Ivs Coot was a calculated risk by Philadelphia Eagles head coach Nick Sirianni, prioritizing long term health versus short term playoff positioning. He got a little greedy hoping to give his starters a week off while still believing that his backups could beat a wounded Washington Commanders team who had won just once since Ocobe r 5,with a quarterback whose played fpr eight different NFL teams in 11 seasons. Turns out he underestimated his opponent and over-estimated his own team because his own team collapsed in the 4th quarter blowing a seven point lead and looking dreadful doing it, closing out the regular season with a 24-17 loss to Washington and finishing the season 11-6.
GAME RECAP
Eagles 17 (11-6, 5-3 Home) vs Commanders 24 (5-12, 3-6 Away)
MVP: Josh Johnson 14/22, 131 yds, 1 TD, 1 INT, 9 carries, 45 yds, 1 TD
Betting Winners: Commanders +4.5, Over 39.5
Next up: Eagles vs 49ers Wildcard Game
Where: Lincoln Financial Field Philadelphia, PA
Day, Time & TV: TBD
Blown Opportunity
With the defeat, Philadelphia is locked into the No. 3 seed in the NFC and will host the San Francisco 49ers next week in the opening round of the playoffs. What stings most about this loss is that it was a missed opportunity to grab the #2 seed as the Lions beat the bears in Chicago 19-16
The afternoon began with an early warning sign. After a four-play opening possession by the Eagles, the defense was immediately put to the test, surrendering a 17-play, 79-yard drive that burned nearly 10 minutes off the clock. Washington came away empty-handed when Jake Moody doinked a 24-yard field goal off the upright, keeping the game scoreless.
Philadelphiaâs offense found its footing on its second drive. Tanner McKee completed three straight passes, highlighted by a 27-yard strike to DeVonta Smith on third-and-one. The catch pushed Smith over 1,000 receiving yards for the season, marking the third 1,000-yard campaign of his career and his first since 2023. The opening quarter ended in a scoreless tie.
Smith now sits tied for the second-most 1,000-yard seasons in franchise history, trailing only A.J. Brown, who recorded his fourth such season last week.
Early in the second quarter, McKee capped the drive with a touchdown pass to Grant Calcaterra on third-and-seven, giving the Eagles a 7â0 lead.
Washington responded immediately. A 25-yard reception by Terry McLaurin and a 23-yard defensive pass interference penalty against Jakorian Bennett set the Commanders up at the one-yard line, where Chris Rodriguez punched it in to tie the game at 7â7 with 9:03 remaining in the half.
Red Zone Disasters
The Eagles moved the ball again on their next possession, sparked by a 31-yard catch-and-run from Tank Bigsby, who ducked under a defender to turn a short gain into a chunk play. However, Nick Sirianni opted to go for it on fourth-and-two from the six-yard line, and McKeeâs pass fell incomplete, turning the ball over on downs with 4:43 left in the half.
Late in the second quarter, Jalyx Hunt made a spectacular diving interception, his fourth of the season, giving the Eagles possession at Washingtonâs 22-yard line. A 17-yard catch by Darius Cooper moved the ball inside the five, but a taunting penalty pushed the Eagles back. On third-and-10, McKee threw his first interception of the season while targeting Jahan Dotson, squandering a prime scoring opportunity.
Washington closed the half with a 56-yard field goal by Moody, taking a 10â7 lead into halftime.
Hunt again provided a spark early in the second half, recovering a rolling football after a botched snap by Washington, setting the Eagles up at the Commandersâ 26-yard line. Philadelphia leaned on Bigsby to capitalize on the short field. The running back carried the ball six times for 20 yards on the drive, finishing it off with a go-ahead touchdown with 6:27 left in the third quarter to make it 14â10.
Later in the quarter, Jake Elliott connected on a 39-yard field goal, extending the Eaglesâ lead to 17â10.
Eagles Secondary Exposed
Washington answered with a game-tying drive, aided by two defensive pass interference penalties, before Josh Johnson found tight end John Bates in the back of the end zone on third down, knotting the game at 17â17 with 9:35 remaining. Washington’s offense was aided by 90 DPI penalty yards by the Birds’ not ready for prime time back-up cornerbacks.
After a quick Eagles three-and-out, Washington struck again, benefitting from a fourth defensive pass interference call, this one a 32-yard penalty against Kelee Ringo, as the Eaglesâ backup cornerbacks endured a difficult night. Johnson finished the drive with a one-yard touchdown run, giving Washington a 24â17 lead.
McKee had multiple chances to be the hero but he seemed to provide diminishing returns as the game wore on, making bad reads, throwing balls high, missing wide open receivers and seemingly losing that poise that had given the Birds’ fan base as well as his coaching staff and teammates the confidence in him to step on the field and win an NFL game, a big game at that. He finished 21-of-40 for 241 yards, throwing one touchdown and one interception. Bigsby led the ground game with 75 rushing yards on 16 carries and a score but strangely wasn’t seen again after his last carry, which came with just over two minutes left in the third quarter.
The Eagles will learn their official playoff kickoff time at halftime of Sunday Night Football between the Baltimore Ravens and Pittsburgh Steelers.
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