PHILADELPHIA – Eagles coach Doug Pederson said he was “training to win” Sunday night’s regular season final against the Washington Football Team, despite pulling defender Jalen Hurts into a three-point game early in the game. fourth period in favor of Nate Sudfeld.
Pederson added that it was his decision alone and not influenced by the board, which saw the Eagles draft position improve as a result of the 20-14 defeat, which gave Washington the NFC East title. A Philadelphia win would deliver the New York Giants 6-10 to the division via a tiebreaker.
Pederson said the plan for Sunday night’s game was to give Sudfeld some playing time.
“Nate has been here for four years and I felt he deserved an opportunity to take some pictures,” said Pederson.
Pederson countered the idea that he was trying to lose the game by noting that veterans like Brandon Graham, Zach Ertz and Darius Slay played. However, receiver Alshon Jeffery and quarterback Carson Wentz were both healthy players, and the move from Hurts to Sudfeld was not about performance, according to Pederson.
Hurts finished 7 of 20 passes for 72 yards with an interception and two hurried touchdowns. He was pulled early in the quarter with Washington winning 17-14.
“As a competitor, I play to win,” said Hurts when asked if he was disappointed to have left the game. “You just have to trust the coach with this.”
The Eagles ended the season at 4-11-1 and secured their sixth choice in the April NFL draft. A victory would have taken them to the ninth place overall.