Football is a weird game. Honestly, if you looked at the standings before the January 4 regular-season finale, you probably figured the Philadelphia Eagles would steamroll a struggling Washington squad. The eagles and commanders game score ended up as a 24-17 victory for Washington, and while that might look like a simple upset, the context changes everything. Philadelphia was already locked into the postseason. They were resting the big guns—Jalen Hurts, Saquon Barkley, and the main crew. Washington? They were just trying to find something to smile about after a grueling 5-12 season.
They found it. Specifically, 39-year-old Josh Johnson found it.
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Breaking Down the Eagles and Commanders Game Score
The game started with a lot of "doinks" and backup-quarterback jitters. Tanner McKee got the nod for Philly, and he actually looked sharp early on. He connected with DeVonta Smith—who was out there specifically to chase a milestone—for a 27-yard jump ball. That catch put Smith over 1,000 yards for the third time in his career. A few plays later, McKee found Grant Calcaterra for a 15-yard touchdown. For a moment, it felt like the Eagles' depth was just too much for Washington to handle.
Then things got "kinda" messy.
Washington responded with a Chris Rodriguez 1-yard plunge, aided by some costly pass interference calls against the Philly secondary. The Eagles' defense was aggressive but undisciplined, racking up 123 penalty yards by the time the clock hit zero. That’s a massive number. It’s hard to win any professional football game when you give away more than a football field's worth of free real estate.
Key Moments That Shifted the Momentum
- The Half-Time Heroics: With five seconds left in the second quarter, Jake Moody drilled a 56-yard field goal. That gave Washington a 10-7 lead going into the tunnel.
- Tank Bigsby’s Spark: The Eagles reclaimed the lead in the third. Tank Bigsby, who was a bright spot with 75 rushing yards, punched it in from 2 yards out after a fumble recovery by Jalyx Hunt.
- The Fourth Quarter Collapse: Philly led 17-10 heading into the final frame. But Josh Johnson, a journeyman who has played for basically half the league, led two clinical scoring drives.
Johnson’s 1-yard touchdown run with 2:32 left was the dagger. It capped off a 9-play, 50-yard drive that chewed up over six minutes of clock. Philly had one last gasp, but McKee was sacked by Von Miller on third down, and a desperation fourth-down heave fell incomplete.
The Bobby Wagner Milestone
While the eagles and commanders game score will be recorded as a "meaningless" Week 18 win for Washington, it was a massive night for individual history. Bobby Wagner recorded five tackles. That doesn't sound like much until you realize it put him at 2,000 career tackles.
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Only two other humans have ever done that in the NFL: Ray Lewis and London Fletcher.
Seeing Fletcher, who is now on the Commanders’ radio broadcast, share that moment with Wagner was one of those cool "football is family" moments that transcends the rivalry. Wagner has been the ultimate professional, and hitting that mark in a win at Lincoln Financial Field is a hell of a way to cap off the season.
Why This Score Mattered (Even If It Didn't)
For the Eagles, the loss meant they slipped to the No. 3 seed in the NFC. Instead of potentially climbing higher, they stayed put and set up a Wild Card matchup against the San Francisco 49ers. It was a calculated risk by Nick Sirianni. You rest your starters to stay healthy for the tournament, but you risk losing the "vibes" and momentum heading into January.
Washington, on the other hand, played for pride. They finished 5-12, but they secured the No. 7 pick in the 2026 NFL Draft. Winning that final game didn't hurt their draft stock too badly, but it gave Dan Quinn some positive tape to show in the off-season.
Statistical Reality Check
If you just look at the box score, the Eagles actually outgained Washington 307 to 274 in total yards. Tanner McKee threw for 241 yards, which is more than Josh Johnson’s 131. But football isn't played on a spreadsheet. Washington won because they owned the clock—holding the ball for over 34 minutes—and because they didn't shoot themselves in the foot with 9 penalties like Philly did.
What’s Next for Both Teams
The Eagles need to clean up the secondary issues that surfaced with the backups. While the starters will be back for the playoffs, those pass interference calls are a symptom of technical flaws that the 49ers will absolutely exploit if they aren't coached up immediately.
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For the Commanders, the focus shifts to the 2026 Draft. With the No. 7 pick, they are in a prime position to snag an elite playmaker or a franchise cornerstone on the offensive line. Josh Johnson proved he’s one of the best "break glass in case of emergency" backups in the league, but Washington needs a long-term solution at the top of the depth chart.
Actionable Insights for Fans:
- Monitor the Eagles' Injury Report: Since they rested starters in Week 18, expect a "full go" for Jalen Hurts and Saquon Barkley in the Wild Card round.
- Watch the Draft Order: Washington fans should keep an eye on the scouting combine in February; that No. 7 pick is the biggest asset the franchise has right now.
- Check the Betting Lines: Rivalry games like this often defy the "paper" advantage. The Commanders were +3.5 underdogs and won outright; always look at divisional trends over seasonal records.
The 24-17 final score was a reminder that in the NFC East, nothing is ever guaranteed, even when one team is headed for the playoffs and the other is headed for the couch.