Can Eagles’ Boston Scott use his game-winning catch to turn his season around?

PHILADELPHIA — Eagles running back Boston Scott would be an All-Pro running back if he had the chance to play the New York Giants 16 times a year.

At 5-feet, 6-inches tall, the “The Giant Killer” had another standout performance, this time catching an 18-yard touchdown pass from Eagles quarterback Carson Wentz with 40 seconds left in the game to cap off a 22-21 come from behind win against the team’s divisional rival.

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For Scott, the catch was the fifth touchdown he had in three career games against the New York Giants. Scott has also amassed 159 yards rushing yards in those games.

Thursday’s touchdown resulted from the running back finding a way to get open after the two primary targets on the play were covered up by the Giants’ secondary.

“I just checked my protection, and then after that, I got out into space,” Scott said after the game. “I knew throughout the game that we had been running short routes into the flat. (Jabrill] Peppers was coming out into the flat with me pretty much every time. On that one, I just set it up, and then Wentz went to me, so that was cool.”

Filling in for starting running back Miles Sanders, who missed Thursday night’s game with a knee injury, Scott joined fellow running backs Corey Clement and Jason Huntley in a three-pronged rushing attack.

Scott had averaged 3.8 yards a carry before he was able to make the game-winning catch, having most of his success when the Eagles offense went up-tempo, allowing Scott to find holes in the middle of the offensive line to pick up some yards.

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Before Thursday’s game, the 2020 season had not gone how the second-year running back had planned. After Scott’s performance in the final four games of the 2019 season, acting as the complimentary back to Sanders, the expectations surrounding the running back were elevated. However, Scott’s production has been minimal at best, running the ball for 67 yards and adding 48 receiving yards through six games.

Despite not putting up big numbers, Wentz trusted the running back to make a big play when it counted, and Scott delivered.

“I gave Boston a chance there to make a play, and he did,” Wentz said. “He maybe 5-foot, 6 inches, but he plays bigger than that, and he made a great play.”

Thursday’s performance could be just what Scott needs to turn things around this season. Head coach Doug Pederson seemed to find different ways to get him some room in space to allow him to use his quickness. The Eagles coaches also used some newer wrinkles in come of the screen passes that were thrown his way, but nothing truly was able to go for a big gain.

There is a possibility that Sanders could miss next Sunday night’s game against the Dallas Cowboys, and the Eagles will need Scott to step up once again and come through in a big spot. The more snaps that he takes, the more he can get in the flow of the offense

Although he does not have anywhere near the same statistics against Dallas like he has against New York, Scott says that he will do what he can to provide a spark for the offense.

“I love playing football, so it doesn’t really matter who it is, I just like going out there and being able to contribute to the team,” said Scott.

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Chris Franklin may be reached at cfranklin@njadvancemedia.com.

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