Los Angeles (United States) (AFP) – Saquon Barkley ran the Philadelphia Eagles to back-to-back divisional titles Saturday with an ill-tempered 29-18 win over the Washington Commanders that guarantees playoff football for the reigning NFL champions. The Eagles (10-5) are the first consecutive winners of the historically competitive NFC East for two decades, in the process ensuring their bitter rival Dallas Cowboys (6-7-1) can no longer reach the post-season.
Running back Barkley rushed for 132 yards and quarterback Jalen Hurts threw two touchdowns, in a game that saw a full-out fourth quarter brawl with multiple punches thrown and three players ejected. “Back-to-back division champs, hasn’t been done in 20 years, so that’s big,” said Barkley. “I love the way we finished. We stood together and most importantly got the win.”
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Already eliminated from the playoffs, Washington (4-11) had protectively benched injury-hit rising-star quarterback Jayden Daniels for its remaining games. But Daniels’ replacements could not deliver a Christmas gift for home fans Saturday. After a false start “tush push,” Philadelphia’s DeVonta Smith grabbed a short Hurts pass on second down for an early touchdown.
Washington running back Jacory Croskey-Merritt burst in for a hard-fought one-yard touchdown run shortly before halftime. Philadelphia’s kicking woes continued. Jake Elliott missed three field goals attempts in the first half, though one was chalked off for a foul. But the Eagles soared back into the lead with a 15-yard pass from Hurts to tight end Dallas Goedert.
And after an injury to Commanders backup quarterback Marcus Mariota, a stray pass from third-string Josh Johnson was intercepted, ultimately leading to a touchdown for the dominant Barkley. Tank Bigsby compounded the punishment with a 22-yard rushing touchdown for Philadelphia. Tempers boiled over when the Eagles then went for a two-point conversion, when an illegal hold sparked a mass brawl. Three players were subsequently ejected from the game — Philadelphia’s Tyler Steen, and Washington’s Javon Kinlaw and Quan Martin.
Chris Rodriguez Jr. scored a late consolation touchdown for Washington.
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