PHILADELPHIA — The Commanders ended their horrific season with an unlikely win over the Eagles in Philadelphia on Sunday, the latest inversion of last year’s magical campaign.
Washington’s 2024 season culminated with a blowout loss to the eventual Super Bowl champions in the NFC championship game. This year’s nightmarish campaign ended with an unexpected 24-17 victory against the Eagles.
Philadelphia rested the majority of its starters — including quarterback Jalen Hurts, running back Saquon Barkley and wide receiver A.J. Brown — as the squad prepares for another playoff run. Second receiver DeVonta Smith joined them at the end of the first quarter after catching three passes for 52 yards to eclipse the 1,000-yard mark for the season.
Second-string signal-caller Tanner McKee threw for 241 yards and a touchdown in his second career start for Philadelphia.
Meanwhile, Washington’s backups played out of necessity. Third-string quarterback Josh Johnson — who started following season-ending injuries to Jayden Daniels and Marcus Mariota — completed 14 of 22 passes with 131 yards, a passing touchdown and an interception. The victory was the second of Johnson’s 17-year NFL career.
He also added a rushing touchdown and 45 yards on the ground.
The men in stripes helped the Commanders’ passing game as much as any player on the field, though. Washington benefitted from four defensive pass interference calls that gave them 88 yards, including a handful of infractions that gave the Commanders possession at the one-yard line.
The Eagles opened the scoring with an 80-yard drive in the first quarter, culminating in a 15-yard catch in the endzone by tight end Grant Calcaterra.
Undeterred, Johnson led the Commanders on a long drive into Eagles territory. A defensive pass interference penalty placed the ball a yard away from the goal line, allowing running back Chris Rodriguez to score a tying touchdown early in the second quarter.
Jake Moody converted a 56-yard field goal at the end of the first half to give Washington a three-point lead at the intermission.
With a narrow lead in the third quarter, a high snap from backup center Nick Allegretti bounced off Johnson’s hands and into the Eagles’ arms. Philadelphia halfback Tank Bigsby scored on a two-yard touchdown run on the next drive to give the Eagles a 14-10 lead midway through the period.
They added a field goal late in the same frame to extend their advantage to seven.
But Washington benefitted from repeated penalties in Philadelphia’s secondary. A pair of pass interference calls in the end zone — followed by a two-yard touchdown catch by tight end John Bates — allowed Washington to knot the score at 17 midway through the fourth quarter.
Johnson added a one-yard touchdown scamper to give Washington a seven-point lead late in the fourth quarter.
With playoff seeding on the line, McKee couldn’t lead Philadelphia on a potential game-winning drive.
The Eagles clinched the No. 3 seed in the NFC with the loss. They’ll host the San Francisco 49ers next week in their playoff opener.
The Commanders finished the season with a disappointing 5-12 record, landing them the No. 7 pick in this spring’s draft.
• Liam Griffin can be reached at lgriffin@washingtontimes.com.
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