NFL: Carson Wentz throws four TD passes as Eagles soar over Washington

Philadelphia Eagles quarterback Carson Wentz celebrates after setting up a touchdown against the Washington Redskins during the fourth quarter at Lincoln Financial Field. Bill Streicher / USA Today

Carson Wentz threw four touchdown passes and the Philadelphia Eagles improved to an NFL-best 6-1 by defeating the visiting Washington Redskins 34-24 Monday.

Wentz's league-high 17 touchdown passes in the first seven games of the season set an Eagles record for the most over that span in any season, an impressive feat for a team whose history dates to 1933.

"Just hats off to the guys around me. We work our tails off the whole off season," Wentz said. "We started off sluggish but got our production issues sorted out and made enough plays to win the game."

In all, Wentz completed 17-of-25 passes for 268 yards and ran eight times for 63 yards to spark Philadelphia's victory.

"Carson made some unbelievable plays there in crunch-time situations," Redskins coach Jay Gruden said. "We're not making any excuses. They just outplayed us."

The Eagles haven't owned the NFL's best record so late in a season since 2004, when they finished the campaign by reaching the 2005 Super Bowl, only to lose to New England.

"We're only seven games in. We've got a long way to go but I like where we are at. We've got a relentless attitude," Wentz said. "We can never get complacent. There are definitely things we have to clean up and keep getting better."

The Eagles haven't won the NFL crown since taking the most recent of their three championships in 1960.

Wentz flipped a 4-yard touchdown pass to Zach Ertz with 26 seconds remaining in the second quarter as Philadelphia took a 17-10 half-time lead, the Eagles driving 80 yards in only 86 seconds.

Wentz marched the Eagles 81 yards in 10 plays over 5:17 to open the third quarter and connected with Corey Clement on a 9-yard touchdown pass as Philadelphia surged ahead 24-10.

Kirk Cousins answered for the Redskins with a 5-yard touchdown pass to Jordan Reed with 44 seconds remaining in the third quarter, pulling Washington within 24-17.

But Wentz answered with a 10-yard touchdown pass to Nelson Agholor with 11:10 to play, restoring Philadelphia's 14-point edge, and Jake Elliott added a 42-yard field goal with 6:24 remaining for a 34-17 Eagles' advantage.

______________________________

Read more:

• Entertainment: Justin Timberlake to headline Super Bowl half-time show
• Watch: Colin Kaepernick files collusion grievance against the NFL
• Watch: US vice-president storms out of NFL game after players take a knee during anthem

______________________________

Cousins responded with a 75-yard drive that ended with a 12-yard touchdown pass to Reed to pull Washington within the final margin.

The Redskins, who fell to 3-3, took the opening kick off and marched 66 yards in eight plays to set up Nick Rose's 27-yard field goal 3:38 into the contest.

But the Eagles equalized at 3-3 only 1:41 into the second quarter when Elliott connected on a 50-yard field goal.

Washington responded with a seven-play, 81-yard drive capped by Cousins flipping a 7-yard touchdown pass to running back Chris Thompson, who snuck out of the backfield to the left side and walked into the end zone unthreatened as the Redskins seized a 10-3 edge.

Philadelphia pulled level again with 3:19 remaining in the second quarter when Wentz hurled a 64-yard touchdown throw to Mack Hollins.