendell Smallwood rushed for 56 yards and the game-winning touchdown. Tight ends Zach Ertz and Dallas Goedert were the leading receivers with 73 yards.
The Eagles didn't display a big-play offense, but they were able to move the ball when it mattered during a 16-play drive to take a fourth-quarter lead. Although penalty flags helped the Eagles, including a defensive holding by the Colts to bail the Eagles out when they missed a fourth down, Wentz still came through with two key third-down conversions to Nelson Agholor. Smallwood rushed for a 4-yard score to give the Eagles a 20-16 lead with three minutes remaining, putting the defense in position to preserve the win.
The defense had helped the offense all afternoon, but they appeared determined to make it another dramatic finish. A pass interference by Jalen Mills _ his second of the game _ helped bring the Colts into Eagles territory. Luck completed two passes to get the ball into the red zone. Because of the Eagles touchdown, the Colts needed a touchdown and not a field goal. The Colts brought the ball all the way to the Eagles' four-yard line, but the Eagles stopped the Colts on third down to set up a fourth-and-goal. That's when Barnett came around for the sack.
The Colts had another chance in the final minute, but they had too much ground to cover to put pressure on the Eagles.
The dreary weather did not put a damper the pregame excitement. The Eagles introduced their offense in pregame introductions, with Wentz the last one called. He emerged through smoke to a large ovation.
His first snap needed to wait. The Eagles won the coin toss, but Pederson elected to defer until the second half, as he always does. He did not deviate from those plans even though it meant Wentz could have taken the first snap of the game.
After the defense forced a three-and-out, Wentz looked like the 2017 MVP candidate on the Eagles' opening drive. Using a no-huddle offense with only one wide receiver, Wentz marched the Eagles downfield for a touchdown. The 12-play, 79-yard drive included completions on five of seven pass attempts. Every attempt was to a tight end. Goedert caught a 13-yard touchdown for the first score of his career. Goedert, the second-round pick, is a South Dakota native. Wentz is from North Dakota. The Eagles' Dakota connection could become a big part of the Eagles' red-zone offense.
Wentz brought the Eagles into field goal range on his next drive, but Jake Elliott's 55-yard field goal attempt sailed wide right. That was the Eagles' best chance to take a two-score lead. Indianapolis took over possession at their 45-yard line, and with the help of a pass interference by Jalen Mills that gave the Colts 33 yards, they tied the game when Luck found Ryan Grant in the corner of the end zone for a five-yard touchdown.
Both offenses slowed down in the second quarter. The Colts punted on their only drives, and the Eagles were left settling for a field goal when they entered the red zone. The Eagles took a 10-7 lead into halftime. It was far from a commanding advantage.
The Eagles deferred to start the second half with the ball, but halftime offered little help for offensive momentum. They went three-and-out to begin an ugly third quarter. The Colts converted a fourth-and-2 in Eagles territory to help set up a 35-yard field goal to tie the game.
Wentz gave the ball right back to Indianapolis. He threw an interception at the Eagles' 25-yard line, telegraphing his pass to Ertz and allowing the Colts to begin a drive 17 yards away from the end zone. The defense held the Colts to a field goal, but they trailed for the first time all game.
This time, the offense responded. Using an up-tempo attack, the Eagles drove all the way to the Colts' 6-yard line. A running game powered by Corey Clement and Smallwood helped the Eagles get positive gains, although Wentz could not hit Ertz in the end zone to get seven points. The Eagles needed to settle for three points to tie the game.
When the defense stopped the Colts, Wentz gave the ball right back. On a third-and-10 from the Eagles' 19-yard line, Wentz was hit by Colts defensive end Margus Hunt while trying to pass. The ball popped loose and was recovered by Indianapolis. For the second time in the third quarter, the Eagles gave the Colts the ball inside the red zone. Once again, the defense came through by holding the Colts to a field goal, but it was a bad turnover by Wentz.
Wentz needed the defense to save him. They did it throughout most of the afternoon. Because for the second time this season, the Eagles used a key goal line stand to send their fans home with a victory.
