The Philadelphia Eagles are once again kings of the NFC East, clinching the division title for a second consecutive season with a 29-18 victory over the Washington Commanders on Saturday night. The win, which came despite a sloppy performance, was marred by a late-game melee that saw three players ejected.
A Sloppy Start and a Strong Finish
The game at FedExField began inauspiciously for the visiting Eagles. Will Shipley fumbled the opening kickoff after a hit from Washington's Mike Sainristil, gifting the Commanders possession deep in Philadelphia territory and leading to an early field goal. The Eagles' struggles continued with kicker Jake Elliott missing three field goals, all wide left, in a baffling first-half display.
Despite the errors, quarterback Jalen Hurts steered the ship effectively. Operating more from under centre than in recent weeks, Hurts completed 22 of 30 passes for 185 yards and two touchdowns, adding 40 crucial yards on the ground. He connected with DeVonta Smith for a six-yard score and found tight end Dallas Goedert on a 15-yard strike to cap a marathon 17-play, 83-yard drive that put Philadelphia ahead 14-10 in the third quarter.
Barkley Dominates as Eagles Pull Away
The Eagles' offensive engine was supercharged by running back Saquon Barkley. The veteran back delivered a powerhouse performance, rushing for 132 yards on 21 carries, including a pivotal 12-yard touchdown run that helped Philadelphia pull away in the second half. His efforts were central to the Eagles overcoming a halftime deficit and putting the game beyond Washington's reach.
The Commanders, already eliminated from playoff contention and playing with third-string quarterback Josh Johnson for much of the second half after Marcus Mariota injured his hand, struggled to maintain momentum. Johnson was intercepted by Cooper DeJean, much to the delight of the travelling Eagles fans who frequently made their presence heard in the stands.
Late Brawl Mars Division Celebration
The contest turned ugly in the final minutes. After Barkley scored a two-point conversion to extend the Eagles' lead to 19 points with roughly four and a half minutes remaining, a full-scale brawl erupted between the two sides. The scrum involved multiple players from both teams and resulted in six penalties for unnecessary roughness.
In the aftermath, officials ejected three players: Washington's Javon Kinlaw and Quan Martin, and Philadelphia offensive lineman Tyler Steen. Order was eventually restored following discussions between Barkley, Hurts, and Commanders linebacker Bobby Wagner, but the incident cast a shadow over the Eagles' division-clinching moment.
The victory moves the Eagles to a 10-5 record, making them the first team to win the NFC East in consecutive seasons since they accomplished the feat from 2001 to 2004. For the Commanders, the loss marks their ninth defeat in ten games, capping a dismal season.
