The Eagles made good on their cap-and-t-shirt game against the lowly Washington Commanders at Northwest Stadium on Saturday afternoon, clinching a playoff berth as the first repeat winners of the NFC East in 21 years.
The Eagles came away 29-18 winners and did it in many ways despite themselves, starting with special team stumbles, like Will Shipley’s fumble on the game’s opening kickoff, three missed field goal attempts, and some indecision near the goal line on another kickoff return.
The Eagles are now 10-5 and it is the fourth-straight season that the Eagles have won double-figure games, which is the third time in franchise history the Eagles have done that behind the five-year runs of Andy Reid’s 2000-2004 teams and Buddy Ryan/Rich Kotite’s 1988-1992 teams.
What makes this four-year run unique is this the most victories that the Eagles have ever won in a four-year span (49), over Reid’s 2000-2003 (46) or 2001-2004 (48) teams, or Ryan’s 1988-1991 (41) or 1989-1992 (42) teams.
This was not an aesthetically pleasing game. Aside from the special teams debacle of the first half, there were Eagles’ blunders everywhere, like three penalties inside the Washington 10 that could have wiped out two scores, though they did not.
The 4-11 Commanders were not playing for anything, though to Washington coach Dan Quinn and his players’ credit, they at least logged an effort and played to win, giving the Eagles a challenge, as opposed to Las Vegas in Week 15, which rolled over.
Reacting to getting punched back is what the Eagles will need moving forward looking now for the greater repeat—as Super Bowl champions.
There was a good mound of good, some bad and a couple of pounds of ugly in the Eagles’ 29-18 victory over the Washington Commanders.
The Good
Saquon Barkley rushing for a game-high 132 yards on 21 carries, including a touchdown and a 48-yard run that set up another touchdown. The 2024 version of Barkley seemed to show up against the run-weak Commanders’ defense.
A.J. Brown making a game-high nine catches for 95 yards on 12 targets against the depleted Washington secondary.
Jalen Hurts completing 22 of 30 for 185 yards and two touchdowns, and more importantly, making smart decisions with the ball, knowing when to run and when not to run.
Tank Bigsby’s 22-yard touchdown run with 4:26 left in the game. He ended a drive that the Eagles only needed four plays to go 80 yards.
Old man Brandon Graham, aging like fine wine, with his third sack in two games, from his new role at defensive tackle. Graham is actually playing very well in a limited role, collapsing the pocket, and creating opportunity for the other guys up front. As his conditioning improves, he could add even more when teams begin to double-team him.
Barkley’s game-clinching 12-yard touchdown run, after his eight-yard run on third-and-four from the Washington 20 on the Eagles’ opening drive of the fourth quarter. It was the third-straight game Barkley scored a touchdown. He rolled through at least seven Washington defenders to spin into the end zone, including Washington linebacker Bobby Wagner.
Hurts converting a third-and-two with a four-yard run to the Washington 26 on the Eagles’ first drive of the first quarter.
Cooper DeJean’s third-quarter interception off the Commanders’ Josh Johnson, Washington’s eighth-string quarter. It came on a third-and-13 with 32 seconds left in the quarter. Hurts proceeded to get sacked by Wagner on the Eagles’ next play after the turnover at the Washington 39 on the last play of the third quarter. It led to Barkley’s game-clinching touchdown early in the fourth quarter.
The Eagles’ opening drive of the second half. The Eagles drove 83 yards over 17 plays, getting some breaks with a five-yard Washington penalty for illegal contact, for an automatic Eagles’ first down to the Commanders’ 33. Then the Washington mystery interference call in the end zone, which placed the ball at the Commanders’ one on a third-and-eight at the Washington 20. It was almost sabotaged by a Landon Dickerson false start at the Commanders’ one, and a Fred Johnson holding call at the six. Still, Hurts found Dallas Goedert in the end zone for his career-best 10th touchdown and 14-10 lead with 3:27 left in the third quarter.
The Eagles third drive, which resulted in Hurts’ five-yard touchdown pass to DeVonta Smith, which was highlighted by a Hurts’ 14-yard run, and 15- and 16-yard completions to A.J. Brown.
The Bad
Hurts’ designed run that went right into Wagner for no gain on second-and-10 at the Commanders’ 41 on the eighth play of the Eagles’ opening second-half drive.
The Eagles going three-and-out on their second drive for four yards. It was not a strong way to respond after fumbling away the opening kickoff.
Losing middle linebacker Nakobe Dean to a pulled hamstring on a third-and-four play at midfield with 6:46 left in the first quarter.
The Ugly
Jake Elliott missing three first-half field goals, capping a horrible first half for the Eagles’ special teams. They fumbled away the opening kickoff, suffered from indecision on another kick return from the end zone, and Elliott’s three misses. It kept Washington’s hopes alive.
Fred Johnson did not have a good game. He was called for a false start in the first quarter for a second-and-goal at the Washington one, and this time, he was flagged for holding on a third-and-goal at the Washington five on the Eagles’ first drive of the second half. Fortunately, Hurts found Goedert for a touchdown on third-and-goal from the 15 and a 14-10 Eagles’ lead.
Left guard Landon Dickerson repeating what Fred Johnson did in the first quarter. Dickerson was called for a false start on a second-and-goal to the Washington six. The Eagles remain one of the top teams in the NFL on pre-snap penalties, a problem that could bite them severely in the postseason.
Mariota hitting Treylon Burks down the middle of the field for 24-yard reception to the Eagles’ 44 on the first play of the second half. The Eagles’ defense bailed them out again, holding Mariota to three-straight incompletions and forcing Washington to punt.
Will Shipley fumbling away the opening kickoff, recovered by Kain Medrano at the Eagles’ 26. Fortunately, the Commanders have the worst scoring offense in the NFL in the first quarter, scoring only one first-drive touchdown this season. The Eagles kept that streak alive, holding Washington to a field goal. Late in the second quarter, Shipley bungled another kickoff, undecided whether to take a knee or not, then stumbled coming out of the end zone and was tackled at the Eagles’ 19. Let’s see if Shipley returns any more kickoffs in meaningful games this season, or risk putting Bigsby back there.
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