EAGLES LOSE CHANCE FOR NO. 2 SEED AFTER LOSS TO COMMANDERS

Eagles linebacker Brandon Graham talks at his locker after their 24-17 loss to the Washington Commanders. Photo by Al Thompson

People who get paid big money to make decisions that affect the direction of large businesses must live with the outcome of those decisions – good or bad.

Eagles head coach Nick Sirianni made the decision to sit the majority of his starters – with the biggest chunk of his stars on the bench coming from the offensive side of the ball.

He did this knowing his team had a legitimate chance to grab the No. 2 seed in the upcoming NFC playoffs.

To move up, the No. 2 seed coming into the regular season finale, the Chicago Bears, had to lose to the eliminated Detroit Lions and the No. 3 seed Eagles needed to defeat the eliminated Washington Commanders.

The Bears lost on a Jake Bates 42-yard field goal with 1:41 left in the fourth quarter.

The Birds lost to the Commanders, 24-17, who were led by their third-string quarterback Josh Johnson.

The Eagles will face the San Francisco 49ers (12-5) next Sunday (4:25PM FOX) on Wild Card weekend.

Of course, the first question posed to the head coach at his press conference was result of that decision to sit his best players have worked out any worse?

“No. Again, you go through your process, you make what you think is the best decision for the football team, and that’s what we did,” Sirianni said. “I knew this was an outcome, that these things could happen.

“Like I said to you guys, one thing I could guarantee was giving them rest. I couldn’t guarantee anything else. Us being healthy and going into the playoffs healthy is a big deal for us and that’s served us well in the past.

“Again, I know there’ll be debate on that, but I have to do what I think’s best for the football team moving forward, and that’s what I did.”

The coach was asked if there were any bright spots from what he saw during the game. His team committed nine penalties for 123 yards including several pass interference calls.

“Yeah, I mean, I’ve got to go back and watch the tape, but there were a lot of good things,” he said. “A lot of guys made a lot of plays, and they ended up making more plays than we did and obviously won the game.

“But yeah, of course there were some bright spots. Some guys got a lot of good time against a well-respected opponent and that will serve us well moving forward as well, the reps that some of these guys got.

Commanders quarterback Josh Johnson looked good on their opening drive. But Eagles defense stalled the drive at their own 16-yard-line.

The Birds (11-6) got a big break when Jake Moody missed a 24-yard field goal that would be expected at the high school level to be successful.

Things looked good the Birds on their second drive as the Eagles took 7-0 lead with 13:37 left in the second quarter when QB2 Tanner McKee passed to Grant Calcaterra down the middle for 15-yard touchdown.

There were plays quarterback Tanner McKee would like to have back. Photo by Andy Lewis.

EAGLES WERE THEIR OWN WORST ENEMY

The Commanders got help from the Eagles backups in the secondary on their next drive.

Johnson led a drive to the Eagles 24-yard line. On third-and-nine, the Birds had a chance to force Washington to settle for a field goal attempt.

But pass interference was called on cornerback Jakorian Bennett while defending Treylon Burks in the end zone.

Two plays later Chris Rodriguez Jr. rushed up the middle for 1 yard touchdown.

McKee looked solid on the next drive, rolling downfield starting from their 35-yard line.

Then play-calling got in the way at the doorstep into the end zone.

Eagles had third and two at the Washington six. Instead of handing the ball off to Tank Bigsby, who accounted for 37-yards on the drive, Sirianni and Kevin Patullo decided call two pass plays that went nowhere.

Instead, The Eagles turned the ball on downs.

At this time, Detroit had taken a 13-0 lead over the Bears.

The Eagles had not stopped the Josh Johnson-led offense at all this game.

Until edge rusher Jaylx Hunt just picked off Johnson early on the Commanders next drive.

The Birds had a first and ten at the Washington 22.

McKee passed to Darius Cooper down the middle for 17-yard gain, he was tackled by Jonathan Jones at the Commanders five-yard line.

But the backup receiver was called for taunting…a 15-yard penalty that move the ball out of the red zone.

Two plays later McKee threw an interception to Jeremy Reaves at the one-yard line. Reaves ran it back 28-yard.

The Eagles defense – which was missing starters Nakobe Dean and Marcus Epps due to injury and Pro Bowlers Jalen Carter, Cooper DeJean, Zack Baun and Quinyon Mitchell plus Reed Blankenship for rest - could not stop Johnson and the Commanders offense.

Moody hit a 56-yard field goal to give the visitors a 10-7 lead at the half.

Detroit led Chicago 13-0 at the half. Bad omen it turned out to be.

Center Drew Kendall drew praise for his performance against the Commanders. Photo by Andy Lewis.

THE EAGLES COULD NOT PULL AWAY IN THE SECOND HALF

The Eagles took a 14-10 lead on a two-yard run by Bigsby at the 6:33 mark of the third quarter.

The 28-yard drive was set up by a fumbled snap by Johnson and recovered by Hunt.

The Birds made it 17-10 on a 38-yard Jake Elliott field goal with thirty seconds left in the third.

But the fourth quarter was all Washington.

Tight end John Bates scored on a two-yard pass from Johnson who finished 14 of 22 for 131 yards.

Johnson put the Commanders up 24-17 with 2:32 left in the fourth on a two-yard run.

KcKee finished 21 of 40 for 241 yards, one TD pass, one interception and a QB rating of 68.9.

He was sacked three times.

The third-year signal caller talked about his performance.

“Obviously, the first reaction is frustrating just because no matter how you perform, you always just want to get one in the win column, and so immediately, it stings for a little bit,” McKee said. “People always say, ‘let it sting for 24 hours and then move on.’ So, it's definitely hurting a little bit right now.

“Then, we're just going to go watch some film and have a lot of really good things to learn from.

“Me specifically, just dumb mistakes or different things that we can learn from. The good thing is it's never going to happen again.

“The bad thing is you got to learn from it by losing, unfortunately. So, if we can move on and not make those same mistakes again, then it'll be worth it.”

The Eagles defense did not record a sack of Johnson.

Eagles rookie defensive lineman Ty Robinson, who looked to make progress from the extra reps, looked dejected at his locker after the game. He talked about it.

“It's always disappointing when you lose, but the great thing is you get to review the film tomorrow, correct the things that need to be corrected,” said Robinson, who recorded three tackle assists and a quarterback hit. “Here we are...in the final push for the season. This is my first season, so I'm excited to see the guys around me and how we take care of business at a time like this.”

Robinson was asked if it stung worse know the Bears lost.

“You know, at the end of the day...two or three (seed) don't matter. The goal is to get to the final game. We're going to get there somehow. That's all that matters. We've just got to keep working.”

BRANDON GRAHAM TRIED TO KEEP THINGS POSITIVE POSTGAME

Veteran linebacker Brandon Graham was asked if resting so many players was worth it now that the Eagles blew a seeding opportunity.

“It's valuable because- honestly – you get a week to get your body together, especially if you've been dealing with some stuff,” Graham said. “We're just thankful to be in the postseason picture.

"A lot of people are going to be having their exit meetings tomorrow, so we're not worried about anything. We're trying to win every game of course. We came up short today. Thankful we get everybody back next week."

Graham said the objective was to win Sunday.

“It don't matter, we're going to try and win every game,” he said. “First one is at home. We'll take care of business and move on to the next one. We've got to stay together; make sure we put a great week of practice up and fire our shots next weekend.”

Did the team know Chicago was in trouble against the Lions?

“We did,” Graham said. “But we tried to make it about this game. Do what we're supposed to do.

“Either way, whether it's two or three…I’m thankful to be in the tossup of the postseason. I know these guys are going to be ready to play against whoever we play.”

Graham was told at that point it was the 49ers. He was asked what player came to mind when he heard the name of the team.

“Christian McCaffrey” he said.

“That's their organization and how they deal with certain things. Resting their players. They made a call. I don't know how detrimental it will end up being, you know what I mean?" - Commanders O-lineman Andrew Wylie on the Eagles resting their players. Photo from Wikipedia.

THEY WEREN’T POPPING CHAMGAGNE BOTTLES; BUT THE COMMANDERS LOCKER ROOM WAS A HAPPY ONE

Washington veteran interior lineman Andrew Wylie, a two-time Super Bowl champion with Kansas City was asked about the mentality of a spoiler. Was that part of the incentive to give it all?

“Yeah, for sure,” Wylie said at his locker after the game. “It's like people can say whatever, there's always something to play for.

“Whether it's metaphorical, playing for your pride, love of the game, playing for the guys next to you...there's so many reasons why every game means so much.”

Wylie seemed to warm up to the subject the more he talked

“I've been on the same team with Nick (Allegretti-who is watching this interview over Wylie's shoulder) now for six years and this was my first start next to him. That was special to me (Allegretti - who was a teammate of Wylie in Kansas City - now breaks a big smile). I really want to get this win for little cool stuff like that.”

Did they know about the Bears thing?

“That's their organization and how they deal with certain things,” Wylie said. “Resting their players. They made a call. I don’t know how detrimental it will end up being, you know what I mean?”

Was the Eagles potentially taking you guys lightly affect your attitude towards the game?

“For sure,” Wylie said. “We know this team doesn't show us that much respect...and so…when that comes around, you can't make a team respect you. You've just got to go out there and fight to win. And that's what we did.”

It does remain to be seen how this loss affects the Eagles playoff hopes. *

Email Al Thompson at al.thompson@footballstories.com