Wrap It Up: Birds Migrate Into Offseason on Four-Game Winning Streak

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The Eagles were able to weather an uneven offensive performance through three quarters before blowing the game open with 21 unanswered points in the fourth to defeat the hapless Redskins 34-10. The win moves Philadelphia to 8-8, and by all appearances, the players and coaches who return next season will have momentum on their side.

Yawn.

Surprise, surprise, a meaningless football game between two teams already eliminated from postseason contention proved to be a snoozer, and that'll do it for the Eagles this season.

The game got off to a slow start, with plenty of punting to go around. The contest featured nine punts in all, but oddly enough, it was a kick that helped get the scoring going. Former Eagle Sav Rocca gave his old mates a gift when he shanked his first attempt, giving the Birds the ball in Washington territory. Alex Henery gave Philly the early three-point lead, one of his two field goals on the day.

The Eagles finally got it going in the second, but again it was the Redskins' special teams contributing to the scoring. Graham Gano was setting up for a 36-yard field goal, but Derek Landri bowled his way into the backfield and stuffed the kick. It was the biggest play in a day full of them for Landri, who was an absolute terror to block, as he typical has been when given the opportunity.

From there, Michael Vick did the rest, leading his most efficient drive of the day up to that point. Vick went 6-for-6, and capping the 65-yard drive with a 6-yard pitch and catch to Chad Hall. Putting his team ahead 10-0, an elated Hall lept into the stands -- with the help of the fans in the front row of course.

Vick tried to return the favor to Washington late in the first half, running himself into a Brian Orakpo sack that resulted in a fumble. However, the Eagles literally couldn't give their opponent points. Starting inside the red zone, and at one point getting all the way down to the PHI 4, a costly unsportsmanlike penalty moved the ball off the goal line, and botched clock management led to no points at all.

The Redskins threatened in the third quarter. Their running game was starting to get going, and they were moving the ball. A well-timed screen pass caught the Eagles in a blitz, and a hobbled Roy Helu scampered 47 yards into the end zone uncontested to pull his club within three.

The Birds and Skins traded field goals, but the Eagles finally came to life in the end. Vick found DeSean Jackson on a 62-yard bomb -- a beautiful lead throw that DJac was able to run underneath -- and a few possessions later, they capped a 70-yard drive with a four-yard TD to Brent Celek on the tight end screen, a play and its variations that were effective throughout the day.

Dion Lewis added a score in garbage time on a nine-yard run, the first of his career. With LeSean McCoy inactive, Lewis finished with a team-high 58 rushing yards on 12 carries, most of those coming in the fourth quarter.

Vick was 24-39 for 335 yards and three touchdowns, but he had the fumble and an interception. He heated up as the game wore on, but they'll need better from him next season. Jeremy Maclin caught eight passes for 105 yards, while Jackson and Celek each had 86 yards to go with their respective scores.

The defense got the job done, albeit against a punch-less Redskins offense. Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie had another strong showing filling in for Asante Samuel, including a deflected pass intercepted by Nate Allen. Much of the secondary's success was predicated on the pressure up front, with Landri, Brian Rolle, and Trent Cole hustling the quarterback all day. Cole had the only sack.

The lack of turnovers were surprising though against a Rex Grossman-led offense. Washington also had success running the football, with rookie Evan Royster out of Penn State going over 100 yards. Mike Patterson, one of the defense's top run defenders, was also inactive however; that, and the fact that the Skins aren't working with much, made it difficult to gauge their performance overall.

And with that, we officially enter offseason mode. Unfortunately, we have plenty of time ahead to dissect the big decisions that are on the way, and the ones that need to be made. For tonight, the Eagles got back to .500 with four straight wins, and we are left to ask what could have been.

What could have been...?

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