With 3 weeks to go in the regular season, playoff spots are starting to be snatched up. With the Broncos, Seahawks and Rams being the first teams to clinch a playoff spot, many more will soon follow.
Including the Eagles, whose magic number jumped from 3 all the way to 1 on Sunday following a Raiders blowout and a Cowboys season that’s nearly over, courtesy of “Nine” and the Minnesota Vikings.
And the Eagles first opportunity to punch their ticket into the postseason comes a day earlier this week. With a Saturday night game against the Washington Commanders
The Last Match
January 26th 2025 was the last time these teams saw each other. In an NFC Championship Game division matchup. To end a conversation:
What would happen if Jalen Hurts played all 4 quarters of the Week 16 loss?
A game that saw the Eagles take a quick 14-0 lead that saw Hurts exit due to a concussion just 5 minutes into the game. The final score ended 36-33 after the Eagles defense couldn’t get a stop, and the offense led by Kenny Pickett could barely pick up a first down.
To open the NFC championship game, the Commanders led an 18 play, 54 yard drive that included two 4th down conversions and finished with 3 points. The Eagles answer to that drive? This Saquon Barkley60 yard TD on the Eagles opening play of the game.
What followed was an absolute rout. The Eagles saw a 12 point lead at halftime, before they took things personally and finished the game with a 21 point 4th quarter after forcing two turnovers by the Commanders.
Now, things will look a little different.
Saturday Night
Jayden Daniels has since been shut down for the season. With multiple injuries sidelining him for weeks at a time. Instead, the Eagles will play against their former backup QB Marcus Mariota who has lead his current team to a 1-3 record.
Having been eliminated from playoff contention weeks ago, the Commanders will have nothing to play for but draft position, and attempting to foil the Eagles playoff/seeding hopes.
However with a laundry list of injuries ranging from Laremy Tunsil, and Colson Yankoff listed Out for this week. With names like Trey Amos, Luke McCaffrey, Zach Ertz, Marshon Lattimore and Dorance Armstrong already on injured reserve, the Commanders will be thin at numerous positions. Hoping the Eagles can take advantage of a depleted team that thought they could repeat a 12-5 Cinderella run from only a year ago.
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