Saturday’s football clash, while not a flawless display, saw the Philadelphia Eagles crowned NFC East champions. The Eagles mounted a comeback from a 10-7 deficit at halftime against the Washington Commanders, who were playing without their starting quarterback Jayden Daniels, ultimately securing a 29-18 victory.
This marks Philadelphia’s second consecutive NFC East title, and it officially extinguished the Dallas Cowboys’ hopes for a postseason berth.
The Cowboys entered Week 16 with only a faint possibility of reaching the playoffs, needing to win their final three games and for the Eagles to lose all of theirs to claim the NFC East crown. Philadelphia’s win on Saturday rendered that scenario impossible, leaving the 6-7-1 Cowboys without a path to the playoffs, even as a wild-card team.
For the Eagles, this achievement is noteworthy in the contemporary NFC East landscape; they are the first team since their 2004 iteration to clinch back-to-back division championships.
Eagles Overcome Rocky Beginning to Achieve Decisive Victory
Washington’s struggling defense posed challenges for Philadelphia during a difficult first half for the Eagles, further complicated by multiple missed field-goal attempts from kicker Jake Elliott. The Commanders established an early advantage with backup quarterback Marcus Mariota at the helm, as Daniels had been sidelined for the season with Washington already out of playoff contention.
However, Mariota exited in the third quarter due to a hand injury, with Washington still holding a 10-7 lead. The Eagles then surged ahead 14-10 on their subsequent possession, taking command of the game as Washington’s third-string quarterback Josh Johnson struggled significantly against Philadelphia’s defensive unit.
Johnson’s inaugural possession resulted in an interception, immediately leading to another Eagles touchdown and setting the stage for a decisive win. The only other notable incident was a late-game skirmish that led to the ejection of Eagles guard Tyler Steen, along with Commanders defensive tackle Javon Kinlaw and safety Quan Martin.
These late-game altercations could influence the atmosphere for a potential rematch between these squads in Week 18. Postgame, head coach Dan Quinn remarked, “If that’s how they want to get down … all good. We play them again in two weeks.”
The on-field dramatics ultimately had no bearing on the outcome of Saturday’s game, as the Eagles comfortably secured their win, despite a late touchdown by the Commanders that narrowed the final margin.
Saquon Barkley continued his late-season strong performance, spearheading the Eagles’ offense with 132 rushing yards (averaging 6.3 yards per carry) and a ground touchdown. Jalen Hurts delivered an effective performance at quarterback, completing 22 of 30 passes for 185 yards, throwing 2 touchdowns, and committing no turnovers.
Eagles’ Remaining Regular Season Schedule
By claiming the division title, the Eagles have secured a top-four seed in the NFC playoffs and guaranteed themselves a home game in the wild-card round. They also hold a slim chance of earning the No. 1 seed in the NFC, which would grant them a first-round bye.
However, Eagles supporters should not hold their breath. The now 10-5 Eagles would need to win all their remaining games and have the 12-3 Seahawks lose all of theirs to have any shot at the No. 1 seed, in addition to requiring other favorable outcomes in the playoff standings. According to The Athletic’s playoff projections, their probability of achieving this is less than 1%.
Consequently, the Eagles are almost certainly destined for a 2-4 playoff seed with an initial home game, leaving little at stake in their remaining regular-season matchups against the Buffalo Bills and a second encounter with the Commanders.
Nevertheless, as they contemplate another run at the Super Bowl with an offense that faced challenges for much of the season, entering the playoffs unprepared is likely the last thing they would desire.
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Tarohn Finley
The Philadelphia Eagles secured their playoff berth following a 29-18 triumph over the Washington Commanders, advancing their record to 10-5 as Washington dropped to 4-11. This victory additionally knocked the Dallas Cowboys out of playoff contention. These two teams, the Eagles and Commanders, are slated for another matchup in the season’s final week. Eagles running back Saquon Barkley, who had accumulated 940 rushing yards and six touchdowns prior to this contest, concluded the game with 132 yards and a touchdown on 21 carries, surpassing the 1,000-yard mark for the season and achieving his third 100-yard performance. Quarterback Jalen Hurts executed 22 of 30 passes for 185 yards and two touchdowns, with no turnovers. A.J. Brown, an Eagles receiver, contributed nine receptions for 95 yards. Despite holding a 10-7 lead at halftime, the Commanders found it difficult to score in the latter half, only managing another score via Chris Rodriguez Jr.’s touchdown in the fourth quarter’s final minute. Josh Johnson stepped in as quarterback for Washington after Marcus Mariota sustained a hand injury in the third quarter. Upcoming games for the Eagles include a match against the Buffalo Bills, while the Commanders will face the Cowboys.
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Commanders’ running back Chris Rodriguez Jr. finally put points on the scoreboard for Washington after a third quarter devoid of scoring. Rodriguez concluded the game as Washington’s leading rusher with 63 yards and one touchdown on 15 attempts. The Eagles maintained a 29-18 advantage over the Commanders.
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Tensions escalated following the Eagles’ most recent touchdown. Tyler Steen from the Eagles, along with Javon Kinlaw and Quan Martin from the Commanders, were disqualified from the game subsequent to an on-field altercation.
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Tank Bigsby, Philadelphia’s running back, capped off the Eagles’ recent offensive series with a score. Saquon Barkley initiated the drive with a significant advance, then followed Bigsby’s touchdown with a successful two-point conversion. Barkley had accumulated 132 rushing yards and one touchdown during the game. The Eagles held a 29-10 lead over the Washington Commanders.
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Tarohn Finley
Prior to this contest, Saquon Barkley, a Philadelphia Eagles running back, had gained 940 yards and scored six touchdowns over the course of the season. In the current game against the Washington Commanders, Barkley had already achieved 132 rushing yards and one touchdown on 21 carries.
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Tarohn Finley
Following an Eagles punt, the Commanders regained control of the ball. The Eagles maintained a 21-10 advantage over the Washington Commanders.
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Saquon Barkley, Philadelphia’s running back, scored after an interception by Cooper DeJean placed the Eagles in an advantageous scoring position. Barkley had amassed 76 yards and one touchdown on 18 attempts. The Eagles were ahead 21-10 against the Washington Commanders.
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The Washington Commanders had yet to score in the second half, with Josh Johnson now playing quarterback due to Marcus Mariota’s injury. The sole points in the third quarter were scored by Philadelphia Eagles tight end Dallas Goedert.
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Cooper DeJean, a Philadelphia Eagles cornerback, concluded Josh Johnson’s initial drive by securing an interception, marking his second of the season. Johnson had completed 1 of 4 passes for 20 yards. The Eagles held a 14-10 lead over the Commanders.
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Josh Johnson, aged 39, took over as quarterback for the Washington Commanders from Marcus Mariota. Although Mariota passed concussion protocol, his return remained uncertain due to a right hand injury. Prior to his exit, Mariota had completed 7 of 14 passes for 95 yards, having initially filled in for Jayden Daniels, who was sidelined for the remainder of the season. With Sam Hartman on the practice squad, Johnson stood as the sole remaining quarterback option should Mariota be unable to resume play. The Eagles were leading the Commanders 14-10.
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Even though several penalties pushed the Eagles back after reaching the one-yard line, Philadelphia successfully managed to score. Jalen Hurts delivered a pass precisely to tight end Dallas Goedert for a 16-yard touchdown reception. The Eagles held a 14-10 lead against the Commanders.
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Nakobe Dean, a linebacker for the Philadelphia Eagles, will not return to the game due to a hamstring injury, as reported by ESPN’s Adam Schefter. This season, Dean has recorded 53 tackles, 4 sacks, and 2 forced fumbles across 10 appearances.
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Tarohn Finley
Following the conclusion of the Washington Commanders’ drive, quarterback Marcus Mariota retreated to the injury tent and subsequently to the locker room, with a towel draped over his right hand. Mariota had completed 7 of 14 passes for 95 yards. He had been substituting for Jayden Daniels, who was sidelined for the remainder of the season. Should Mariota be unable to rejoin the game, Josh Johnson would assume the quarterback duties for the Commanders.
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Despite a productive offensive display in the first half, the Eagles struggled to convert opportunities. Quarterback Jalen Hurts had completed 12 of 17 passes for 112 yards, including a touchdown pass to Devonta Smith, and added 36 rushing yards on four attempts. Wide receiver AJ Brown contributed significantly with eight receptions for 86 yards. Running back Saquon Barkley, however, continued a slow start to his season, gaining 40 yards on nine carries. Philadelphia failed to capitalize on numerous scoring chances, notably with Eagles kicker Jake Elliott missing two field goals in the first half. An early fumble by Eagles running back Will Shipley on the opening possession directly led to a Commanders field goal. For Washington, Marcus Mariota had completed 6 of 10 passes for 71 yards, with three of those catches going to Terry McLaurin. Bill Croskey-Merritt was responsible for the Commanders’ lone touchdown of the game.
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Philadelphia Eagles kicker Jake Elliott’s difficulties persisted this season, as he missed two field goals during the first half of the game against the Commanders. His only successful kick in the game was an extra point. Elliott has now failed on field goal attempts in four of his last five games. At halftime, the Commanders held a 10-7 lead.
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Tarohn Finley
Following several attempts from close range, the Washington Commanders managed to score with a touchdown by Bill Croskey-Merritt. The Commanders advanced to a 10-7 lead in the late stages of the second quarter.
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Philadelphia’s offensive series concluded without points due to a missed field goal by Eagles kicker Jake Elliott. This marked Elliott’s fourth missed field goal in his last five games. The Eagles maintained a 7-3 lead over the Commanders.
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Brandon Graham, a defensive end for the Philadelphia Eagles, concluded the Washington Commanders’ drive and the first quarter with a sack. This marked Graham’s third sack across his past two games, having recorded two just last week against the Raiders. Graham, at 37 years old, had returned from retirement in October. The Eagles were leading the Commanders 7-3.
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Devonta Smith atoned for an earlier dropped touchdown during the same drive by scoring a six-yard touchdown. Smith’s score was orchestrated by a Jalen Hurts scramble, several receptions by wide receiver AJ Brown, and a run by running back Saquon Barkley. In the first quarter, the Eagles held a 7-3 advantage over the Commanders.
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Tarohn Finley
A penalty for offensive holding negated a potential first down reception by wide receiver Treylon Burks for the Commanders. Following the removal of that first down, an incomplete pass by Marcus Mariota resulted in a punt for the Commanders. The Commanders had been subject to a high number of penalties throughout the season.
