Nick Foles hit sparks brawl, ejections

PHILADELPHIA -- Two players were ejected following a hockey-style, benches-clearing incident during Sunday's game between the rival Washington Redskins and Philadelphia Eagles.

Eagles quarterback Nick Foles threw an apparent interception to Bashaud Breeland when he overthrew tight end Brent Celek on a fourth-quarter drive. As Breeland was tackled while returning the interception, Foles stopped his pursuit and was knocked off his feet on a hit by Washington nose tackle Chris Baker, prompting a scuffle to break out on the Redskins' sideline.

Baker was called for a personal foul and ejected from the game, while Eagles left tackle Jason Peters threw a punch and also was ejected. That left the Eagles without any reserve offensive linemen, since starting center Jason Kelce left the game earlier with an injury to his abdomen.

"I was doing what I was taught and that's to go get a block," Baker said. "I did not look to see if it was the quarterback. All I saw was someone going towards the ball and I got my head in front and lowered my shoulder, which is a legal football move, doing what I was taught to do and I get punched in my face on the sideline and next thing you know I'm ejected for a block."

Baker defended his hit on Foles and said he never threw a punch in the ensuing incident.

"The whistle had not been blown," Baker said. "[Foles] was going towards the ball. The ball carrier was taking a right and he could have made the tackle. I did not even really hit him hard. I just happened to hit him on his shoulder and he happened to fall. He's the quarterback and I guess that's why there was an ejection."

Foles appeared shaken up by the hit. But by the time the two teams were ordered to retreat to their own sidelines and officials sorted out the situation, Foles was able to remain in the game.

"He got me pretty good. I did not see him," Foles said. "I thought the guy was down so that's why I wasn't looking for anyone. The next thing I know I'm just obliterated."

Peters quickly reacted to the hit on Foles.

"He was cheap shotted. I mean, he cheap shotted him and he's not even trying to make a play," Peters said. "So I just reacted and I shouldn't have did what I did, but I was just trying to protect my quarterback."

"I really wasn't thinking," Peters added. "I saw him hit Nick and I just reacted. ... I wasn't trying to hurt my team. I know I need to be out there, but I'm just glad that we won."

Redskins linebacker Brian Orakpo chalked the incident up to the divisional rivalry.

"Everybody was in the brawl. You don't know what's going on in a situation like that," Orakpo said. "You're just trying to protect your teammates. It's NFC East football; that's how it be sometimes."

The Eagles emerged with a 37-34 win to improve to 3-0 on the season.

"That's fun. That's just part of the game," Redskins safetyRyan Clarksaid. "When two teams are fighting hard to win, they're protecting their teammates. ... Those guys were feisty; wewere feisty. We're all grown me. We all have egos and we all want to be the alpha male. That's what it was about. That's cool. If we see those guys, we'll shake their hands because they played better than us."

ESPN.com Redskins reporter John Keim contributed to this report.