The Eagles’ approach to the Week 18 matchup against the Commanders should be a wake-up call this season, and it needs to change
The Eagles are resting their starters against the Commanders despite playing for the No. 2 seed in the NFC playoff bracket, and it should anger everyone in the organization to make a change.
The Washington Commanders never expected to be where they are as they head into the final week of the season, but this is just the reality of the nightmare season.
This final matchup against the Philadelphia Eagles was supposed to have a buildup for a spot in the playoffs as a crucial game when the schedule first dropped, and that’s not the case at all. The Commanders are playing for pride and their positioning in the 2026 NFL Draft, while the Eagles are playing for seeding in the NFC playoff picture.
Despite having a lot at stake, the way they’re treating this game against the Commanders should be an embarrassment to the organization and a wake-up call to fix the culture and the team.
The Eagles are resting starters against the Commanders despite what’s at stake
The Eagles are playing for the No. 2 seed in the NFC playoff bracket, with the Chicago Bears trying to lock it up. They need the Detroit Lions to beat the Bears, and the Eagles have to beat the Commanders to get a more favorable matchup in the playoffs.
If the playoffs were this weekend, the Eagles would face a really good Los Angeles Rams team, while the Bears would get an injury-riddled Green Bay Packers team. The Eagles’ best bet is getting the No. 2 seed, and that’s their main goal. Despite having that much at stake, the Eagles plan on resting quarterback Jalen Hurts and several more starters against the Commanders, while they play everyone they can.
This should be a slap in the face to every Commanders player and every person in the organization that the Eagles are treating this game like a bye week. They feel confident enough to beat the Commanders with their backups and still secure the No. 2 seed in the playoffs. This has to change.
There’s no excuse for it, and the Commanders need to fix the culture and the team
Yes, the Commanders have had major injuries all season, but that’s not an excuse for teams to look at them as a bye week and a doormat to just walk over on the way to the playoffs. General manager Adam Peters needs to get back to work this offseason and rebuild the foundation and culture of the team. Teams saw the Commanders get blown out all season, and there’s no fear in facing them.
Dan Quinn preaches about playing violently and how close the locker room is, but nobody outside of the locker room sees it or believes it. The Commanders were a different team last year, and they need to get back to being a team nobody wants to play. Teams just don’t take them seriously right now, and that’s understandable after watching this season. This team needs dogs and young players who play hard, not aging veterans who are just close to the coaching staff.
This offseason will be a real test to see how serious the front office and coaching staff are about winning and building sustainable success like the Eagles have been able to. They might be two or three offseasons away from that status, but they can’t afford to waste another offseason like they did last year.
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