The Eagles punched their ticket to the postseason in emphatic-and chaotic-fashion on Saturday, locking up both a playoff berth and the NFC East crown with a 29-18 win over the Commanders. But while the final score told one story, the final minutes told another.
With just over four minutes left in the game, Philadelphia backup running back Tank Bigsby broke loose for a 22-yard touchdown, stretching the Eagles’ lead to 27-10. At that point, the game was essentially in the bag. Washington, already down to third-string quarterback Josh Johnson after Marcus Mariota exited with an injury in the third quarter, was in survival mode.
Things getting chippy here between the Eagles and Commanders pic.twitter.com/1FYV4JplMH
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But head coach Nick Sirianni wasn’t ready to pump the brakes. Instead of kicking the extra point, the Eagles went for two-and got it. Saquon Barkley powered through the left side of the line for the conversion, and that’s when tempers flared.
What followed was a full-blown scuffle that boiled over quickly. A mix of frustration, scoreboard pressure, and maybe some bruised egos led to pushing, shoving, and eventually ejections.
Three players were tossed: Commanders defensive lineman Javon Kinlaw, safety Quan Martin, and Eagles offensive lineman Tyler Steen. It was the kind of late-game melee that can overshadow a win-but also speaks to the intensity of a rivalry game, even one with a lopsided finish.
— FOX Sports: NFL (@NFLonFOX) December 21, 2025
And then came the visual that summed it all up: four penalty flags and a referee’s hat scattered across the turf while the officiating crew huddled to sort out the chaos. A snapshot of mayhem, frozen on the broadcast for everyone to see.
Still, when the dust settled, the Eagles were the ones celebrating. The victory not only secured a playoff spot but also made them back-to-back NFC East champions-the first team to repeat in the division since the Eagles themselves did it from 2001 to 2004. That’s no small feat in a division known for its year-to-year volatility.
So while the ending was messy, the message was clear: the Eagles are headed to the postseason, and they’re doing it with an edge.