Commanders Overmatched, Lose to Eagles 29-18

(This story has been updated with post game quotes)

Say this for Dan Quinn’s coaching, he has found a way to keep the Washington Commanders from quitting on the 2025 season. The Commanders played hard Saturday night against the playoff bound Philadelphia Eagles. Ultimately, they were done in not by mistakes but by a lack of talent, losing 29-18 at Northwest Stadium.

“Based on what I saw at practice, I thought these guys would really play hard,” head coach Dan Quinn said after the game. “Came off the week, went back to it again. And so, I sensed from what the energy I felt from them, the preparation, I felt this is a group that’s ready to go do their thing. No one in our locker room is talking about who we don’t have or who wasn’t there, those things. And so, it was about how we'd go win it and that was really the only thing on our mind. But I’d expect that from them. I’d expect that from them this week as we prepare again, how we go about it and how we go. But it's an excellent group of guys, like that part, it’s a matter of can we go finish the whole thing? But I do love the way that the energy they came out with.”

The game seemed to start on a good note for the Commanders as cornerback Mike Sainristill forced Will Shipley to fumble the opening kickoff. Sainristill recovered the ball, setting Washington up on the Eagles 23 yard line to start the game.

Ultimately, the Commanders would have to settle for a short field goal and a 3-0 lead.

“There was a lot to like early when I told the guys this game we’re going to have to arrive violently and finish violently,” Quinn said. “And I thought first half we did do that, but it has to be for the whole time.”

Philadelphia answered with a seven play, 63 yard drive capped by a touchdown pass from quarterback Jalen Hurts to wide receiver Devonte Smith and a 7-3 lead.

Washington took advantage of an another Eagles unforced error in the second quarter. After Kicker Jake Elliott missed a 43 yard field goal, the Commanders put together a nine play, 67 yard drive that culminated with a Jacory Croskey-Merritt one yard touchdown. Merritt appeared to be stopped short of the goal line, but second effort carried him across the goal line to give the Commanders a 10-7 lead. Washington would hold that lead at the half thanks a second missed field goal by Elliott.

The turning point of the game came early in the third quarter. Commanders Quarterback Marcus Mariota left the game with an injury on Washington’s first possession of the second half, he was replaced by Josh Johnson. Before Johnson could take the field, the Eagles regained the lead with a 17 play drive that took up more than 10 minutes of game time. Philadelphia ran nine plays inside the red zone before Hurts found tight end Dallas Goddard on a 15 yard touchdown pass to make the score 14-10.

Johnson, who has not taken a snap in the regular season did connect with wide receiver Deebo Samuel on a 20 yard pass for a first down on the next drive, but threw an interception to Cooper DeJean a few plays later setting the Eagles offense up in Washington territory.

“We didn’t win, so – the goal is to win the game,” Johnson said. “Personally, I understand the situation, so for me, just trying to go in there and try to find the rhythm the best way possible. It’s a lot of different things you gotta handle when you come in the game as the backup, and then being the third guy, you gotta deal with things a little bit differently.”

Saquon Barkley would stretch the Philadelphia lead to 28-10 when he scored on a 12 yard run.

After another three and out offensive series for Washington, Philadelphia put the game away when Tank Bigsby scored on a 22 yard yard run. Barkley made the two point conversion that was marred by a fight which resulted in Washington’s Javon Kinlaw and Quan Martin and Philadelphia’s Tyler Steen being thrown out of the game.

“Eagles versus Commanders, man, that’s how it goes, you know what I mean,” wide receiver Terry McLaurin said. “It gets physical. It gets testy. You know, I can’t speak for what was going on specifically on that play cause I was on the sideline. But, yeah, it comes with this game with these two opponents, you know what I mean? There’s, you know, a lot of history, obviously, and you know they were beating us. So, they’re not gonna throw in the towel, they’re not gonna take it easy on us. They’re trying to go for two and bury us, and as a team, you know what I mean, it’s not like you tell them, don’t go for two. You know we gotta stop them, you know what I mean? Offensively, we gotta help our defense. So, I don’t really take any bad blood from what they did. But you don’t really wanna see the game get out of hand and guys possibly get hurt in those situations. But it comes with this rivalry between us and them. And I don’t think that’ll ever change, to be honest.”

The Commanders would score a meaningless touchdown with 1:10 left in the game when Chris Rodriquez found the end zone from the three yard line to make the final score 29-18. The score was set up by wide receiver Treylon Burks drawing a pass interference penalty. The former first round draft pick of the Tennessee Titans had two catches for 30 yards and is giving the staff a lot to think about when it comes to resigning him this off season.

With the victory, Philadelphia becomes the first NFC East team to repeat as division champions since the 2005 Eagles. Washington falls to 4-11 with a Christmas day game at home, the final home game of the year against the Dallas Cowboys.

Post Game Notes:

Quinn said Mariota was taken out of the game with a hand injury. He will be re-evaluated next week…. OT Sam Cosmi and DT Johnny Newtown were evaluated for concussions. G Brandon Coleman sustained an injured shin… Punter Tress Way passed former tight end Don Warren for sixth in most games played for the franchise with 194…