LANDOVER, Md. — The Eagles clinched the NFC East for the second straight season Saturday night, shaking off some uneven offense and a late-game brawl to beat the Commanders 29-18 at Northwest Stadium. It wasn’t clean, it wasn’t calm, but it was definitive — the latest example of a team that has learned how to survive its own mistakes and still close. Here are five things we learned from the Eagles’ division-clinching win: 1. Eagles know how to absorb chaos The Eagles did themselves no favors early. They fumbled the opening kickoff, misfired in the kicking game and spent much of the first half grinding through self-inflicted wounds. At halftime, they trailed 10-7, with little rhythm to show for it. What followed, though, was a familiar second-half response. The Birds outscored Washington 22-8 after the break, leaning on its running game, tightening defensively and letting the game come back to them. “That’s who we’ve been,” wide receiver DeVonta Smith said. “Not perfect. But we stay together, we keep playing, and eventually we wear teams down.” Coach Nick Sirianni framed it similarly afterward, emphasizing resolve over aesthetics. “It wasn’t pretty,” he said. “But the guys stayed connected. They trusted the process, trusted each other, and found a way to finish.” (Did he really say, “Trust the process”?) 2. Hurts controlled the game Quarterback Jalen Hurts didn’t need fireworks to win this one. He was efficient, measured and timely — completing 22 of 30 passes for 185 yards and two touchdowns while adding 40 rushing yards. He avoided turnovers, despite a fumble, made smart decisions and steadied the offense as the game progressed. “I just try to play the game the right way,” Hurts said. “Do what’s required, do what’s asked, and keep the main thing the main thing.” That approach showed in the second half, when the Eagles leaned into longer drives, leaned on the run and kept Washington from gaining momentum. Hurts’ command was subtle but effective — particularly as the atmosphere grew chippy late. “We didn’t flinch,” Hurts said. “That’s growth.” Philadelphia Eagles nickel cornerback Cooper Dejean (33) celebrates after an interception against the Washington Commanders during the second half of an NFL football game, Saturday, Dec. 20, 2025, in Landover, Md. (Nick Wass/AP) 3. Barkley set the tone — again The clearest constant all night was Saquon Barkley. The veteran running back punished Washington between the tackles, finishing with 132 rushing yards and a touchdown, eclipsing the 1,000-yard mark for the season in the process. Barkley’s physicality changed the tenor of the game, especially after halftime. His fourth-quarter touchdown gave the Eagles breathing room — and ignited everything that followed. “That’s December football,” Barkley said. “You’ve got to run it, you’ve got to finish runs, and you’ve got to be willing to take it there.” Asked about clinching the division, Barkley didn’t hide the significance. “It means a lot,” he said. “But it also means there’s more ahead. We didn’t come this far just to stop here.” 4. Defense bent, then slammed the door Washington had early success, capitalizing on field position and tempo to take the halftime lead. But once the Eagles settled in, the defense reasserted itself. The Commanders managed just eight points in the second half, struggling to sustain drives as Philly tightened coverage and won up front. A key moment came when Cooper DeJean intercepted a pass in the third quarter, flipping momentum and setting up an Eagles scoring drive. “That’s what good defenses do,” veteran Brandon Graham said afterward. “You adjust. You respond. You don’t panic.” The Eagles didn’t dominate wire-to-wire, but when the game demanded stops, they delivered. 5. Aggression and emotion vs. discipline The most talked about moment came late in the fourth quarter. After Barkley’s touchdown made it 27-10, the Eagles opted to go for two, a decision that sparked a heated confrontation between both teams and led to three ejections — including Eagles guard Tyler Steen. “I guess they were upset (we went for two), but I don’t give a (F- expletive), it’s football,” said right tackle Tyler Steen, who was filling in for injured All-Pro Lane Johnson. “You can’t control what the next person does.” Sirianni didn’t back down afterward. “We were trying to make it a three-score game,” he said. “That’s our job — to finish the game. “To go up one more point in my mind is not running up the score.” Still, the moment served as a reminder of how quickly emotion can tip into distraction. Barkley acknowledged as much, crediting Commanders linebacker Bobby Wagner for helping restore order on the field. “We’ve got to be smarter,” Barkley said of the brawl. “That stuff doesn’t help us.” Hurts echoed the sentiment, framing it as a lesson rather than a blemish. “You want edge,” he said. “But you’ve also got to have control.” Bonus: Support on the way Lane Johnson (foot) and defensive tackle Jalen Carter (shoulders) are trending toward playing next week in Buffalo, according to multiple reports. — Follow Christiaan DeFranco on X at @the_defranc. ...read more read less