NFC Championship: Marshon Lattimore, Mike Sainristil Miscues Spark Commandants Meltdown vs. Eagles

The Washington Chiefs rallied from a 14-3 deficit to get back into Sunday’s NFC Championship Game against the Philadelphia Eagles.

Then they relinquished control right back with a series of miscues in the 2nd quarter. Miscues included several mistakes by cornerbacks Marshon Lattimore and Mike Sainristil that aided a pair of Eagles touchdown drives.

Lattimore’s fumble started on fourth down with 2:14 left when the Eagles decided to go for it, needing five yards from the Washington 45-yard line while leading 14-12. Lattimore had man coverage on Brown, who ran a walk and broke free down the left sideline. Jalen Hurts found Brown for a 31-yard gain to the Washington 14-yard line.

Three plays later, Hurts looked to Devonta Smith in the end zone on third-and-8. Again, Lattimore had man coverage. This time, Lattimore grabbed Smith’s arm before the ball arrived and was flagged for pass interference.

Instead of an incomplete pass on third down, the Eagles found themselves in first and goal at the 1-yard line. Hurts scored a touchdown on a tush push to put Philadelphia up, 20-12. Lattimore made another mistake on the score.

He stood up from Brown on the play and got into a shoving match with the Eagles receiver that continued after the whistle blew. Officials flagged Lattimore for unnecessary roughness, and the Eagles faced an extra-point attempt from the 1-yard line instead of the 2.

The Eagles went for two and didn’t get it, so Lattimore’s penalty ultimately didn’t fire Washington. But an even bigger mistake was made on the ensuing kickoff.

Commanders Returner Jeremy McNichols fumbled the ball on the return, and the Eagles recovered it for a turnover deep in Washington territory.

This set up another touchdown drive and a rough streak by Sainristil.

The Commanders stopped the Eagles short of a first down by holding Saquon Barkley to four yards on third-and-10. But Sainristil hit Barkley late after he was clearly out of bounds and drew a flag for unnecessary roughness.

Instead of facing fourth-and-6 and a likely field goal attempt, the Eagles picked up another 10 yards with the penalty and faced first-and-goal at the 10.

Two plays later, Hurts found Brown in the end zone on third-and-4 for a touchdown. Hurts beat Sainristil on the play.

The touchdown extended Philadelphia’s lead to 27-12, and the Chiefs found themselves in a scary hole after digging out of another early.