The Eagles started the day chasing history, and ended it by making it, becoming the first team to repeat as NFC East division winners in 20 years.
The Eagles reminded the Commanders, and everyone else, that they can still dominate and overcome adversity by pushing their winning streak to two games. It was a physical performance that, in the second half, looked a lot like the team that steamrolled the same opponent in January’s NFC Championship Game on the way to lifting the Lombardi Trophy in Super Bowl LIX. They were not quite as explosive, but just as authoritative.
The Eagles contained Marcus Mariota, which was good work for a team that struggles against mobile quarterbacks and will likely face a few in the postseason.
The Birds needed momentum to remind themselves who they are. And over the last two weeks, the Eagles have delivered back-to-back performances that feel less like survival wins and more like a team that has started to find its way en route to a 29–18 win.
Philadelphia received the opening kickoff and gave up its 9th takeaway of the season due to a Will Shipley fumble. Setting the Commanders off at the Eagles' 26. Washington picked up two first downs and a field goal. The Fangio factor was setting the tone for the day by not giving in.
The Eagles and the Commanders both punted after barely moving the ball on the next two drives, then the Philly offense came alive. A 17-yard pass to DeVonta Smith, followed by a 12-yard Jalen Hurts run, then a 15-yard pass to AJ Brown, good for three plays and three first downs to the red zone. A 5-yard touchdown pass to Smitty capped off the drive. The first quarter ended 7–3.
Philly started the second quarter at their 10-yard line, and the offense moved the ball down to the 26-yard line, where Jake Elliott’s erratic season continued with a 43-yard field goal miss. The Commanders took over at the 33, and Mariota hit Terry McClaurin on the first play for a 40-yard gain. Washington scored a touchdown after picking up a first down on a fourth-down conversion from the one, retaking the lead 10–7.
Philly began their final drive of the half with just over 3 minutes left and was able to get down to the Washington 39, where Elliott missed a 57-yard field goal, but the Commanders had a neutral zone infraction, which gave the Eagles another first down and Elliott a new attempt, this time from the 52, and he went wide left for the third time.
Brown led the team in targets (11) and catches (8) at the break, and Barkley had 40 yards on the ground. The time of possession was even, and Philly had 62 more total yards, but were still trailing.
The Commanders took the second half kickoff to the Eagles' 44 before a holding penalty set them back, and they punted to their 17. The Eagles continued to move the ball, aided by a penalty erasing a would-be Hurts interception, then another that took the ball down to the one. Two failed tush pushes, including one penalized for a false start, took the ball back to the 6; another took it back to the 15, and Hurts connected with Goedert on a 15-yard TD, in a crazy series of events. Eagles took the lead back 14–10.
The Commanders' second drive started with their third strong QB, Josh Johnson, as Marcus Mariota was sidelined. Cooper DeJean welcomed him with an interception. The game went to the 4th quarter after one play, where the Eagles started to pull away.
Barkley took over once the line got him to the second level, and he finished the drive with a touchdown in his third straight game by breaking 5+ tackles on the run. The Eagles were taking control and looking confident with a 21–10 lead and nine minutes left.
After Barkley had an explosive 48-yard run, Tan Bigsby came in to give him a breather and promptly ran for his first touchdown as an Eagle on a 22-yard run. Barkley chipped in moments later with a 2-minute conversion, then an all-out brawl ensued with the score 29–10 and 4:26 left, resulting in three ejections: Tyler Steen and two Commanders. We will have to wait and see if Steen has to miss another game.
The Eagles’ offense started the game under center, like they have the last two weeks, and sustained drives with methodical pass plays involving Brown and Smith. In the first quarter, Brown had more targets than in any other quarter in his career. Even when the big plays weren’t there, the Commanders never found relief because the Birds also extended drives via Washington penalties.
Many thought Mariota would run wild, but the Commanders should have prepared to stop Hurts from moving the ball via his legs. As the stakes get higher, Hurts ‘ willingness to use them becomes evident. He finished the game with a few designed runs and multiple scrambles.
The Eagles finished the game punishing the Commanders' defensive line with a strong running game. Barkley entered the day averaging 137.5 scrimmage yards per game in his career against Washington, and didn’t disappoint by totalling 132, good for a 6.3 YOC average and the one touchdown.
One of the toughest assignments for Vic Fangio’s unit seemed to be containing the mobile Mariota, but he only had one carry for -1 yard.
Defensively, the Eagles swarmed, tackled, and closed space the way championship defenses do in December. Washington never settled in, nor found a rhythm. Pressure came from everywhere, and overage stayed tight. The Commanders were left searching for more answers after another game of inconsistent, undisciplined football.
Jordan Davis had another dominating performance, and it was hard to remember that Jalen Carter was not in the game. He has been a game wrecker and a stabilizing force.
If the Eagles win another Lombardi, the defense will be what carries them. They had another dominant performance.
As the holidays arrive, the Eagles are doing exactly what contenders do: stacking wins, beating division opponents, and sending a message that the road to the Super Bowl still goes through Philadelphia.
Saturday was about continuity. The Eagles are still here. Still powerful. And very much built for another championship run.
The Eagles face the Buffalo Bills for what may be a preview of the upcoming Super Bowl. The Bills mirror the Eagles in many ways, including the use of the tush push, which Buffalo ironically voted to ban for player safety reasons despite using it more than any team in the NFL. The weather shows a chance of snow showers in Buffalo as of now, so it could be another test for the Eagles to overcome during inclement weather, which this team is built for.
As always, thank you for reading!
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