Eagles vs. Commanders: DeVonta Smith Shines, Josh Johnson Defies Age

The Philadelphia Eagles faced the Washington Commanders in their regular-season finale, ending in a 24-17 loss. This result secured the Eagles the No. 3 seed for the NFL playoffs, leading them into a matchup against the San Francisco 49ers.

Eagles vs. Commanders: DeVonta Smith Shines

In a notable individual performance, DeVonta Smith achieved a significant milestone. Prior to the game, he was just 44 yards short of reaching 1,000 receiving yards for the season. The team made an effort to ensure he could attain this goal. Smith managed to surpass the 1,000-yard mark with a 27-yard catch at the end of the first quarter. After reaching this milestone, he left the game and was seen celebrating with head coach Nick Sirianni on the sidelines.

Josh Johnson Defies Age

On the opposing side, Commanders’ quarterback Josh Johnson, 39, started the game despite his extensive experience in the league. Drafted in 2008, Johnson has suited up for an impressive 14 NFL teams throughout his career. This season finale marked his 11th career start. He is well-remembered by Eagles fans for stepping in for an injured Brock Purdy during the 2023 NFC Championship game.

Game Highlights

• Reed Blankenship, like many defensive starters, was sidelined but attempted to enter the game after an injury to rookie Brandon Johnson.
• Jalen Hurts was present on the sidelines, bundled in warm clothing, opting not to play in the cold weather.
• First-round linebacker Jihaad Campbell reminisced about his childhood admiration for Brandon Graham, showcasing the connection between players past and present.

As the game progressed, the broadcast team had to balance covering two significant games. While providing commentary on the Eagles-Commanders game, they also updated viewers about the Lions-Bears matchup, which concluded with a Lions victory, impacting the playoff seeding.

The Eagles now shift their focus to the playoffs, aiming to build on their regular-season performance despite this recent setback against the Commanders.