LANDOVER, Md. — Don’t get caught up in the late-game tension when a two-point conversion turned footballers into fighters.

Meeting for the first time since January’s “Super Bowl or bust” game, the Washington Commanders once again fell to the Philadelphia Eagles, 29-18. With the win, Philadelphia became the first NFC East team to clinch division titles in consecutive seasons since its own 2001–04 stretch. Bully for them.

The fight, the two-point try, and the outrage were symptoms — not causes — of what actually unfolded Saturday night.

After toying with Washington in the first half, Philadelphia turned a 10-7 halftime deficit into a 29-10 lead with 4:26 remaining. There was nothing fancy about the 22-0 scoring surge. The better team strong-armed the weaker opponent. Though hardly the worst showing of this lost season, Washington, now 4-11, fell for the ninth time in 10 games.

“It certainly feels terrible to hear that record,” Commanders head coach Dan Quinn said postgame.

What seemingly had Quinn miffed the most — or at least riding shotgun with a sixth setback by at least 11 points since Week 7 — was Philadelphia (10-5) going for a two-point conversion to take a 19-point lead with 4:26 remaining. Eagles running back Saquon Barkley capped his latest highly productive performance against the Commanders’ defense with a two-point run after teammate Tank Bigsby scored on a 22-yard touchdown.

The two rivals immediately brawled. Punches were thrown. Shoving followed. Three players were ejected, including Washington defenders Javon Kinlaw and Quan Martin. Eagles offensive lineman Tyler Steen’s swinging sent him to the showers early.

Philadelphia’s decision to pass on the traditional extra point when it already held a three-score lead apparently angered various Commanders. Postgame questions in the Washington locker room centered on the fracas. It’s not like the game or the season was worth dissecting.

“Eagles vs. Commanders, man. That’s how it goes,” wide receiver Terry McLaurin said.

Indeed. These teams plain don’t like each other, and they shouldn’t. Sporting hatred can happen with a single incident. Saturday’s game was the 181st head-to-head battle. Animosity is the standard game-day vibe. Number 182 comes in Week 18 at Philadelphia.

But rivalry emotion only matters when competitive leverage exists — and right now, it doesn’t.

We all understand that injuries ravaged Washington’s season. Quarterback Jayden Daniels, who was ruled out for the season, and left tackle Laremy Tunsil were the latest stuck on the sideline. Backup quarterback Marcus Mariota exited in the second half with a hand injury. Thirty-nine-year-old third-stringer Josh Johnson entered and threw an interception on his fourth attempt.

Those realities explain the gap. Accept the scenario and loss. Most did. Emotions took the best of others on the field (though protecting teammates is a proper instinct). Quinn offered restraint — but his irritation was unmistakable. His handshake at midfield with Eagles head coach Nick Sirianni was shorter than Muggsy Bogues. He stood on the periphery as players interacted postgame, just in case.

“I just wanted to make sure that if I had to step in that I’d be able to bring my bouncing skills back,” Quinn cracked.

Otherwise, he quietly seethed during his postgame media availability.

“I can only answer from my side and what I would do,” Quinn said. “If that’s how they want to get down, all good. We’ll play them again in two weeks.”

And they’ll likely lose again, unless the Eagles sit key players because their playoff positioning is locked. Philadelphia is the more talented, deeper, and healthier team, though it played without two big men stalwarts, right tackle Lane Johnson snd defensive tackle Jalen Carter.

Any other evaluation is delusional — as is going overboard with Sirianni keeping his offense on the field.

Kicking the extra point would put Philadelphia up 18. It would take Washington scoring two touchdowns — each followed by a two-point conversion — and a field goal to overcome the deficit, assuming the Eagles didn’t score.

Logically, Philadelphia was safe. But Sirianni’s explanation came down to simple math.

Philadelphia’s coach explained that going up 19 meant “they could only tie” if the aforementioned barrage of miracle scores happened. “We wanted to make sure we went that way just in case. … We went and executed.”

Good for Philadelphia. The Eagles played to win over four quarters. If Washington had raised the white flag of surrender, then there’d be no need to tack on points. They didn’t — and trailing teams never do.

“It is what it is, bro,” Washington linebacker Bobby Wagner said. “I don’t care. Is it disrespectful? Maybe. But we’ve still got to stop them. That’s how I look at it. We’ve got to stop them.”

The Commanders actually scored on their next possession with Chris Rodriguez’s 3-yard touchdown run and Jeremy McNichols’s two-point run. Heck, they even went for the onside kick. The nerve to keep trying.

Trying, however, isn’t the same as threatening. Washington was outgained (385 to 220) and finished 2 of 10 on third-down conversions. Then there was there the ongoing struggles with Barkley.

Though quiet in the first half, the Eagles’ running back’s 48-yard fourth-quarter run highlighted his 132-yard night. Predictable and unavoidable, Barkley’s 12-yard tackle-breaking touchdown — the second of the Eagles’ three end-zone appearances inside the final 19 minutes — came after Cooper DeJean intercepted Johnson.

Philadelphia’s offense had been erratic much of the season, but it dominated the Las Vegas Raiders for a 31-0 romp last week and figured to keep the scoreboard moving against Washington. And yet Quinn chose a 20-yard field goal on the Commanders’ first possession rather than go for the touchdown on fourth down from the Eagles’ two-yard line.

Down 21-10 with less than 10 minutes remaining, Washington punted on fourth-and-4 from its 40. Even crazier, Tress Way’s fifth and final punt occurred with 6:44 left and the Commanders facing fourth-and-6 at their own 44.

Where Quinn chose caution, Sirianni chose certainty. Washington opted for discretion. Philadelphia went for dominance. As they should.

“They were beating us. They’re not going to throw in the towel. They’re not going to take it easy on us,” McLaurin said. “They were going for two to bury us. It’s not like you’re going to tell them, ‘Don’t go for two.’”

Barkley said Wagner spoke logic during the skirmish.

“Hopefully you don’t break your hand just to say you’re a tough guy. It’s not really worth it,”Barkley said. “And you lose a lot of money (if fined). …It’s chippy out there, and we have a lot of history with this team. … This team don’t like us. It’s just the truth. And we don’t like them, either.”

Washington certainly doesn’t need more injuries. Right guard Sam Cosmi, checked for a concussion, appeared slightly unsteady in the locker room. Defensive tackle Johnny Newton and Mariota were also checked for concussions. Brandon Coleman, Tunsil’s replacement, suffered a shin injury. An ankle injury while fielding a punt ended rookie Jaylin Lane’s night.

These teams will blast each other at Lincoln Financial Field in their joint regular-season finale on January 4. Then again, in two mandatory matchups next season and the season after that, and the season after that. Much changes in the NFL year over year. As currently constituted, the Commanders will be playing the underdog role yet again. Losing their composure won’t help. Not now. Not then.

“I don’t really take any bad blood from what they did,” McLaurin said, “but you don’t want to see the game get out of hand and guys possibly getting hurt. It comes with this rivalry between us and them. I don’t think that will ever change, to be honest.”

Spoiler: It won’t.

The Eagles didn’t disrespect the Commanders — they treated them exactly like a rival. The gap between the teams has expanded significantly since last January. That truth cuts deeper than any two-point conversion ever could.