The playing status of Jalen Hurts will garner endless questions as the Philadelphia Eagles fell to the Washington Commanders, 36-33, at Northwest Field on Sunday Afternoon. Officials pulled Hurts from the game in the first quarter and ruled him out before halftime.
Eagles running back Saquon Barkley finished with 150 yards in the game, including 107 yards and two scores in the first quarter. Barkley was largely contained once Hurst was out of the contest, and Washington was less concerned about the deep pass from the Eagles offense.
The buzzer-beating defeat ends the Eagles’ 10-game winning streak, while Washington looks to keep their season alive in a competitive NFC Wild Card scene. Washington’s win deals a blow to Philly’s home-field advantage hopes, but it is a minor bump in the road heading toward the NFL’s postseason in a few weeks.
Eagles Score Multiple Times in the First Quarter
Washington received the opening kick-off and navigated to midfield before the Eagles caused some havoc worth a fourth down stop. Jalen Hurts fed running back Saquon Barkley for a pair of first down runs, setting up a 2-yard TD run by Philly’s primary tailback for a 7-0 Eagles lead.
Washington returned the kickoff to midfield to start the drive, but defensive lineman Jalen Carter caused a quick fumble, with Nolan Smith Jr. recovering the ball to bring the Philadelphia offense back on the field. On the resulting drive, Hurts scrambled for 22 yards, but it was his final play of the afternoon, being removed by the concussion spotters for examination and did not return.
Eagles backup QB Kenny Pickett finished the drive with a touchdown to AJ Brown to extend the Eagles lead to 14-0. The Commanders received help from the Philly defense due to undisciplined penalties leading to a Jayden Daniels to Wide Receiver Jamison Crowder TD pass, trimming their disadvantage to 14-7.
Saquon dashed for a 68-yard touchdown run to the left to restore the Philadelphia lead, 21-7, before the end of the first quarter. With the run, Barkley scored on his 4th touchdown run of 60+ yards, joining legendary NFL running backs Jim Brown and Adrian Peterson as the only running backs to accomplish that crowd-raising feat in NFL history.
Eagles Offense Stalls Out Second Quarter Stall
Washington’s rookie QB, Daniels, led a touchdown drive in the second quarter with some (questionable) flags from the officials. Daniels located Wide Receiver Terry McLaurin for a 23-yard touchdown score, 21-14.
With Hurts officially ruled out, Washington stacked the defensive line to stop the run, limiting time and space for the Philly run game. Despite another pair of turnovers by the Eagles defense, the offense failed to add points to the visiting scoreboard. Eagles Kicker Jake Elliott attempted a 56-yard field goal at the halftime buzzer but sailed it wide. Philadelphia entered the halftime break leading by a 21-14 score.
Baun, Zach Baun (in the Third Quarter)
The Eagles first drive resulted in an Eliott field goal from 24 yards out for a 24-14 Philly lead. On the resulting drive, Philadelphia linebacker Zach Baun was credited with his fifth caused fumble for a turnover after teammate Nolan Smith recovered it on the play. Only Pittsburgh Steelers defensive end TJ Watt has more disruptive plays this season with an NFL-leading 6 forced fumbles. In the play’s aftermath, Chauncey Gardner-Johnson was ejected from the game after being whistled for his second personal foul.
Related: Is Eagles LB Zack Baun one of the NFL’s best linebackers in 2024?
The Eagles’ offense sputtered again under the backup quarterback despite some solid throws from Pickett. Jake Elliott’s 40-yard fork-splitting kick extended the Philly lead to 27-14. Daniels showcased his athleticism on a 30-yard scramble on fourth down to keep Washington’s hopes alive down two scores entering the final regulation frame on the resulting possession.
Daniels Outduels Elliott in Final Quarter for Commanders Win
Washington’s #2 overall pick in the most recent NFL draft led a comeback charge for the Commanders in the fourth quarter. The young signal-caller finished two touchdown drives with passes to Olamide Zaccheaus, leading to a stunning 28-27 lead for the Commanders. Despite four turnovers to Philadelphia’s defense, Washington wrestled the lead away from the Eagles early in the fourth quarter.
Pickett drove his team down the field in the fourth quarter, connecting in critical fourth-quarter throws to wideout DeVonta Smith and AJ Brown. Philadelphia collectively held their breath as Elliott connected on his first 50-yard field goal to steal the lead away like the Grinch, 30-28. The Eagles kicker is now 1-for-7 on 50+-yard field goals this season.
Philly safety Reed Blankenship picked off Washington on the following drive for the Eagles’ fifth turnover of the day. On a third down, an often sure-handed wide receiver, DeVonta Smith, couldn’t settle a ball that would’ve sealed the game as it floated to the Northwest Stadium grass. Elliott snuck through his fourth field goal of the day, extending the Philadelphia lead to 33-27.
With one more opportunity to leave an impression, Washington’s first-rounder entered the gridiron for a two-minute drill, needing a touchdown to win the game. Daniels drove down the field rapidly and threw a touchdown pass to Crowder again for a Washington lead, 36-33, after a successful two-point try.
On a day when the Eagles could claim the NFC East, the magical fairy dust resided on the opposing sideline in the hands of an electric rookie leading the 3rd fourth-quarter comeback of his rookie campaign. The Eagles’ quest to celebrate a division championship must wait at least one more week. I guess it’s not so bad if celebrations occur in the face of the rival Dallas Cowboys at the Linc, eh?
Philadelphia finishes their season with home games at Lincoln Financial Field against Dallas (6-8) and New York (6-9). Washington battles for a Wild Card spot against a pair of sub .500 teams — Atlanta (8-7) and Dallas (6-8). Atlanta smashed New York, 34-7, during their Week 16 matchup. Dallas hosts Tampa Bay (8-6) on Sunday Night Football later tonight. Both Dallas and New York have been eliminated from the NFL playoffs.
