Story by
Saquon Barkley, Cowboys biggest winners, losers from Eagles-Commanders
- Story by
- Saquon Barkley, Cowboys biggest winners, losers from Eagles-Commanders
LANDOVER, MD – The Philadelphia Eagles' title defense this season has occurred amid myriad issues, many of them internal. But the reigning NFL champions have at least now officially earned the right to compete for another Super Bowl berth.
Though it was hardly pretty at times – pretty much par for the course the way this year has gone – Philly defeated the Washington Commanders 29-18 on Dec. 20, securing another NFC East title and officially qualifying for the 2025 playoffs .
Advertisement
As for Saturday's subplots beyond the final score? Let's divvy those up to spell out this game's winners and losers, which extended well beyond the nation's capital:
WINNERS
Eagles
Duh. Philadelphia struggled to put away an undermanned Commanders squad that it manhandled in last season's NFC championship game and trailed 10-7 at halftime. But the Eagles finally pulled away in the second half to lock up the division, the first team in 2025 to do so. Longshots to get the conference's No. 1 seed, Philadelphia should have some level of flexibility as it approaches the final two games – the Eagles are almost certain to wind up with the second or third seed, and it seems like some key players could be rested in the short term.
Advertisement
Saquon Barkley
This season has certainly been a struggle to Philly's star back relative to his 2,000-yard rushing effort in 2024. But with just his third 100-yard effort of the season, Barkley did reach the 1,000-yard plateau Saturday – the first time he's done it in back-to-back seasons since 2018 and '19 – his first two years with the New York Giants .
Jalen Hurts
Coolly efficient with two touchdown passes and nary a turnover, he appears to be settling back into the do-whatever-it-takes-form that wound up earning him Super Bowl MVP honors 10 months ago.
LOSERS
Dallas Cowboys
For some, the long national nightmare is over. For others, their slim holiday hopes have been dashed. But the Eagles' win officially knocked "America's Team" out of playoff contention .
Advertisement
NFC East hex
In one of the league's quirkier stats this century, Philadelphia became the first team to win consecutive NFC East titles since the Eagles last did it in 2003 and '04.
Commanders' 'home' crowd
It's been a rough season outside the Beltway … a rough three decades for that matter. But the Washington fans apparently opted to revert to recent form, getting a jump on their holiday shopping and letting the pro-Philly crowd largely take over Northwest Stadium.
Jake Elliott
He did his best to keep the game interesting early on, missing a pair of second-quarter field goals – three if you count the fact he got two cracks at hitting one before halftime after a Washington offside penalty gave him a second crack at it … but wide left twice.
Advertisement
Washington quarterbacks
Superstar Jayden Daniels ? Inactive Saturday – and for the rest of the season. Backup Marcus Mariota ? Evaluated for a concussion in the second half and injured his right (throwing) hand, which forced him out of the lineup. Third-stringer Josh Johnson? He took over for Mariota and threw an ill-advised interception at the end of the third quarter that ultimately set up Barkley's 12-yard touchdown run – effectively the game's knockout punch.
Tyler Steen , Quan Martin and Javon Kinlaw
The Eagles guard, Commanders safety and defensive tackle, respectively, all got ejected after the Eagles went up 29-10 after a two-point run by Barkley with 4:26 to go. Never understood guys who throw punches at helmeted men.
Advertisement
'Tush Push'
It's been ineffective of late, especially so on Saturday − when Philly's signature scrum either wasn't converting or, instead, was drawing penalty flags. Hurts' pair of TD passes largely masked the issue, but can he continue doing that into January?
All NFL news on and off the field. Sign up for USA TODAY's 4th and Monday newsletter .
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Saquon Barkley rolls, Cowboys eliminated as Eagles top Commanders
