Marcus Mariota, Commanders set on spoiling Philly’s playoff party

ROBERT DEUTSCH / IMAGN IMAGES

Washington Commanders quarterback Marcus Mariota (8) runs the ball during the first quarter against New York Giants linebacker Darius Muasau (53) at MetLife Stadium Sunday in East Rutherford, N.J.

Philadelphia is on the brink of becoming the NFC East’s first repeat champion since the Eagles won the division four straight years from 2001-04.

More than two decades later, the Eagles (9-5) only need to win one of the three regular-season games left on their schedule or have the Dallas Cowboys (6-7-1) lose one of their three remaining contests.

Philadelphia’s first opportunity to clinch comes on Saturday afternoon against the Washington Commanders (4-10) in Landover, Md.

The stakes were considerably higher the last time these teams met, when the Eagles delivered a 55-23 smackdown against the Commanders in the NFC Championship game last January before going on to win Super Bowl LIX.

Both teams enter Saturday’s contest after much-needed victories last weekend. Philadelphia snapped a three-game losing streak by blanking the Las Vegas Raiders 31-0, while Washington halted an eight-game slide with a 29-21 road win against the New York Giants.

If the Commanders hope to spoil, or at least delay, the Eagles’ NFC East coronation, they will have to do it without Jayden Daniels. He is participating in practice but coach Dan Quinn said he will not play again this season in order to allow his troublesome elbow to heal up for 2026.

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“I’ll be out there practicing whatever they need me to do,” Daniels said. “(If) I gotta do scout team, I’ll have fun with that and get the best looks and really just be out here, like I said, be supportive of all my teammates and still be engaged and bring some energy.”

Marcus Mariota will be making his eighth start of the season for Washington. The veteran journeyman has passed for 1,600 yards with 10 touchdowns and seven interceptions.

Coming off one of the worst games of his career, Jalen Hurts bounced back with an efficient performance against the Raiders. He threw for 175 yards and three touchdowns on 12-of-15 passing with no interceptions after tossing four picks in the Week 14 loss to the Los Angeles Chargers.

Despite the ebbs and flows the Philadelphia offense has experienced all season, the Eagles have done enough to put themselves in a favorable position.

“The thing for us is we’ve gotten to this point and we’ve been able to get to this point and to be playing in big time games not really establishing an identity, and so I think it is healthy to have won games in a lot of ways,” Hurts said. “I think it’s encouraging to be able to build off of something positive.”

The Eagles have an opportunity to build more momentum against a Washington defense that ranks 31st in the NFL, allowing 382.6 yards per game.

The Commanders have also been plagued by turnovers all season, committing at least two turnovers in seven of their last nine games.

These teams will meet again in Philadelphia to close out the regular season.

The Eagles ruled out defensive tackle Jalen Carter (shoulders) and offensive lineman Lane Johnson (foot) on Thursday. Tight end Cameron Latu (stinger) and offensive tackle Cameron Williams (shoulder), who is on injured reserve, were listed as questionable. Running back Saquon Barkley (stinger), listed as a non-participant on Tuesday’s estimation of the walkthrough, was a full practice participant on Wednesday and Thursday.

For the Commanders, left tackle Laremy Tunsil (oblique), defensive tackle Eddie Goldman (concussion) and tight end Colson Yankoff (ankle) were ruled out on Thursday, joining Daniels with that status for Saturday’s game. Cornerback Jonathan Jones (rib) and defensive tackle Jer’Zhan Newton (illness) are questionable after not practicing on Thursday.

See more:Sports Wire

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