The Philadelphia Eagles are securely in the playoffs and will go for their 11th straight win when they visit the Washington Commanders on Sunday, a welcome postseason atmosphere at a site unaccustomed to high-leverage football in late December.
The Eagles (12-2) lead the Commanders (9-5) by three games and can clinch the NFC East on Sunday, but they have a bigger goal in mind. With the Detroit Lions (12-2) losing to Buffalo last week and continuing to lose players to injury, the Eagles can swipe the No. 1 seed and home-field advantage through the NFC playoffs.
But first the division title looms.
“No, we’re pretty boring,” Eagles coach Nick Sirianni said when asked if he talked to the locker room about clinching the division. “We’re getting ready to play this game. We know that if we do win this game that will happen, but all we can control and focus on is our preparation.”
The Commanders have postseason goals — realistic ones after a 4-13 finish in 2024 — within reach but need a huge three-game finishing stretch to seal a playoff berth.
With their 20-19 win at New Orleans last Sunday, the Commanders have won two in a row to recover from a three-game losing streak. Washington can clinch a wild-card berth with a win and a combination of losses involving the Atlanta Falcons, Los Angeles Rams and Seattle Seahawks. A loss would add extra wattage to the spotlight Sunday night game against the Falcons next week.
Sunday’s game is rematch of Week 11 when the Eagles were leading 12-10 in the fourth quarter before winning 26-18. Washington coach Dan Quinn opted to go for it on fourth down with his team in field goal range and a chance to go up 13-12. Quarterback Jayden Daniels scrambled and was stopped for no gain.
Washington traded three draft picks to acquire one player who could make a big difference in the second meeting between NFC East rivals. Cornerback Marshon Lattimore, formerly with the Saints, healed from a nagging hamstring injury to make his Commanders debut last Sunday.
“He’s a really good player that would allow them to do different things because of how good he’s played as a pro,” Sirianni said. “So, we’ll have to be ready for him and this is a good defense we’re going against.”
The Commanders were competitive in both games with the Eagles last season: 34-31 (overtime) and 38-31 losses. Washington has lost three straight to Philadelphia at home and Quinn knows the importance of stopping that streak on Sunday.
“It’s a big deal. If you want to be seen as a heavy hitter you got to beat them,” Quinn said. “In the NFC East, Philadelphia has been the heavy hitters so far this season in the division. Great challenge for us, we are pumped to get them back here at home with the fans.”
In the Week 11 game, Eagles quarterback Jalen Hurts ran for the go-ahead score, and Saquon Barkley rushed for 146 yards and two fourth-quarter touchdowns.
“He’s at his best in the end of games,” Quinn said of Barkley. “We have to make sure the fit and tackling on the fifth run is the same as on the 25th. They’re exceptional at staying at it. It takes a lot of discipline and work to do it over and over again.”
Before being held to 65 yards by the Pittsburgh Steelers in last Sunday’s win, Barkley had averaged 158 yards over his previous four games.
Daniels and his banged-up offense will be facing an Eagles defense that leads the NFL in fewest yards allowed per game (275.6) and is tied for first in fewest points allowed (17.6).
Both teams got some good injury news Wednesday. Commanders defensive end Jonathan Allen (torn pectoral muscle) saw his 21-day practice window open,
and Philadelphia did the same for defensive end Bryce Huff. The latter missed the past four games after undergoing a procedure on his wrist. Both players were limited at practice on Wednesday.
Washington tight end Zach Ertz (concussion, rest) and guard Sam Cosmi (illness) did not practice.
Barkley (rest), guard Mekhi Becton (rest), wide receiver A.J. Brown (rest), safety Sydney Brown (concussion), guard Landon Dickerson (knee/rest), tackle Lane Johnson (rest), center Cam Jurgens (rest), tackle Jordan Mailata (rest), and wide receiver DeVonta Smith (back/rest) did not participate.
In 2022, the Commanders entered December with a record of 7-5 and fumbled away any prayer of the postseason with a 20-20 tie against the New York Giants, three consecutive losses and an insignificant season-ending win over the playoff-bound Dallas Cowboys.
Washington can improve to 10-5 with a win, which would match the franchise’s best record through 15 games since 1991.
–Field Level Media