The Philadelphia Eagles faced a challenging Sunday in Landover, Maryland, as injuries to quarterbacks Jalen Hurts and Kenny Pickett contributed to a “sloppy” 36-33 loss against the Washington Commanders. This defeat snapped the Eagles’ 10-game win streak and significantly diminished their chances of securing the NFC’s top playoff seed.
Jalen Hurts exited early in the first quarter after suffering a concussion when his head collided with the turf during a 13-yard run. Coach Nick Sirianni provided no immediate updates on Hurts’ condition, saying, “I haven’t talked to the medical staff yet, so I don’t have any updates on any of that stuff.”
Kenny Pickett, stepping in for Hurts, completed 14 of 24 passes for 143 yards, throwing one touchdown and one interception. However, he sustained a rib injury in the fourth quarter while being tackled by linebacker Bobby Wagner. Despite the injury, Pickett engineered a drive that led to a go-ahead field goal late in the game. Pickett’s post-game comments confirmed further testing on his ribs would occur Monday.
The Eagles held a 33-28 lead after adding another field goal, but Washington responded with a last-minute touchdown, ending Philadelphia’s hopes of clinching the NFC East title in Week 16. Wide receiver A.J. Brown, who recorded eight catches for 97 yards and a touchdown, expressed optimism about Pickett’s performance, saying, “I’m happy that [Pickett] came in because that gives him confidence … he got the experience.”
The loss left Philadelphia with a 12-3 record and only a 4% chance of earning the NFC’s No. 1 seed. For this to happen, the Eagles must win their remaining games against the Cowboys and Giants while relying on the Lions (13-2) and Vikings (13-2) to falter.
In a rare outcome, Philadelphia became only the second team in the Super Bowl era to lose while scoring 30 points, rushing for 200 yards, and forcing five turnovers. “Just sloppy,” admitted Sirianni, citing penalties, fundamental errors, and a blown coverage that allowed a 49-yard touchdown.
Despite the setbacks, running back Saquon Barkley emphasized the team’s focus, stating, “We’re not going to panic … we’ll stay locked in and finish the season strong.”
