PHILADELPHIA — The Philadelphia Eagles' gamble to rest their star players in the final regular-season game came at a steep price Sunday, as a 24-17 loss to the Washington Commanders dashed their hopes of securing the NFC's No. 2 seed. With quarterback Jalen Hurts, running back Saquon Barkley, and most key starters sidelined, the Eagles' backups faltered in the fourth quarter, allowing the Commanders to rally for the victory at Lincoln Financial Field.
Coach Nick Sirianni, who has led the Eagles to two Super Bowl appearances in the last three years, including a championship win last season, acknowledged the risks of his decision before the game. "I knew this was an outcome, that these things could happen," Sirianni said after the defeat. "One thing I could guarantee was giving them rest. I couldn’t guarantee them anything else. Being healthy and going into the playoffs healthy is a big deal for us."
The Eagles entered the matchup with an 11-5 record, clinching the NFC East title but needing a win combined with a Detroit Lions victory over the Chicago Bears to leapfrog into the No. 2 spot. The Lions obliged with a narrow 19-16 win against the Bears, but Philadelphia's loss sealed their fate as the No. 3 seed. Now, the Super Bowl champions will host the San Francisco 49ers in the wild-card round next weekend, potentially facing two road games en route to another title run.
For the Commanders, who finished the season at 5-12 after a disappointing year following their NFC championship appearance against the Eagles last season, the win provided a bright spot. With their own starters like quarterback Jayden Daniels sidelined and backup Marcus Mariota nursing a leg injury, Washington turned to 39-year-old third-stringer Josh Johnson. Johnson delivered in the clutch, throwing a 2-yard touchdown pass to tight end John Bates in the fourth quarter and capping the comeback with a 1-yard rushing score with 2:32 remaining.
"I know to the rest of the world, this might not mean nothing," Johnson said postgame, reflecting on the significance of the victory for a team out of playoff contention. The Commanders' rally came after trailing 17-10, sparked by a crucial penalty on Eagles cornerback Kelee Ringo for pass interference, which set up Johnson's go-ahead run.
Philadelphia's backup quarterback Tanner McKee, who had shown promise in limited relief appearances over the past two seasons, struggled in his first extended start. He completed 21 of 40 passes for 241 yards, including a 15-yard touchdown toss to tight end Grant Calcaterra in the second quarter that gave the Eagles an early 7-0 lead. However, McKee threw an interception and was sacked on the final drive, ending any chance of a late comeback.
The game remained tight throughout. Washington took a 10-7 halftime lead on a 56-yard field goal by kicker Jake Moody. In the third quarter, the Eagles capitalized on a fumble recovery, with running back Tank Bigsby — filling in for Barkley — scoring on a short run to put Philadelphia ahead 14-10. Kicker Jake Elliott later added a 39-yard field goal to extend the lead to 17-10.
Despite the loss, Eagles defensive end Brandon Graham, who unretired midseason to pursue another ring, stood by Sirianni's strategy. "It’s valuable because you get an extra week to get your body together, especially if you’ve been dealing with some stuff," Graham said. "Now it don’t matter. We’ve got to try and go win every game. First one at home, take care of business and on to the next."
The atmosphere at Lincoln Financial Field was tense, with fans caught between rooting for their team and monitoring the Lions-Bears score on the videoboard. Cheers erupted for Detroit's points, but groans followed as the Commanders mounted their comeback. Sirianni admitted to keeping an eye on the out-of-town scoreboard during the week but focused his team's energy on their own performance. "I didn’t really think too much about the negatives of it," he said regarding the rest decision.
One bright note for Philadelphia came from wide receiver DeVonta Smith, who played limited snaps to preserve his health but reached a milestone. Entering the game 44 yards short, Smith surpassed 1,000 receiving yards for the third time in his career, finishing with three catches for 52 yards, including a 27-yard reception that brought him to 1,008. He was pulled immediately after, as the Eagles managed his workload carefully. Fellow receiver A.J. Brown, already at 1,003 yards, sat out entirely.
"We were safe with him as far as what kind of routes we were running and what he was doing," Sirianni explained about Smith's usage. Tight end Dallas Goedert and other starters also rested, prioritizing playoff freshness over seeding.
Injuries marred the backups' effort, with Calcaterra leaving in the second half due to an ankle and knee issue, and offensive lineman Brandon Toth evaluated for a concussion. These setbacks added to the challenges faced by the second unit, which couldn't hold the lead against a motivated Commanders squad playing for pride and draft positioning. Washington now eyes a top-10 pick in the upcoming NFL draft.
The decision to rest players sparked immediate debate among fans and analysts, with talk radio in Philadelphia likely to buzz all week. Sirianni anticipated the criticism, noting, "I know there will be debate on that." Yet, he emphasized the long view: the true verdict on his call will come during the postseason, where a healthy roster could prove decisive in a grueling playoff path that might include a divisional-round trip to Chicago.
Betting odds reflected the Eagles' favoritism entering the game, listed as 3 1/2-point favorites over the Commanders by BetMGM Sportsbook. The loss not only cost them home-field advantage for potentially two playoff games but also highlighted the fine line between preparation and performance in the NFL's high-stakes finale.
As the Eagles shift focus to the playoffs, their championship pedigree — including last season's Super Bowl triumph — offers optimism. With a week of rest for the core group, Philadelphia aims to channel the setback into motivation. The wild-card clash against the 49ers looms large, a rematch of sorts from recent playoff battles, where seeding might matter less than execution under the lights at home.