The Commanders opened the season with eyes on their first division title in five years. Instead, they watched from the sidelines on Saturday as the rival Philadelphia Eagles celebrated after claiming the NFC East again.
Saturday’s 29-18 loss epitomized Washington’s disastrous season. Quarterback Marcus Mariota, himself starting in place of a hampered Jayden Daniels, left in the second half with a right hand injury.
Guard Sam Cosmi and defensive tackle Jer’Zhan Newton joined their signal-callers on the bench with potential concussions. Tackle Brandon Coleman missed the end of the game with a shin issue.
The laundry list of injuries has defined — and doomed — the Commanders’ once-promising campaign. Starters like running back Austin Ekeler, defensive end Deatrich Wise, pass rusher Dorance Armstrong and cornerbacks Marshon Lattimore and Trey Amos suffered season-ending injuries.
The Commanders had a shot at an upset until Mariota’s injury. They led 10-7 before an issue with his throwing hand forced the veteran to receive medical treatment.
Commanders coach Dan Quinn said Sunday that Mariota received stitches after taking a cleat to his hand. The veteran also suffered a quad injury and is “day-to-day.”
“We’ve done all the push that we can to keep them going. We’re in a good space to find out who’s available,” Quinn said Sunday. “At this point, we’re digging in hard to say, ‘Who’re we going to feature?’”
Saturday’s game spiraled out of control following Mariota’s departure. Third-string quarterback Josh Johnson tossed an interception on his first drive. The Eagles scored 22 unanswered points to open the second half.
“It’s tough,” receiver Terry McLaurin said after the game. “When [Mariota] went down, it definitely changed things a bit.”
But the defending Super Bowl champions weren’t content with a convincing win. They wanted to dominate. With a 17-point lead in the fourth, that desire led Eagles coach Nick Sirianni to attempt and convert a two-point conversion anyway. A brawl ensued.
Commanders players wouldn’t speculate about what started the melee, which saw referees toss every available penalty flag onto the field. Players from both sides threw punches. Philadelphia’s Tyler Steen was ejected, along with Washington defenders Javon Kinlaw and Quan Martin.
“I was just protecting my teammates,” Martin said.
“I don’t know what they took exception to, but at the end of the day, I’m rocking with my guys, right or wrong,” McLaurin added.
The league office frowns upon on-field fights. The same can’t be said for the Washington fans in attendance, many of whom cheered the brief sign of life from their defeated club. Quinn wouldn’t endorse a fight but still defended his players after the game.
“Certainly not something we want, but like, by the same token, they’re going to protect themselves too,” he said. “Don’t like it, don’t want it at all.”
Washington’s coach only barely participated in the post-game handshake lines, instead opting to hang back to ensure no further scuffles broke out.
“I just wanted to make sure if I had to step into any space that I’d be able to bring my bouncing skills back into space,” he said.
The two-point conversion, a bold move that Sirianni said was rooted in analytics, was a spark that ignited the Commanders’ season-long frustrations. They opened the season as postseason contenders after last year’s run to the NFC championship game.
Bit by bit, the Commanders’ hopes drifted away.
“Just knowing that could be us. We have to do everything we can, prepare the right way, to make sure that it is us [next year],” said cornerback Mike Sainristil, who added that he joined the brawl to “protect my brothers.”
NFC East matchups are often testy. But Washington’s latest loss had an extra sting. The Eagles left the stadium with new hats and shirts. They read, “Been there, won that” and marked Philadelphia’s status as NFC East champions for the second year in a row.
The Commanders left with more questions. What would the season be without the onslaught of injuries? How can they return to relevance in 2026? What positives can be gleaned from a 4-11 campaign?
“It certainly feels terrible to hear that record. That’s hard. That’s difficult,” Quinn said. “No one in our locker room is talking about who we don’t have or who wasn’t there, those things.”
It’s unclear who will start under center for Washington on Christmas Day against the rival Dallas Cowboys, though Quinn said Sunday he could turn to Johnson, practice squad quarterback Sam Hartman or a free agent.
After the Christmas game, the Commanders will turn their attention to a season finale against the Eagles.
Quinn’s squad won’t have anything to play for in the standings.
Revenge can still be sweet.
“That’s how they want to get down then. Like all good,” Quinn said Saturday of Philadelphia’s two-point attempt. “We play them again in two weeks.”
• Liam Griffin can be reached at lgriffin@washingtontimes.com.
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