The New York Giants were unhappy with Doug Pederson and the Philadelphia Eagles and with good reason. After beating the Dallas Cowboys 23-19 early Sunday to keep their playoff hopes alive, the Giants needed the Eagles to beat the Washington Football Team to clinch the NFC East division title.
The outlook appeared positive for the Giants, as the Eagles were in a close game going into the fourth quarter. However, Pederson pulled off one of the most epic tanking moves in NFL history, by pulling the promising rookie quarterback Jalen Hurts for backup Nate Sudfeld.
NBC broadcast revealed the switch was planned ahead of the game. Philadelphia had no aspirations of the playoffs and rested an astonishing amount of key players. Still, the timing of the quarterback change made the situation bizarre.
Eagles trailed 17-14 with just over 12:35 remaining in the game when Pederson made the switch.
The Giants players quickly expressed their frustration with the decision.
The Giants’ frustration was appropriate, as Sudfeld turned over the ball twice on his first five plays.
Sudfeld threw an interception on his first drive under center. After the Eagles picked off Alex Smith, Sudfeld lost a fumble on the next possession while being sacked by Chase Young.
Any chance of the four-win Eagles pulling off an upset evaporated. Washington held on for the 20-14 win to clinch the NFC East division. As a result, the Giants’ season ended at the hands of the tanking Eagles.
