- Down 27-26 with four ticks left on the clock, the Eagles hung major onions on Sunday, dialing up a two-point conversion in hopes of winning the game outright. No dice, though, as Carson Wentz's lob to wideout Jordan Matthews fell to the lifeless dirt.
I thought Wentz played some of his best football during a first-half stretch against Washington last week. That didn't translate to Sunday, with the Eagles rookie quarterback battling falling rain, gusting winds and a feisty Ravens secondary to throw for just 43 yards in the first half. Wentz showed promise leading Philly to two fourth-quarter scoring drives, but he finished the game at a ridiculous 4.0 yards per attempt. With Baltimore's secondary locking down passing lanes, Wentz -- 22-of-42 for 170 yards -- was repeatedly forced into second- and third-read checkdowns when he wasn't fleeing Baltimore's active pass rush. The No. 2 overall pick was coaxed into a killer interception on his first pass attempt and nearly threw another in the third quarter. It's been a long season for the rookie, but you still see moments of arm strength, athleticism and playmaking to suggest a bright future. A full offseason should work wonders.
- Ravens fans will question why Baltimore dialed up a risky first-down pass play at Philly's 11-yard line with just over six minutes to play. Up 27-17, the Ravens were in fine position to milk the clock and -- at worst -- kick a field goal. Instead, quarterback Joe Flacco tossed a pass toward the end zone that was picked off by linebacker Jordan Hicks to set up a field-goal march that brought Philly within a touchdown. Flacco also hurt the Ravens with a first-half fumble at his own 8-yard line that triggered a quick seven points for the Eagles. These mistakes are partly why Flacco came into the game ranked 25th in passer rating, but the veteran looked good unfurling a brilliant 34-yard touchdown strike to Steve Smith just before the half. The Ravens need more of this.
- Wentz is a work in progress, but you have to like his chemistry with Zach Ertz, who hauled down six grabs for 80 yards. Still, this passing game was largely a mess on Sunday, leaving the Eagles to hand Ryan Mathews a heavy workload on the ground. The veteran back piled up an admirable 128 yards against a Baltimore defense that came into the game allowing a league-best 75.5 yards per tilt. Only Isaiah Crowell has done more damage to the Ravens this season, running for 133 yards way back in Week 2.
- The Ravens promised to bring more balance on offense. They delivered with a season-high 151 yards on the ground led by Terrance West (13/77) and the emergent Kenneth Dixon (9/36). The rookie Dixon carried the Ravens on his back during a critical third-quarter scoring march that saw him dent the Eagles with a rash of white-knuckle runs capped by a 16-yard touchdown burst to put Baltimore up 27-17 with 11 minutes to go.
- NFL Network Insider Ian Rapoport reported Sunday that Eagles coach Doug Pederson is safe heading into next season. Pederson's pressing priority is clear: Find weapons to help Wentz thrive on days like today. As for the Ravens, they find themselves one game behind the Steelers (9-5), who they visit on Christmas Day before finishing the year at home against the Bengals. Anything could happen.
