LANDOVER, Md. -- The Philadelphia Eagles hold important ground as they face the Washington Commanders, leading 21-14 at halftime. But the game's narrative shifted dramatically when quarterback Jalen Hurts suffered a concussion during the first quarter. Following a 13-yard run, Hurts was pulled by the official for evaluation and, after attempting to return, was ruled out and sent to the locker room.
With Hurts on the sidelines, Kenny Pickett stepped up as the Eagles' quarterback amid the tension of the moment. Still, it was running back Saquon Barkley who stole the spotlight with his explosive play, scoring on a remarkable 68-yard touchdown run early on. Barkley tallied 122 rushing yards by halftime, boosting his seasonal total to 1,810 and drawing him closer to Eric Dickerson's single-season rushing record of 2,105 yards.
Before the halftime whistle, Jake Elliott attempted to extend the Eagles' lead with a 56-yard field goal but missed, finishing the half at 0 for 6 on field goals over 50 yards this season. Philadelphia could clinch the NFC East and secure the No. 2 seed with this victory.
On the Commanders' side, quarterback Jayden Daniels kept the game competitive with his 32-yard touchdown pass to Terry McLaurin, closing the gap to 21-14. Daniels threw two touchdown passes and one interception, aiming to lead his team to overcome the Eagles on their home field.
Brian Robinson Jr. faced significant challenges, fumbling twice and being stopped on a fourth-and-1 attempt, which accentuated Washington's struggles to gain momentum. Nonetheless, the team's spirit remained high as they pushed back against the Eagles' formidable performance.
Looking at the injury report heading to this matchup on December 22, 2024, the Eagles had several key players listed, including Hurts, who was marked as 'unknown' for his finger injury sustained earlier. The team also needs to address the status of key players, such as DeVonta Smith and A.J. Brown, whose contribution could be pivotal for the remaining games of the season.
Meanwhile, the Commanders, having fought hard with a record of 9-5 against the Eagles, are determined to prove their mettle this season. They're gearing up for the rematch on December 22, right after the festive break, at Commanders Field. With everything at stake, local excitement is expected to surge.
Game details for the upcoming match are as follows:
- Date: Sunday, December 22, 2024
- Time: 1 p.m. ET
- Location: Commanders Field, Landover, Maryland
- TV: FOX
- Spread Favorite: Eagles (-4.5)
- Total Points: 46.5
The Eagles have dominated the recent head-to-head matchups, winning four out of the last five encounters with Washington, often outscoring them by significant margins. This historical dominance lays the groundwork for Philadelphia's confidence heading forward.
With players like Barkley chasing historical records and the stakes exceptionally high, fans can't wait to see what this Philadelphia Eagles vs. Washington Commanders matchup will deliver.
