Jayden Daniels and the Commanders wouldn’t lay down.
No matter that they’d turned the ball over five times, their rookie quarterback throwing two interceptions and their skill players losing three more fumbles.
Daniels nonetheless lined up on second-and-goal with six seconds left to needle a poised touchdown to Jamison Crowder.
And when Daniels saw Jeremy McNichols separate from his defender on the two-point conversion? Daniels found his guy then, too.
In a 36-33 win over the Philadelphia Eagles, the Commanders improved to 10-5 with a 93 percent chance to make the playoffs in Daniels’ first year, per Next Gen Stats.
Washington also kept alive its bid for an NFC East title, which the Eagles would have secured with a win at FedEx Field. Instead, Philadelphia fell to 12-3 and a game behind the Detroit Lions in the race for the NFC playoff bye.
Daniels’ 339 total yards and five touchdowns powered the win.
The Eagles, on the other hand, lost quarterback Jalen Hurts to a concussion in the first quarter.
Hurts had scrambled for 22 yards on the first play of Philadelphia’s second series, so two snaps later he sought to capitalize yet again on the inside zone lanes.
He did — but as Hurts slid, his helmet hit linebacker Frankie Luvu’s helmet and then also the ground. He stood with what seemed to be a slight wobble, the look in Hurts’ eyes also drawing concern from officials.
Hurts was pulled from the game for evaluation by an unaffiliated neurological consultant and soon sent to the locker room as he tried to put his helmet back on. Midway through the second quarter, he was ruled out with a concussion.
The Eagles found themselves facing not only a change in quarterback but also a change in game plan. Without Hurts, their trademark quarterback sneak was far less guaranteed in the red zone. Short-yardage plays on fourth down were far less guaranteed, extending the earlier-down target yardage another yard or two.
Kenny Pickett started strong, finishing the drive that Hurts had begun with a four-yard touchdown pass to receiver A.J. Brown on a slant route.
But the Eagles’ backup quarterback’s next throw would not make it to Brown. Luvu faked as if he were covering out and then cut back in to jump the route. The Commanders turned the interception and short field into Crowder’s first touchdown on the day from Daniels.
It would be a while before they replayed that connection for the win.
Eagles started stronger than mistake-prone Commanders
Hurts’ injury was always going to hinder Philadelphia. But they maintained their lead for more than there quarters due to the other key contributors. It seemed they would find a way to finish despite Hurts’ absence.
Running back Saquon Barkley dominated in the first quarter with 109 yards and two touchdowns, the latter a 68-yard explosion up the left sideline after tight end C.J. Uzomah cleared a path lead-blocking.
In comparison, the Commanders’ top back Brian Robinson Jr. fumbled twice in the game’s first 17 minutes, Eagles defensive tackle Jalen Carter forcing the first while linebacker Nakobe Dean and Cooper DeJean wreaked havoc on the second.
Add in a Daniels pass that sailed over Luke McCaffrey and into cornerback C.J. Gardner-Johnson’s lap before halftime, and the game seemed like it could slip out of Washington’s reach.
But Pickett was too inconsistent to extend Philadelphia’s lead. The Eagles’ run game lost its edge without the constant threat of a dangerously mobile quarterback. Before halftime, kicker Jake Elliott attempted a 56-yard field goal — and missed from 50+ for the sixth time in six tries this season.
Eagles still kept their edge for most of second half
The early offensive resilience with Pickett did not continue into the second half. While the Eagles were cleaner than the turnover-prone Commanders, Philadelphia did not score a touchdown after halftime.
Four more field goals — including Elliott’s first 2024 make from 50 — and a punt nearly were enough to complement a defense that continued to destabilize Washington.
Receiver Dyami Brown lost the ball when linebacker Zack Baun’s tackle knocked it loose in the third quarter.
Daniels attempted a risky throw up the middle of the field with 3:06 to play, defensive lineman Josh Sweat’s hit knocking the pass just enough off course for cornerback Darius Slay to deflect it and safety Reed Blankenship to grab the interception.
Now the Commanders had turned the ball over five times, or six for those counting the failed fourth down they opened the game with, prompting a turnover on downs.
The Eagles would score off it, but only a field goal. Trailing by five points, the Commanders had a chance.
After all, Washington’s mistake-prone day was not without its highlights.
Daniels had sailed a 32-yard touchdown pass to Terry McLaurin in the second quarter on the same drive his powerful arm had hit Brown for 51. Daniels was pressured often on Sunday but also sharp in exploiting any sign of weakness. When Gardner-Johnson was disqualified after his second unsportsmanlike conduct penalty, the Commanders targeted his replacement and hit former Eagle Olamide Zaccheaus for two touchdowns.
On the latter, the Eagles mishandled their defensive substitutions, fielding 12 men which prompted cornerbacks to scramble in attempts for one to leave the field. Zaccheaus alerted Daniels, who heaved the ball his way for another explosive touchdown.
Daniels completed 24 of 39 passes for 258 yards, five touchdowns and two interceptions. He also led the Commanders with 81 rushing yards.
Pickett completed 14 of 24 passes or 143 yards, one touchdown and one interception in addition to 13 yards on three carries.
Hurts completed just one of four pass attempts (for 11 yards) before exiting, though he also scrambled for 41 yards.
Barkley led all skill players with 150 yards and two touchdowns, but picked up only 27 of those after halftime.
The Eagles host the Dallas Cowboys next week with another chance to clinch the division title. The Commanders host the Atlanta Falcons.
