![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nfl\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/CommandersVsEagles-1_AP.jpg\")
Washington Commanders quarterback Josh Johnson looks to pass the ball against the Philadelphia Eagles during the second half of an NFL football game, Dec. 20, 2025, in Landover, Md. (AP Photo\/Stephanie Scarbrough)<\/p>\nBy Howard Fendrich
AP National Writer<\/p>\n
Dan Quinn\u2019s Washington Commanders showed more fight after a late 2-point conversion by the Philadelphia Eagles than they have during many plays and games in this 4-11 season filled with lopsided losses.<\/p>\n
All of those punches, and all of that pushing and shoving, did nothing to change the result Dec. 20 \u2014 Washington allowed Philadelphia to win 29-18 and clinch a second consecutive NFC East title \u2014 but could make things interesting when these division rivals meet again in Week 18.<\/p>\n
\u201cIf that\u2019s how they want to get down, all good,\u201d Quinn said when asked whether Eagles coach Nick Sirianni\u2019s choice to try to add on those two points instead of kicking for one was disrespectful. \u201cWe\u2019ll play them again in two weeks.\u201d<\/p>\n
Well, then.<\/p>\n
Washington Commanders quarterback Josh Johnson looks to pass the ball against the Philadelphia Eagles during the second half of an NFL football game, Dec. 20, 2025, in Landover, Md. (AP Photo\/Stephanie Scarbrough)<\/p>\n
Far too often, that sort of attitude has been missing from Washington\u2019s on-field makeup. Sure, injury after injury has taken a toll on the roster \u2014 and no health issues have been more disruptive or concerning than those that limited star quarterback Jayden Daniels to seven games before he was shut down for the season \u2014 but too often, the Commanders have failed to even be competitive.<\/p>\n
Whether falling behind by 18 or 19 on Dec. 20 with about 4 1\/2 minutes left would have made a difference, a lot of the same themes arise week after week in lopsided games, particularly when it comes to a defense that can\u2019t really seem to stop anyone.<\/p>\n
Washington actually was in this one for a half and led 10-7 at the break.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe energy was there today. The focus was there. The preparation was there,\u201d Commanders receiver Terry McLaurin said. \u201cWe liked where we were going into halftime.\u201d<\/p>\n
But as Quinn noted, that sort of energy \u201chas to be for the whole time.\u201d<\/p>\n
Instead, Jalen Hurts, Saquon Barkley and the rest of the Eagles took over in the second half.<\/p>\n
The last time these two teams played, a berth in the Super Bowl was at stake in the NFC title game. The Eagles, of course, won that one, too, on their way to becoming NFL champions.<\/p>\n
This Commanders squad is a far cry from last season\u2019s.<\/p>\n
What\u2019s working<\/p>\n
CB Mike Sainristil is a turnover machine. Washington only has nine takeaways all season \u2014 only the New York Jets, with three, have fewer \u2014 and Sainristil is responsible for more than half of those. He has a team-leading four interceptions and added to his total by forcing a fumble by Philadelphia\u2019s Will Shipley on the opening kickoff Saturday. Teammate Kain Medrano recovered the ball at Philadelphia\u2019s 26, and the Commanders ended up with a field goal for an early lead.<\/p>\n
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nfl\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/CommandersVsEagles-2_AP.jpg\")
Philadelphia Eagles running back Saquon Barkley, center left, runs for a touchdown against Washington Commanders cornerback Noah Igbinoghene, center right, during the second half of an NFL football game, Dec. 20, 2025, in Landover, Md. (AP Photo\/Stephanie Scarbrough)<\/p>\n
What needs help<\/p>\n
What doesn\u2019t? The biggest problem remains the defense, though. Barkley\u2019s 12-yard TD run in the fourth quarter, in which he broke at least four tackles, was emblematic of Washington\u2019s problems on that side of the ball.<\/p>\n
Stock up<\/p>\n
It\u2019s truly hard to find anyone or anything that is a positive at this point in the season. There are so many injuries, so many poor performances, so many reasons to be thinking about needs for general manager Adam Peters to address in the next draft and free agency.<\/p>\n
Stock down<\/p>\n
Some players\u2019 composure. That brawl in the fourth quarter really was unnecessary, and resulted in the ejections of defensive lineman Javon Kinlaw and safety Quan Martin. The league surely will hand out some additional punishments. Right after the game, Quinn lingered on the field for a bit just to make sure there weren\u2019t going to be any more confrontations. \u201cJust wanted to make sure anything didn\u2019t go sideways,\u201d he explained.<\/p>\n
Injuries<\/p>\n
With Daniels\u2019 season already done, Marcus Mariota was supposed to start at QB the rest of the way. But Mariota left in the third quarter after injuring his throwing hand, leaving third-stringer Josh Johnson under center. \u2026 WR Jaylin Lane left Dec. 20 with an ankle injury, LT Brandon Coleman \u2014 who started in place of Laremy Tunsil (oblique) hurt his shin, and RG Sam Cosmi and DT Johnny Newton were evaluated for concussions.<\/p>\n
Key number<\/p>\n
4 \u2014 The number of passes Dec. 20 it took for Johnson to throw an interception.<\/p>\n
Next steps<\/p>\n
On Dec. 25, Washington plays a game that truly means nothing to the Commanders, their opponents \u2014 the Dallas Cowboys \u2014 or anyone else, really. Both Washington and Dallas have been eliminated from playoff contention.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"By Howard FendrichAP National Writer Dan Quinn\u2019s Washington Commanders showed more fight after a late 2-point conversion by…\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":618751,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[2069],"tags":[427,7291,7,492,91581,18855,11695,6,5351,109,894,7186,855,111,2480],"class_list":{"0":"post-618750","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-washington-commanders","8":"tag-commanders","9":"tag-dan-quinn","10":"tag-football","11":"tag-jalen-hurts","12":"tag-jaylen-daniels","13":"tag-josh-johnson","14":"tag-marcus-mariota","15":"tag-nfl","16":"tag-nick-sirianni","17":"tag-philadelphia-eagles","18":"tag-saquon-barkley","19":"tag-terry-mclaurin","20":"tag-washington","21":"tag-washington-commanders","22":"tag-washingtoncommanders"},"share_on_mastodon":{"url":"https:\/\/channels.im\/@nfl\/115761277072621964","error":""},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nfl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/618750","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nfl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nfl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nfl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nfl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=618750"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nfl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/618750\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nfl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/618751"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nfl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=618750"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nfl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=618750"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nfl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=618750"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}