Contending for the NFC's No. 2 seed, Eagles seek familiar sweep of Commanders
- - Contending for the NFC's No. 2 seed, Eagles seek familiar sweep of Commanders
Field Level MediaJanuary 2, 2026 at 1:36 AM
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Dec 20, 2025; Landover, Maryland, USA; Philadelphia Eagles quarterback Jalen Hurts (1) prepares for a snap against the Washington Commanders during the second half at Northwest Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Amber Searls-Imagn Images (Amber Searls-Imagn Images)
The NFC East champion Philadelphia Eagles will attempt to sweep the visiting Washington Commanders for the sixth time in nine seasons on Sunday afternoon.
The Eagles (11-5) won both meetings with Washington (4-12) in 2017, 2018, 2019, 2021 and 2023 and registered a 29-18 victory two weeks ago in Landover, Md.
The rematch features a familiar Week 18 NFL storyline with both teams wrestling with whether to play their starters.
The Eagles still have a chance to secure the No. 2 seed in the NFC -- if they beat the Commanders and Chicago loses to Detroit -- but reportedly are planning to rest their regulars for the wild-card round. At worst, they will have the No. 3 seed.
The Commanders have lost 10 of their last 11 games and have little to play for -- other than the proverbial pride and a few potential personal payouts -- and may decide to give younger players a chance to audition for 2026.
The Philadelphia Inquirer reported on Wednesday that the Eagles will sit quarterback Jalen Hurts and several starters. Eagles head coach Nick Sirianni told reporters Wednesday he still needed to speak with the team.
"We have a team meeting coming up. I haven't communicated that with our players, so I'll always talk to our players before," Sirianni said. "... (I'll) discuss it with them before I discuss it (with you)."
Tanner McKee, the Eagles' sixth-round pick in 2023, would be in line to make his second NFL start if Hurts rests. He also started in Week 18 last year, throwing for 269 yards and two TDs in a 20-13 win over the New York Giants. This season, McKee has completed 3 of 3 passes for 33 yards in three cameo appearances.
"He's really good about knowing where to go with the football, seeing the defense and being able to deliver things accurately," Sirianni said. "... He's able to sit in that meeting room with Jalen for hours upon hours a day just learning from him, and that's a big deal."
With Marcus Mariota (quad) considered a "long shot," in the words of head coach Dan Quinn, to return this week, Washington likely will give 39-year-old journeyman quarterback Josh Johnson his second straight start.
Johnson, who has only one win in 10 career starts since he was drafted in 2008, took over after Mariota sustained hand and quad injuries in the Week 16 loss to the Eagles. Johnson completed 15 of 23 passes for 198 yards with no touchdowns or interceptions in a 30-23 loss to the Dallas Cowboys on Christmas.
With Jayden Daniels shut down for the season, Washington's other options under center are veteran Jeff Driskel, who hasn't thrown a pass in two years, and untested Sam Hartman.
Even though the season has been a disappointment, Quinn said he loved seeing "the number of guys that are really hungry for this opportunity and chance to compete together" on Sunday.
"Obviously this game doesn't have the magnitude we hoped it would have when the schedule came out, but at the same time, we also recognize it's a really important opportunity for a lot on our roster, and so we don't take that lightly," Quinn said Wednesday.
At least a couple of veteran Commanders will be clamoring to play. Linebacker Von Miller needs one sack to trigger a $1 million bonus for reaching nine sacks. Wide receiver Deebo Samuel needs 93 receiving yards to claim a $450,000 bonus for 800 yards and two touchdowns to collect a $250,000 bonus for eight touchdowns.
Eagles running back Saquon Barkley needs 87 all-purpose yards to reach 1,500 and earn a $250,000 bonus.
Washington put center Tyler Biadasz (knee/ankle) on injured reserve Wednesday. Left tackle Laremy Tunsil (oblique) did not practice Wednesday and is doubtful to play Sunday. Also missing practice were running back Jacory Croskey-Merritt (illness) and linebacker Bobby Wagner (knee/rest).
Philadelphia right tackle Lane Johnson (foot), linebackers Nakobe Dean (hamstring) and Jaelan Phillips (ankle) and tight end Dallas Goedert (knee) did not practice Wednesday. Goedert leads the team with 11 TD receptions.
--Field Level Media
Source: “AOL Sports”
