Tempers flared Saturday late in a 29-18 Philadelphia Eagles victory over the Washington Commanders at Northwest Stadium.
Three players were ejected after a fight broke out with less than five minutes remaining in the fourth quarter: Eagles right guard Tyler Steen and a pair of Commanders defenders, defensive tackle Javon Kinlaw and safety Quan Martin.
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Chaos ensued following an Eagles two-point conversion that put them up 29-10.
Saquon Barkley, who used his signature jump cut and spin move combo to spring a 48-yard scamper earlier in the drive, found pay dirt again in the aftermath of a touchdown scored by fellow Philadelphia running back Tank Bigsby.
As Barkley returned to the sideline after breaking the plane for two points on a night when kicker Jake Elliott struggled mightily, a brawl took place behind him, all the way back near the end zone.
During the play, Commanders safety Will Harris stuck his hand up the grill of Eagles receiver Darius Cooper, who took issue with that and confronted Harris afterward. Things snowballed from there.
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Commanders cornerback Mike Sainristil tugged on Cooper as the receiver was backed up by Eagles offensive linemen Landon Dickerson and Fred Johnson, whom Commanders defensive tackle Daron Payne subsequently shoved.
Steen appeared to escalate the situation, throwing a jab at Sainristil, who swiped back but wasn’t ejected. Steen was then swarmed by Commanders players. Kinlaw swung, and so did Martin. Kinlaw was part of the group that brought Steen to the ground. Martin came away with Steen’s helmet.
Fox Sports’ Greg Olsen noted on the broadcast that, when the dust finally settled, there were six flags on the grass as well as an official’s hat.
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Sainristil was asked about the fight postgame.
“I don’t know. I just know that I saw my brothers out there, so I’m going to do everything to protect my brothers,” he said, via The Athletic’s Nicki Jhabvala.
Sainristil was asked if anything specific was said.
“Nah, no clue,” he said.
Barkley said afterward that neither team likes the other after their five games over the past two years.
“It’s chippy out there,” Barkley said. “We have a lot of history with this team, especially since I’ve been here, and then have it in the past. But this team don’t like us. This is the truth. We don’t like them either.”
The fight was ugly. So was the divisional clash at times. Elliott missed a pair of field goals in the first half. Both teams turned the ball over. Washington took on even more injuries.
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And yet, the Eagles emerged victorious. This Philadelphia group is the first team to win the NFC East in back-to-back seasons since the 2004 Eagles.
