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The Washington Commanders defend the Philadelphia Eagles\u2019 tush-push play on Saturday, Dec. 20, 2025. (Scott Taetsch\/Getty Images)<\/p>\nPHILADELPHIA \u2014 As Yogi Berra said, \u201cWhen you come to a fork in the road, take it.\u201d<\/p>\n
The Eagles enter today\u2019s regular-season finale against the Washington Commanders with a foot in two worlds: resting most of their starters while still keeping an eye on the NFC standings.<\/p>\n
The Birds have already locked up the third playoff seed in the NFC, but a narrow path to the No. 2 seed remains. If the Eagles beat Washington and the Chicago Bears lose to the Detroit Lions \u2014 a game kicking off at the same time \u2014 Philadelphia would climb to second, securing a pair of potential home games in the postseason instead of one.<\/p>\n
It\u2019s a scenario Eagles coach Nick Sirianni acknowledged when explaining his decision to sit quarterback Jalen Hurts and several other regulars.<\/p>\n
\u201cAt the end of the day, it\u2019s not a guarantee that we can get to the two seed, but I can rest the starters,\u201d Sirianni said Friday. \u201cJust thought that was the best thing for our football team right there.\u201d<\/p>\n
The result will be a lineup heavy on reserves and rotational players, many of whom Sirianni said he\u2019s eager to see in meaningful snaps. While the Eagles (11-5) will not \u201crest everybody,\u201d Sirianni stressed the week was still handled with intent and structure.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe had a good week of practice,\u201d he said. \u201cWe\u2019re going in there to try to win the game with some guys that haven\u2019t played a ton of snaps on offense and defense but obviously have contributed.\u201d<\/p>\n
That includes talented backup quarterback Tanner McKee, undrafted rookie wide receiver Darius Cooper, whose role has expanded as the season has progressed, and veteran receiver Jahan Dotson, who has embraced the unglamorous aspects of his role.<\/p>\n
\u201cI can\u2019t tell you how many times I\u2019ll put on the tape \u2026 and it shows him busting his butt trying to get a block,\u201d Sirianni said of Dotson. \u201cHe does the little things for his teammates to help the team.\u201d<\/p>\n
The Washington Commanders defend the Philadelphia Eagles\u2019 tush-push play on Saturday, Dec. 20, 2025. (Scott Taetsch\/Getty Images)<\/p>\n
Defensively, coordinator Vic Fangio said the emphasis remains on growth and cohesion, even with postseason plans looming. Fangio noted continued progress from a unit that has leaned heavily on youth while carving out its identity.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe\u2019ve grown from week to week, which is what you want,\u201d Fangio said. \u201cWe\u2019ve kind of found our niche the way we like to play.\u201d<\/p>\n
Fangio highlighted the trickle-down effect of an improved pass rush and disciplined fronts, noting that defensive success rarely belongs to one position group alone. He also said linebacker Jihaad Campbell\u2019s recent extended action could prove valuable if depth is tested down the line.<\/p>\n
The struggling Commanders (4-12), ravaged by injuries, are playing out the string. They weren\u2019t happy in Week 16 when the Eagles went for two while up by 17 points late.<\/p>\n
\u201cIf that\u2019s how they want to get down, all good.\u00a0We\u2019ll play them again in two weeks,\u201d Washington coach Dan Quinn said. But Fangio dismissed the significance of seeing the Commanders so recently.<\/p>\n
\u201cEvery week seems like a new adventure in this league,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
Resting their starters doesn\u2019t mean the Eagles aren\u2019t pursuing No. 2 seed. They can do both at this fork in the road. The Eagles\u2019 backups are capable of beating a depleted Washington team, and they just need to hope Detroit helps out. But whether Eagles\u2019 adventure today ends with a climb up the bracket or simply a healthier roster entering the playoffs, Sirianni believes the approach serves the larger goal.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe\u2019re trying to set ourselves up for the long run,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
Injury report<\/p>\n
Eagles: OUT \u2014 DT Jalen Carter (hip), LB Nakobe Dean (hamstring), S Marcus Epps (concussion), TE Dallas Goedert (knee), RT Lane Johnson (foot), EDGE Jaelan Phillips (ankle).<\/p>\n
Friday practice report: DNP \u2014 DT Carter (hip), LB Dean (hamstring), S Marcus Epps (concussion), TE Dallas Goedert (knee), RT Johnson (foot), OLB Jaelan Phillips (ankle). FULL \u2013 LB Jihaad Campbell (back\/shoulder).<\/p>\n
Commanders: OUT \u2014 QB Jayden Daniels (left elbow), QB Marcus Mariota (right hand, quad), LT Laremy Tunsil (oblique). QUESTIONABLE \u2014 T\/G Brandon Coleman (knee).<\/p>\n
Pregame position grades<\/p>\n
Here\u2019s how the teams match up heading into Sunday, based on health and how they\u2019ve been playing recently. Performances will be evaluated postgame.<\/p>\n
Keep in mind the Eagles are resting several starters.<\/p>\n
QB: Eagles A-, Commanders D+<\/p>\n
RB: Eagles A-, Commanders C<\/p>\n
TE: Eagles A-, Commanders C-<\/p>\n
WR: Eagles A, Commanders C<\/p>\n
OL: Eagles B+, Commanders B<\/p>\n
DL: Eagles A, Commanders C<\/p>\n
LB: Eagles A+, Commanders B<\/p>\n
CB\/S: Eagles A-, Commanders C-<\/p>\n
ST: Eagles B+, Commanders B<\/p>\n
On the air<\/p>\n
Eagles (11-5) vs. Commanders (4-12), Today, 4:25 p.m., Lincoln Financial Field.<\/p>\n
TV: CBS: Kevin Harlan, Ross Tucker and Melanie Collins.<\/p>\n
Radio\/streaming: 94.1-FM WIP: Merrill Reese, Mike Quick and Devan Kaney. Tico: Rickie Ricardo, Oscar Budejen and David Gerhardt. Compass Media: Chris Carrino and Brian Baldinger.<\/p>\n
Betting odds<\/p>\n
Spread: Eagles by 7.5.<\/p>\n
Over\/under: 38.5.<\/p>\n
Money line: Eagles -225, Commanders +185.<\/p>\n
\u2014<\/p>\n
Follow Christiaan DeFranco on X at @the_defranc for the latest updates.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"PHILADELPHIA \u2014 As Yogi Berra said, \u201cWhen you come to a fork in the road, take it.\u201d The…\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":652687,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[2069],"tags":[94784,94783,427,7,6,94785,855,111,2480],"class_list":["post-652686","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","category-washington-commanders","tag-when-you-come-to-a-fork-in-the-road","tag-as-yogi-berra-said","tag-commanders","tag-football","tag-nfl","tag-take-it","tag-washington","tag-washington-commanders","tag-washingtoncommanders"],"share_on_mastodon":{"url":"https:\/\/channels.im\/@nfl\/115835646061320983","error":""},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nfl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/652686","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=652686"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nfl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/652686\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nfl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/652687"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nfl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=652686"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nfl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=652686"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nfl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=652686"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}