The Washington Commanders (1-1) will probably need all the help they can get in order to have a chance at beating the Philadelphia Eagles (2-0).
But a self-inflicted wound is what they wound up getting instead late in the first quarter on a big splash play by the Eagles that seems to have turned the momentum in the game.
Eagles quarterback Jalen Hurts completed a deep pass for 45 yards to receiver DeVonta Smith down the right sideline nearing the end of the first quarter.
A replay from the FOX television broadcast revealed that Smith may not have gotten both feet down inbounds after making the catch, but Commanders head coach Ron Rivera was late to throwing the challenge flag down.
The Eagles were able to get the next play off and settled for a 32-yard field goal a few plays later to take the first lead of the game, 3-0.
Carson Wentz was sacked for a fumble on the Commanders next drive, turning the ball over to an Eagles offense that was quickly able to convert it into seven points for a 10-nothing lead early in the second quarter.
Rivera explained his thinking to reporters after the game.
"Well, I needed to throw it sooner is the truth of the matter," Rivera said. "We couldn't really get a clear look. We were hoping to get a review look. And then eventually I just said, 'Screw it. I've got to throw it.' And by then it was a little late, so that's on me."
"I still don't know whether he was in or out," he said. " I asked the referees for their definition. They told me he had one foot down and the other foot he dragged. From my vantage point, I though he got his shin down when he was going out of bounds, so shin, body part equals two feet."
