It was a wild contest full of twists and turns as the Washington Commanders narrowly edged out the Philadelphia Eagles, winning 36-33, thanks to stellar performances from their backup quarterback Jayden Daniels and wide receiver Jamison Crowder.
The game started on shaky ground for the Commanders as the Eagles quickly established dominance. Philadelphia jumped out to an early 14-0 lead, capitalizing on turnovers made by Washington. Commanders' linebacker Frankie Luvu stepped up by intercepting Eagles quarterback Kenny Pickett, leading to Washington's first score of the game.
After the interception, Daniels connected with Crowder for a touchdown, putting Washington on the board at 14-7. The Eagles maintained their lead when running back Saquon Barkley broke free for a remarkable 68-yard touchdown, stretching the score to 21-7.
Despite the Eagles' offensive momentum, the Commanders were far from finished. Jayden Daniels, showing great poise under pressure, launched a 51-yard bomb to wide receiver Dyami Brown, setting his team up for another score. Following this, Daniels found another connection, threading the needle to Terry McLaurin for 32 yards, bringing the score closer.
This 32-yard touchdown catch was especially significant for McLaurin, as he surpassed the 1,000-yard mark for the season, marking the fifth time he has achieved this milestone during his career. It was also his 12th receiving touchdown of the season, tying him with Ricky Sanders for the franchise record set back in 1988.
The turning point came when Eagles' starting quarterback Jalen Hurts exited the game early due to injury. Hurts sustained the injury during the first quarter after being tackled hard by Luvu and fellow linebacker Bobby Wagner. Hurts initially returned to the sideline but was later ruled out due to concussion protocol, causing significant concern among Eagles fans.
With Hurts out of the game, Pickett took the reins but soon made his own mistakes. After successfully orchestrated drives, he threw an interception, allowing the Commanders to make significant gains and score again, cutting the Eagles' lead.
Despite the Commanders’ significant turnover issues—totaling five turnovers throughout the game—they managed to maintain composure. Daniels continued to show his skill, tossing five touchdown passes, thrilling Commanders fans as they watched their team claw back to take the lead late.
With just six seconds left on the clock, Daniels connected with Crowder once again for his fifth touchdown pass—a decisive nine-yard strike. Following the successful two-point conversion, this gave the Commanders their first lead of the game at 36-33.
The Eagles, now with time running out, tried to rally back, but their chances were dashed as Washington's defense held firm. The climax of the game saw the Eagles falling short, having to wait to officially clinch the NFC East title.
Washington’s victory moved them to 10-5 for the season, showing tremendous resilience against one of the top teams in the league. Meanwhile, the Eagles dropped to 12-3, with looming questions about their playoff strategies and roster health, particularly surrounding the status of their quarterback Jalen Hurts.
All eyes will be on Hurts’ status as the Eagles prepare for the rest of the season, with fans hoping for his quick recovery before the playoffs begin. Meanwhile, for the Commanders, the momentum from this thrilling win could be exactly the boost needed as they push for postseason glory.
