Football truly is a game of inches. No one knows that better than the Philadelphia Eagles. A quarterback's ball placement determines the differences between touchdowns and interceptions. An inch here or there can move the chains or bring up a fourth-down scenario, but that isn't all. There's more to our theory.
Imagine where we'd be had Charles Woodson gotten to Tom Brady a second earlier (or later). There would be no tuck-rule game. Think about fumbles. The trajectory of a bouncing football leads to recoveries or turnovers. A split second of reaction time can turn sacks into hurries or rushed throws. Thank Heaven that Jalen Carter is a superior athlete.
As every member of a nation of Eagles fans watched the final 2:35 of Philly's Divisional Round Game, tension was the thickest it had been all season. Matthew Stafford, as he had done 52 times or so in his career, marched his team down the field to Philly's 13-yard line with 1:19 remaining, putting them in position for a late go-ahead score.
Then, Carter took care of that.
Also read: Another massive quote from Saquon Barkley
As it turns out, Jalen Carter's season-saving sack prevented a Matthew Stafford TD pass.
Will Philly's defense facing a third-and-two scenario and needing a stop, Matthew Stafford took a shotgun snap and surveyed the terrain.
He was buried.
THE BIG DAWG IS HUNGRY!
— Philadelphia Eagles (@Eagles) January 19, 2025
JALEN CARTER SACK 😤#FlyEaglesFly pic.twitter.com/xReEEiux7Y
Another angle of Carter's sack revealed something we missed while viewing the game live. Matthew Stafford, had he been given another second, probably would have found an open receiver for a TD that would have ended Philly's playoff run.
Carter probably saved a TD @Eagles pic.twitter.com/qDedFtBiiL
— Dan Orlovsky (@danorlovsky7) January 20, 2025
See? A game of inches...
Jalen Carter was double-teamed 26 times on 49 pass-rushing snaps. He batted a pass and made five tackles (three were solo), two sacks, and 3 additional hits on Matthew Stafford.
Oh, and don't forget he forced a fourth-quarter fumble before that!
A snow punch out 🥊❄️ pic.twitter.com/XXmHmtRr3G
— NFL (@NFL) January 19, 2025
It's still hard to believe the Eagles landed him with the ninth- overall selection. How did he fall so far? Hey, it doesn't matter now. He's here, and he's one of us!