The Commanders lost quarterback Marcus Mariota to a hand injury during Saturday’s 29-18 home loss to the Philadelphia Eagles, which also allowed the defending Super Bowl champions to clinch the NFC East title.
Mariota, who was starting in place of the injured Jayden Daniels, left the game in the third quarter after injuring his throwing hand. He completed seven of 14 passes for 95 yards before he returned to the locker room for treatment.
On the other sideline, Eagles quarterback Jalen Hurts played a mistake-free game as his squad clinched back-to-back division titles. Hurts completed 73% of his passes for 185 yards and two touchdowns as Philadelphia became the first squad to win the NFC East in consecutive seasons in more than 20 years.
As the game spiraled out of hand, Washington’s frustrating season boiled over. Backup running back Tank Bigsby ran for a 22-yard touchdown in the fourth quarter for Philadelphia. Already leading by 17, the Eagles converted a two-point conversion to stretch the lead to 29-10.
The Commanders did not appear to appreciate their division rivals running up the score. A fight broke out following the two-point conversion. It started with pushing and shoving between Commanders safety Will Harris and Eagles wide receiver Darius Cooper.
The brawl rapidly enveloped more than a dozen players as referees threw every penalty flag available onto the field. Washington defenders Quan Martin and Javon Kinlaw were ejected for unnecessary roughness, along with Philadelphia lineman Tyler Steen.
Kinlaw, who is known in the locker room for his intensity, flashed his middle fingers to the visiting Philadelphia fans as he walked to the locker room.
The underdog Commanders opened the game with the perfect recipe for an upset. The Eagles fumbled the opening kickoff, which allowed Washington to take an early 3-0 lead.
Coach Dan Quinn’s squad hung around throughout the first half. They took a 10-7 lead into the third quarter thanks to a one-yard touchdown run by rookie running back Jacory Croskey-Merritt and a series of missed field goals by Eagles kicker Jake Elliott.
After missing a 43-yard attempt wide left in the second quarter, Elliott had a chance for redemption with 18 seconds left in the half. A potential game-tying kick from 57 yards away landed wide left. But Commanders safety Tyler Owens lined up offside.
Elliot received another shot from 52 yards out. He missed again. It didn’t matter. The Eagles controlled the second half, scoring 22 unanswered points before the Commanders added a touchdown in garbage time.
A 17-play drive by Philadelphia ate 10 minutes off the clock in the third quarter. Washington extended the drive with a pair of penalties — an illegal contact that overturned an interception and a defensive pass interference that gave the Eagles first-and-goal at the 1-yard line.
Hurts found tight end Dallas Goedert in the end zone as the Eagles took a 14-10 lead.
Washington then took the field with a four-point deficit and third-string signal-caller Josh Johnson leading the offense. The 39-year-old journeyman couldn’t lead a comeback. He tossed an interception to Philadelphia’s Cooper DeJean on his first drive under center.
Johnson ultimately completed just five of his nine attempts for 43 yards.
The Eagles took advantage of the short field, extending their lead with a 12-yard touchdown run by Saquon Barkley.
Barkley eclipsed the 1,000-yard mark for the year as he ran for 132 yards in the victory.
The Commanders (4-11) host the Dallas Cowboys on Christmas Day. The Cowboys were eliminated from playoff contention with the Eagles’ win.
The Eagles (10-5) will play for postseason seeding when they visit the Buffalo Bills on Dec. 28.
• Liam Griffin can be reached at lgriffin@washingtontimes.com.
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