Philadelphia Eagles’ Jake Elliott (4) and Donnie Jones (8) celebrate past Oakland Raiders’ T.J. Carrie (38) after Elliott’s field goal during the second half of an NFL football game, Monday, Dec. 25, 2017, in Philadelphia. (AP Photo/Chris Szagola)
By Jeremy Kahn
With a possibility to be spoilers to the Philadelphia Eagles’ playoff plans, the Oakland Raiders were unable to take advantage of that.
Jake Elliott kicked a 48-yard field goal with 22 seconds remaining in the game, as the Eagles defeated the Raiders 19-10 at Lincoln Financial Field on Monday night.
With the victory, the Eagles improved to 13-2 on the season and clinched home field advantage throughout the NFC Playoffs. The last time the Eagles were home throughout the entire NFC Playoffs was during the 2004 Playoffs. The Eagles ended up in the Super Bowl against the New England Patriots, where they lost to the Patriots 24-21.
The game-winning field goal by Elliott was set up by a Ronald Darby interception that was returned 52 yards for a touchdown. However, Darby was ruled down by contact by Amari Cooper.
Nick Foles went 4-for-4 on the ensuing drive for a 21-yard drive that culminated with the Elliott field goal.
The Eagles got on the board in the first quarter, as Foles found Jay Ajayi for a 17-yard touchdown pass.
Derek Carr tied up the game with a 63-yard touchdown pass to Cooper, as cornerback Jalen Mills attempted to jump the route.
Giorgio Tavecchio gave the Raiders their only lead of the game, as he kicked a 25-yard field goal on the Raiders’ opening series of the third quarter.
The two teams traded turnovers on three consecutive possessions, beginning when Patrick Robinson intercepted a Carr pass.
Ajayi fumbled the back to the Raiders, and then Marshawn Lynch gave the ball back to the Eagles on the next play, as he fumbled.
Elliott then tied up the game at 10, as he nailed a 35-yard field goal.
With a chance to give the Raiders the lead, Tavecchio missed a 48-yard field goal with just under eight minutes remaining in the game.
Foles was unable to get the Eagles going, as he threw an interception that bounced off the hands of Zach Ertz and into the hand of Reggie Nelson.
Malcolm Jenkins then got the ball back for the Eagles, as he stripped Jalen Richard of the ball and he recovered it on their own 16.
Following three consecutive three-and-outs, Darby intercepted Carr’s pass that eventually turned into Elliott’s game-winning field goal.
The final points of the evening came on the final play of the game, as Derek Barnett scored on a 23-yard fumble return, when Jalen Richard’s pitch back to Carr fell to the Lincoln Financial Field ground and Barnett scooped it up and went into the end zone.
NOTES: With the postseason no longer in their sights, the Raiders will close out their 2017 season against the Los Angeles Chargers at the Stubhub Center on Sunday afternoon at 1:25 pm PT.

