Dan Quinn wasn’t about to go scorched earth over the Philadelphia Eagles piling on his Washington Commanders by going for two when leading by 17 points late in the fourth quarter, but the head coach isn’t going to forget what happened during a 29-18 defeat in Week 16, and he’s sent his NFC East rivals a warning about the rematch in two weeks.
Quinn was asked by reporters what he thought when the Eagles chose to run a two-point conversion play when the game was well in hand with just 4:26 left on the clock. Eagles running back Saquon Barkley promptly converted, and Quinn reflected, “If that’s how they want to get down, all good. We’ll play them again in two weeks,” per Last Man Standig writer Ben Standig.
That’s a matter of fact assessment from a coach who “did not seem pleased,” according to JP Finlay of NBC4 Sports. Quinn barely contained his irritation, but he wasn’t the only member of the Commanders who intends to store the moment for when the two teams meet again in Week 18 at Lincoln Financial Field.
Middle linebacker Bobby Wagner trod the same line between trying to brush off the Eagles chasing more points and the Commanders harnessing motivation for the return bout.
The 10-time Pro Bowler told reporters, including The Washington Post’s Tom Schad, “It is what it is, bro. I don’t care. Is it disrespectful? Maybe. But we’ve still got to stop them. That’s how I look at it. We’ve got to stop them. And we’ll see them in a couple weeks.”
Wagner’s teammates on defense will already be motivated after many of them were embroiled in the ugly fight that followed Barkley’s two-pointer.
Bobby Wagner, Commanders Didn’t Like Eagles 2-Pointer
Barkley was already leaving the end zone when a sprawling and lengthy scuffle broke out between the two teams. Footage of the fracas was shown on Fox Sports: NFL, with the melee eventually resulting in Commanders defensive tackle Javon Kinlaw and safety Quan Martin being ejected, along with Eagles center Tyler Steen.
Other players were involved, including second-year Commanders cornerback Mike Sainristil. The latter explained to Schad, “I just know that I saw my brothers out there, so I’m going to do everything to protect my brothers.”
Sainristil’s teammate, wide receiver Terry McLaurin, offered a more philosophical take by simply saying, “Eagles vs. Commanders, man. That’s how it goes,” per Schad.
The rivalry was already intense enough after last season’s three-game slate that ended with Barkley and the Eagles running all over the Commanders in the NFC Championship Game. It was tough to take for a proud veteran like Wagner, who also seemed to take exception to the Eagles’ latest attempt to pile on points.
Wagner appeared to exchange words with Barkley after this contentious two-pointer, but the signal-caller of Washintgton’s defense should’ve been more upset the Commanders still couldn’t stop the run.
So should the man who calls plays for the unit.
Dan Quinn Had No Answer for Eagles’ Strength
It’s not as if the Commanders weren’t warned about Barkley and the Eagles’ running game. Yet, he still tallied 132 of the 207 yards the visitors amassed on the ground.
What’s worse is how easily Barkley’s backup, Tank Bigsby, ran through the Commanders’ front seven. Particularly for the 22-yard touchdown that preceded the Eagles going for two and angering Quinn and Wagner.
Quinn seemed out of answers for what the Eagles do best, and that’s been a worrying theme since the head coach took play-calling duties away from defensive coordinator Joe Whitt Jr. Devising new and more effective ways of fixing the fatal flaw in Washington’s defense should be the priority for Quinn and Wagner.
That would be better than dedicating their energies to settling a beef with an Eagles team likely to be resting starters for the rematch with the division title now in hand.
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