With under five minutes left on the clock and a 27-10 lead already in hand, the Eagles made a decision that turned up the temperature on an already physical NFC East showdown. After punching in a touchdown, Philly opted to go for two instead of kicking the extra point - a move that sparked a scuffle, some ejections, and plenty of postgame commentary.
The Eagles converted the two-point try, pushing their lead to 29-10. But it wasn’t the scoreboard that got people talking - it was the aftermath.
What started as some post-play pushing quickly escalated into a full-on altercation. Punches were thrown, and when the dust settled, three players were ejected: Commanders defensive lineman Javon Kinlaw, safety Quan Martin, and Eagles guard Tyler Steen.
From a coaching standpoint, Nick Sirianni stood by the call. In his postgame remarks, the Eagles head coach dismissed the idea that going for two was about running up the score. Instead, he pointed to the numbers.
“I thought the math of defending a 19-point lead was a little bit better than trying to defend an 18-point one,” Sirianni said.
It’s a fair point when you break it down. A 19-point cushion forces the opponent to score three times - two touchdowns and a field goal - just to tie.
An 18-point lead, meanwhile, leaves the door open for two touchdowns and a pair of two-point conversions. In a league where comebacks can happen in a heartbeat, every point counts.
Still, not everyone saw it the same way. Commanders head coach Dan Quinn didn’t directly criticize the move, but his response made it clear he took note.
“Yeah, I can only answer from my side, what I would do,” Quinn said. “If that’s how they want to get down, all good. We play them again in two weeks.”
That rematch in Week 18 could carry weight for the Eagles in terms of playoff seeding, depending on how the NFC shakes out. But it’s also possible both teams approach it with a different mindset. Philly may rest starters if their postseason position is locked in, and the Commanders - already dealing with a laundry list of injuries - could be rolling out a lineup filled with unfamiliar faces.
Still, rivalry games have a way of cutting through circumstances. Whether or not the rematch has playoff implications, there’s clearly no shortage of tension between these two teams.
And in the NFC East, bad blood doesn’t need a reason - just a spark. Sunday’s two-point try provided one.