Eagles Clinch NFC East, Bears Inch Closer to NFC North Title in Dramatic Saturday Showdowns
Saturday delivered a full slate of drama, momentum swings, and playoff implications across the NFL, with the Philadelphia Eagles locking up the NFC East title and the Chicago Bears pulling off a wild comeback to move one win away from clinching the NFC North.
Let’s break down how each team got it done-and how key players, particularly those with Alabama ties, made their mark.
Eagles Handle Business, Secure NFC East Crown
Philadelphia trailed 10-7 at halftime but came out of the locker room like a team on a mission, scoring 22 unanswered points to take control and ultimately defeat the Washington Commanders 29-18. With the win, the Eagles not only punched their ticket to the playoffs but also secured their second consecutive NFC East title-something no team had done in the division since the Eagles themselves ran the table from 2001 to 2004.
Jalen Hurts looked sharp and in command, completing 22-of-30 passes for 185 yards and two touchdowns. He also added 40 yards on the ground.
Hurts connected with DeVonta Smith on a 5-yard strike to give Philly a 7-3 lead in the first quarter, then found Dallas Goedert on a 15-yard score in the third to reclaim the lead at 14-10. Smith, who finished with six catches for 42 yards and that early touchdown, also made a heads-up play late in the game, recovering an onside kick with just over a minute to play.
Running back Tank Bigsby made the most of his opportunities, rushing for 37 yards and his first touchdown of the season on just four carries. His 22-yard burst into the end zone capped off Philly’s scoring and gave them a 29-10 lead with 4:26 remaining.
On the defensive side, Reed Blankenship started at safety and contributed three tackles. Rookie linebacker Jihaad Campbell stepped up in a big way after Nakobe Dean exited early with a hamstring injury.
Campbell responded with five tackles, including one for loss, and added a special teams stop. Defensive tackle Byron Young continued his late-season surge with three tackles and his third sack in as many games.
Up front, Landon Dickerson and Tyler Steen started at left and right guard, respectively. Steen’s night ended early after a scuffle following a 2-point conversion resulted in his ejection along with Commanders’ defenders Javon Kinlaw and Quan Martin.
Commanders Show Fight but Fall Short
Washington came out swinging and held a 10-7 lead late in the first half thanks to a short touchdown run from Jacory “Bill” Croskey-Merritt, who finished with 25 yards on eight carries. But the offense stalled after halftime, and the defense couldn’t keep pace with Philadelphia’s adjustments.
Veteran defensive tackle Daron Payne was active up front, recording five tackles, while cornerback Jonathan Jones led the Commanders with eight tackles. Noah Igbinoghene added two tackles and a stop behind the line of scrimmage. Safety Jeremy Reaves pitched in with two tackles on defense and one on special teams.
Bears Pull Off Miracle Rally, Overtime Thriller Over Packers
If you tuned out after the Packers took a 13-3 lead late in the third quarter, you missed one of the wildest finishes of the season.
The Bears clawed back, kicking a field goal with under two minutes to go, recovering an onside kick, and then tying the game with a touchdown with just 24 seconds left in regulation. In overtime, Caleb Williams found DJ Moore on a 46-yard bomb to seal the 22-16 win and keep Chicago in the driver’s seat for their first NFC North title since 2018. One more win in their final two games will get them there.
Packers Let One Slip Away
Green Bay had a chance to leapfrog Chicago in the division standings but couldn’t close it out. Josh Jacobs, battling a knee injury that kept him out of practice all week, started at running back and managed 36 yards on 12 carries before a costly fumble at the Chicago 4-yard line ended his night in the third quarter.
When Jordan Love exited in the second quarter after a roughing-the-passer hit, Malik Willis stepped in and nearly led the Packers to victory. Willis completed 9-of-11 passes for 121 yards and a 33-yard touchdown to Romeo Doubs, and added 44 rushing yards on 10 attempts. But in overtime, with Green Bay facing a fourth-and-1 at the Chicago 36, Willis fumbled the snap-ending the Packers’ final possession and setting the stage for the Bears’ walk-off win.
On defense, Xavier McKinney had a solid night with six tackles and a pass breakup. Defensive tackle Colby Wooden added two tackles and a quarterback hit.
What’s Next
- Eagles (10-5): Head to Buffalo for a tough matchup against the Bills on Dec. 28.
- Commanders (4-11): Host the Cowboys on Thursday.
- Bears (11-4): Travel west to face the 49ers in a potential playoff preview.
- Packers (9-5-1): Return home for a Saturday night showdown with the Ravens.
With playoff seeding on the line and momentum building, the final two weeks of the regular season promise more fireworks. If Saturday was any indication, buckle up-December football is delivering.