LANDOVER, Md.— Music blared through the locker room as the Philadelphia Eagles celebrated another milestone season. Head coach Nick Sirianni moved through the room, greeting players after his team accomplished something the franchise hadn’t done in 20 years—capture back-to-back NFC East titles.
“It keeps getting better,” said running back Saquon Barkley, soaking in the moment.
The Eagles’ 29-18 victory over the Washington Commanders wasn’t flawless, but it was enough. Despite early miscues—including a fumble on the opening kickoff, missed field goals, and a halftime deficit—Philadelphia found its rhythm when it mattered most.
Quarterback Jalen Hurts led the turnaround with an efficient performance, completing 22 of 30 passes for 185 yards and two touchdowns without committing a turnover. Much of his success came through connections with A.J. Brown and DeVonta Smith, who accounted for the majority of his completions.
Hurts threw a first-half touchdown to Smith and later found Dallas Goedert for another score to cap a long, time-consuming drive in the third quarter. Goedert’s touchdown marked his 10th of the season, tying a long-standing franchise record for tight ends.
Philadelphia’s ground game also delivered. Barkley rushed for 132 yards on 21 carries, including a 12-yard touchdown run that helped push his season total past 1,000 yards. Hurts added 40 rushing yards of his own as the Eagles improved to 10-5, bouncing back from a recent three-game skid with consecutive wins.
The victory also ended a long-standing trend in the division. No team had repeated as NFC East champions since the Eagles themselves dominated from 2001 to 2004, making this achievement particularly meaningful.
Washington, meanwhile, continues to spiral. Led by head coach Dan Quinn, the Commanders dropped their ninth game in the last 10 contests, falling to 4-11 on the season.
Injuries and inconsistency have played a major role. Starting quarterback Marcus Mariota left the game in the third quarter with a hand injury after briefly being evaluated for a concussion. Third-string quarterback Josh Johnson stepped in but struggled, including throwing an interception to Cooper DeJean that drew loud cheers from Eagles fans in attendance.
Washington was already without Jayden Daniels, last season’s Offensive Rookie of the Year, who has been sidelined for much of the year due to injuries.
The game itself had its share of tension, including a late scuffle following a two-point conversion by Philadelphia that stretched the lead. Despite a late touchdown from Washington, the outcome was never seriously in doubt during the final quarter.
Special teams proved to be one of the few concerns for the Eagles. Kicker Jake Elliott missed three field goals—all drifting left—in an uncharacteristically shaky first half. Still, Sirianni expressed full confidence in his veteran kicker.
Defensively, veteran Brandon Graham continued to defy age, recording another sack at 37 years old, while linebacker Nakobe Dean exited early with a hamstring injury.
Even without a perfect performance, the Eagles accomplished their primary goal—securing the division crown. And as Sirianni noted, the expectations in Philadelphia extend far beyond that.
Next up, the Eagles head to Buffalo, while the Commanders look to regroup as their difficult season continues.
