At a Glance
- Eagles lose 24-17 to Commanders, drop to 3rd NFC seed
- Eagles will host 49ers (12-5) in the wild-card round at Lincoln Financial Field
- 49ers fell to 6th seed after losing 13-3 to Seahawks
- Why it matters: The loss reshapes the NFC playoff picture and sets up Eagles’ first wild-card matchup.
By Robert K. Lawson from News Of Philadelphia
The Eagles finished the regular season with a 24-17 loss to the Washington Commanders, falling to the No. 3 seed in the NFC and setting up a wild-card game against the No. 6-seeded San Francisco 49ers at Lincoln Financial Field next week. The game time is expected to be released tonight, and the loss reshapes the playoff landscape.
Eagles’ Season Finale Loss
The Eagles were defeated 24-17 by the Commanders in the regular-season finale, ending their campaign and moving them to the No. 3 seed in the NFC. The defeat came after a Week 18 effort focused on using backups to try to beat Washington.
The team will now host the 49ers, who finished 12-5, in the wild-card round. The 49ers had a chance for the No. 1 seed but lost 13-3 to the Seahawks, dropping to the No. 6 seed.
- Eagles will face the 49ers, Rams, and Packers in the wild-card round
- 49ers finished 12-5, ranked No. 7 offense, No. 20 defense
- Eagles’ loss to Commanders set them as the No. 3 seed
Coaching Strategy
Nick Sirianni emphasized the importance of preparing backup players and using extra time to ready all potential opponents.
Nick Sirianni stated:
> “You do that anyway at this time of year… you’re doing everything you can do… If we do go the route of not playing some guys, as a coach, you better be doing everything you can do to help the guys that haven’t played as much be ready to play that game. You might make more time for that at the end of the week. I say of course because you might make more time [for that] at the end of the week.”
49ers’ Season Context
The 49ers entered Week 18 with a No. 7-ranked offense and a No. 20-ranked defense in the NFL. Their recent loss to the Seahawks and the Eagles’ season finale have positioned both teams for a high-stakes wild-card matchup.
| Team | Seed | Record | Last Meeting |
|---|---|---|---|
| 49ers | 6 | 12-5 | Lost 13-3 to Seahawks |
| Eagles | 3 | – | Lost 24-17 to Commanders |
The Eagles and 49ers last met in Week 13 of the 2023 season, when the 49ers beat Philadelphia 42-19, a loss that started the Eagles’ downfall that year. They also faced off in the 2022 NFC Championship Game, where the Eagles defeated the 49ers 31-7 to advance to Super Bowl LXII.
Key Takeaways
- Eagles drop to 3rd seed after 24-17 loss to Commanders
- Eagles will host 49ers in the wild-card round
- 49ers fell to 6th seed after 13-3 loss to Seahawks
The outcome of the Eagles’ final regular-season game sets the stage for a thrilling wild-card clash that could define the NFC’s playoff trajectory.
