In the end, this was how NFC East had to be won.
In a sloppy game, with stagnant offenses and questionable coach decisions, the Washington Football Team made the playoffs with a 20-14 victory over the Philadelphia Eagles on Sunday night. The game ended the regular NFL season and put a merciful end to the NFC East, which crowned a 7-9 champion with Washington’s victory.
By winning the division, Washington eliminated the New York Giants, who stayed alive for a playoff spot after improving to 6-10 with a victory over the Dallas Cowboys on Sunday. The Giants swept Washington and held the tie, but ended the season one game behind their division rivals and out of the playoffs.
Washington will host 11-5 Bucs
Washington won fourth place in the NFC and will host a playoff game on Saturday against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, who finished four games ahead of Washington 11-5.
Sloppy game, a suitable ending to the East NFC game
Washington threatened to flee with the game on top, opening a 10-0 lead in the first quarter. The Eagles responded with 14 unanswered points in two touchdown races by quarterback Jalen Hurts.
From that point on, the game was largely a comedy of mistakes, setbacks and bizarre decisions. Despite scoring Philadelphia’s only offensive points, Hurts did not end the game, replaced by Doug Pederson in the fourth period for newsman Nate Sudfeld.
Hurts completed 7 of 20 passes for 72 yards and a touchdown. Sudfeld completed 5 of 12 passes for 32 yards and an interception. Carson Wentz watched from the sidelines in normal clothes as he was a healthy scratch.
Philadelphia’s ineptitude allowed Washington to overcome its own multitude of errors, which included two interceptions by Alex Smith and a pair of fumbles that they managed to jump before the Eagles.
What was Doug Pederson thinking?
Smith’s second interception threatened to turn the tide in favor of Philadelphia. With Washington winning 17-14 in the third quarter, Marcus Epps pulled out a pass for running back JD McKissic to set the Eagles down first on Washington’s 15-yard line.
The Eagles ended up winning nothing with the turnaround. Washington stopped the Eagles in third at the 4-yard line, setting a seemingly simple field goal to tie the game at 17.
Instead, Pederson rolled the dice and Hurts’ fourth down pass to the end zone was incomplete.
In the next possession, Pederson replaced Hurts with Sudfeld, a fourth-year professional who launched 25 career passes and has not fired since 2018. The change came as expected.
Sudfeld was not the answer about Hurts
Sudfeld’s second pass was a reckless floater on the field in the third to five that safety Jeremy Reaves intercepted. In Philadelphia’s next possession, he failed to corner a low snap that resulted in a fumble and another Eagles turn.
Sudfeld was not a viable option to execute the Eagles’ attack. Despite his difficulties in passing, Hurts was able to make moves with his feet and gave the Eagles a better chance of winning.
While one might point to Pederson’s mantra of playing aggressively on the analytical graph for the questionable decision to get around a field goal, the change in center back had many angrily and asked if Pederson was really trying to win the game.
NBC’s Cris Collinswoth and Al Michaels are among them.
“Al, I couldn’t have done that,” said Collinsworth in the final minute of the game. “I couldn’t have done what Philadelphia did. I just couldn’t have done that.
“You have men out there who are fighting their guts trying to win the game, and I’m not saying, not blaming anyone. I personally could not have done what they did. “
“I agree in the circumstances, absolutely,” replied Michaels. “If you are exploding, yes. We mentioned yesterday, Doug said he wanted to put Sudfeld in the game. Under this circumstance? We will.”
The Eagles dropped to 4-11-1 with the loss and will pick sixth in the April NFL draft.
Great opportunity for young Washington defense
For Washington, the victory guarantees his first playoff berth since the 2015 season. Even amid the inept circumstances of NFC East, it is a remarkable achievement in a season that saw Washington try to turn the page on its recent and historic past.
This marks the first season of the franchise by the “Washington Football Team”. It’s the first season of the Ron Rivera era, which could really point to a shift in power from team owner Daniel Snyder.
And that marks the first season in a long time when there is a base on the football field to build. Despite the team’s offensive misfortunes and the quarterback’s lack of response, Washington’s defense has emerged as a legitimate force after years of capital invested in the top seven.
Chase Young and Montez Sweat look like stars and will have a spotlight on Saturday night with a chance to take down Tom Brady.
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