Dec 22, 2024; Landover, Maryland, USA; Washington Commanders quarterback Jayden Daniels (5) celebrates after throwing the game winning touchdown during the fourth quarter against the Philadelphia Eagles at Northwest Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Peter Casey-Imagn Images Peter Casey
If you had any remaining questions, Sunday made it clear — the Washington Commanders franchise is no longer a laughingstock. Quarterback Jayden Daniels has superstar potential, and it was on full display Sunday, as Washington snapped a 10-game winning streak for the Eagles in an instant classic.
Daniels threw for five touchdowns, while adding another 81 rushing yards on the ground. This all came while Kenny Picket struggled in the absence of Jalen Hurts, who departed in the first quarter with a concussion.
Even still, the Eagles had a chance to seal the game late in the fourth quarter if DeVonta Smith had caught a pass from Pickett that would have given them a first down heading into the two-minute warning. On a cold day in Landover, Maryland, Smith wasn't able to hold on, and the Eagles had to settle for a Jake Elliot field goal that increased their lead to 33-28:
DEVONTA SMITH OH NO pic.twitter.com/Zt05o9KafX
Daniels got the ball back and led the Commanders on a nine-play, 57-yard drive that ended with him finding veteran wide receiver Jamison Crowder for the game-winning touchdown pass. With a successful two-point conversion added on, the Commanders won 36-33 and handed the Eagles their first loss since September. Daniels is a problem, and the Eagles suddenly don't have as rosy of an outlook with the postseason approaching.
Here's four other takeaways from today's game.
Hurts left the game in the first quarter after taking this hit on a 13-yard run:
Jalen Hurts being evaluated for a concussion after this hit.
pic.twitter.com/gi409aOKxz
— On Pattison (@OnPattison) December 22, 2024
Though it initially appeared after coming out of the medical tent that Hurts — who still had his helmet — would return to the game, he instead went back to the locker room for further evaluation from the independent neurotrauma consultant. He wouldn't return, as he was ruled out for the game during the second quarter with a concussion.
Pickett came in and initially finished off a touchdown drive where he hooked up with A.J. Brown for a four-yard touchdown pass:
The OPEN sign is on 🪧@1kalwaysopen_ | #FlyEaglesFly pic.twitter.com/f9hE5edEWp
However, Pickett struggled for most of the rest of the day, with the most effective passing play for much of the second half being throwing the ball in Brown's direction and hoping Washington cornerback Marshon Lattimore would commit pass interference. Pickett completed 14 of 24 passes, and appeared to get banged up himself in the second half.
Pickett is a former first-round pick, but there's a reason that the Pittsburgh Steelers moved on from him after just two years. Certainly, he's a downgrade from Hurts. Greg Olsen also pointed out on the FOX broadcast that the tush push becomes a much less viable play with Pickett under center, as opposed to Hurts. His pocket awareness for much of the day was brutal.
It wouldn't be unprecedented for Hurts to clear concussion protocol in time for next week's game against the Dallas Cowboys, but one would think he has an uphill battle to do so. If Hurts can't go, it will likely be Pickett with Tanner McKee as his backup.
Given the incredible seasons that both Josh Allen and Lamar Jackson have had — and the reality that quarterbacks almost always win the honor — it's become increasingly difficult to see a path for Barkley to win NFL MVP.
But Barkley still performed at an MVP level in the first quarter, rushing for 109 yards and two touchdowns, including this 68-yard touchdown:
Over 100 rushing yards in...
*checks notes*
THE FIRST QUARTER!@saquon | #ProBowlVote pic.twitter.com/bkzqjvTQ7i
Dan Quinn's defense held Barkley in check for the remainder of the game, as he finished the day with 159 rushing yards on 29 carries. Obviously, Hurts coming out of the game made it much easier for the Commanders to sell out to keep Barkley from continuing to dominant the game.
Even if wasn't his most efficient performance of the season — particularly considering how great of a start he got off to in the first quarter — Barkley still has 1,847 rushing yards this season. He's likely to become the ninth running back in NFL history to rush for 2,000 yards. Eric Dickerson's single-season rushing record of 2,105 yards is probably safe, but you never know. At the very least, Barkley is going to be a First-Team All-Pro, and he has a real shot to be the Offensive Player of the Year.
His fourth game of 150+ rushing yards this season wasn't enough to win Sunday, though.
Entering the day, the Eagles were one of three teams with a 12-2 record competing for the No. 1 seed in the NFC, which comes with a first-round bye and home-field advantage throughout the postseason. The other two were the Detroit Lions and Minnesota Vikings.
Sunday's events — including the Eagles dropping to 12-3 — make Philadelphia getting the No. 1 seed in the NFC extremely unlikely.
The Lions throttled the lowly Chicago Bears Sunday to move to 13-2.
The Vikings game in Seattle against the Seahawks kicked off 4:05 ET.
Detroit will host the Minnesota in Week 18, which may very well decide who wins the NFC North. Depending upon what the Lions (vs. San Francisco 49ers) and Vikings (vs. Green Bay Packers) do in Week 17, it may determine the No. 1 seed in the NFC. The Eagles haven't played the Lions or Vikings this season, so the first tie-breaker if they finish with the same record will be conference record. The Eagles are now 7-3 vs. NFC opponents. The Lions are 9-1. So if both teams finish with the same record, the Lions would have the tiebreaker over the Eagles. The Vikings were 7-2 entering the day against NFC teams.
This is a situation where the best mindset for the Eagles is trying to control what they can control. The most likely scenario right now is that they will be the No. 2 seed in the NFC. There are worst fates than having your first two postseason games at Lincoln Financial Field before potentially having to go to Detroit or Minnesota in the NFC Title Game.
The Eagles will host the Cowboys next Sunday, and they'll do so while wearing their Kelly Green uniforms. It remains to be seen who will be at quarterback for the Eagles.
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