Eagles Fall 24-17 to Commanders, Drop to 3-Seed Ahead of 49ers Clash

At a Glance

• Eagles entered Week 18 aiming for No. 2 seed but fell short.
• They lost 24-17 to the Commanders, now 3-seed.
• Next Sunday: 49ers, 6-seed, at Lincoln Financial Field.
• Why it matters: Playoff position and matchup set.

The Philadelphia Eagles lost 24-17 to the Washington Commanders in the season finale, dropping to the third seed in the NFC and setting up a Sunday showdown with the San Francisco 49ers.

Quarterback Performance

Tanner McKee completed 21 of 40 passes for 241 yards, one touchdown and an interception, giving him a 68.9 passer rating.

• 21 completions / 40 attempts
• 241 yards
• 1 TD
• 1 INT
• 68.9 rating
• Grade: C-

Running Back

Tank Bigsby carried the ball 16 times for 75 yards and a touchdown, including a career-long 31-yard reception.

• 16 attempts
• 75 yards
• 1 TD
• 31-yard catch
• Grade: B+

Receiver

DeVonta Smith had 3 catches on 4 targets for 52 yards, reaching the 1,000-yard mark with 1,008 yards for the season.

• 3 catches / 4 targets
• 52 yards
• 1,008 season yards
• Grade: B-

Tight End

Grant Calcaterra caught 2 passes on 3 targets for 21 yards, including a 15-yard touchdown, before an injury halted his play.

• 2 catches / 3 targets
• 21 yards
• 1 TD
• Grade: B-

Offensive Line

Right guard Tyler Steen started; the line lineup shifted during the game, with rookie Cameron Williams added. Performance was limited by a group of backups.

• Starter: Tyler Steen
• Line shifts: Pryor to guard, rookie Williams added
• Grade: B

Defensive Line

Jalyx Hunt recorded 2 tackles, 1 interception, 1 fumble recovery and 1 pass-blocked attempt, his third interception of the season.

• 2 tackles
• 1 INT
• 1 FR
• 1 PBU
• Grade: B-

Linebacker

Jeremiah Trotter Jr. made 12 tackles, 2 quarterback hits and 1 forced turnover.

• 12 tackles
• 2 QB hits
• 1 TFL
• Grade: B

Secondary

Michael Carter II had 9 tackles, but backup corners incurred numerous penalties: defensive holds and pass interferences totaling 83 yards.

• 9 tackles
• Penalties: 5, 23, 5, 29, 4, 32 yards
• Grade: D+

Special Teams

Jake Elliott was perfect on kicks, making 1/1 field goal and 2/2 PATs. Braden Mann punted 3 times for 115 yards; Britain Covey returned 2 punts for 20 yards; Will Shipley returned 2 kicks for 55 yards.

• 1/1 FG, 2/2 PAT
• 3 punts, 115 yards
• 2 punt returns, 20 yards
• 2 kick returns, 55 yards
• Grade: B+

Coaching

Nick Sirianni’s 11-6 record earned a D+ grade for his decisions during the game.

• 11-6 record
• Grade: D+

Key Takeaways

• Eagles fall 24-17 to Commanders, drop to 3-seed.
• Backup depth shines, especially Bigsby and Smith.
• Coaching decisions face scrutiny as playoffs loom.

The Eagles must rely on backup depth and coaching choices to secure a win against the 49ers.

Source: Michael A. Turner – News Of Philadelphia