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The Eagles’ quest for the No. 2 seed isn’t over, but it will be pursued mostly by the team’s backup players, according to a report from Jeff McLane of the Inquirer.
Eagles coach Nick Sirianni did not confirm the report that the Eagles would use mostly backups in the season finale against the Washington Commanders at his Wednesday morning news conference, but the team did later in the afternoon.
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Some Eagles’ starters will see limited action and some will dress but not play.
On Monday, Sirianni laid out a case for sitting them based on the team’s trips to the Super Bowl last season and during the 2023 postseason.
“It’s a marathon of a season,” Sirianni said. “You give your guys some rest, you get some time to think through some different things, even though you’re preparing for an opponent as you go. Both times that I’ve been here that we’ve been to the Super Bowl, we’ve had that opportunity for a bye.”
In both cases the Eagles also got to play exclusively at home en route to reaching the Super Bowl. During the 2023 postseason, they were the No. 1 seed and beat the Giants and San Francisco before losing in the Super Bowl to the Kansas City. Last season, they were the No. 2 seed and won games at home against Green Bay, the Los Angeles Rams and Washington before beating the Chiefs in the Super Bowl. They got to be home in the NFC Championship because the Commanders upset the top-seeded Detroit Lions in the NFC Divisional round.
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This will be the second straight year that Tanner McKee has started the season finale for the Eagles. McKee and the backups beat the Giants, 20-13, last season with the quarterback throwing for 269 yards and two touchdowns.
The Eagles should have a shot at beating the Commanders Sunday because Washington is playing its third-string qurterback Josh Johnson, who they also faced two weeks ago after Marcus Mariota left with a hand and quad injury.
In order to jump to the No. 2 seed for the second straight season, the Eagles need to beat Washington and have the Lions beat or tie the Bears in Chicago. Lions coach Dan Campbell said he plans to play his starters unless they are nursing injuries. That will likely mean they’ll be without star receiver Amon-Ra St. Brown, who is dealing with a knee injury. They could also be without All Pro right tackle Penei Sewell, who is dealing with an ankle injury.
Bears coach Ben Johnson made it clear that he wants the No. 2 seed, saying “we’re playing to win this week.”
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If the Eagles remain at the No. 3 seed, they will play either the Rams or 49ers at home in the Wild Card round. The 49ers can clinch the NFC West with a home win Saturday night against Seattle. The Rams can move up to the No. 5 seed if they win at home against Arizona and the Seahawks beat or tie the 49ers.
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