Eagles clinch NFC East as brawl erupts late in Philadelphia win over Commanders
Three players were ejected after a violent scuffle with under five minutes remaining as Philadelphia seals the division title with a 29-18 victory over Washington.
A violent brawl erupted with less than five minutes to play, transforming a late-season clash into chaos as the Philadelphia Eagles held a 29-10 lead over the Washington Commanders. The scuffle culminated in three players being ejected and the game’s temperature rising quickly on the field, a moment that overshadowed the late stages of a game the Eagles would win 29-18 to clinch the NFC East title and eliminate Dallas from postseason contention.
The altercation began after Philadelphia running back Saquon Barkley scored a two-point conversion for the Eagles, a play that sparked punches and shoving on both sides. Eagles guard Tyler Steen was among those involved and was ejected, along with Commanders defensive tackle Javon Kinlaw and safety Quan Martin. Referees, at times short on flags, reached the point where no more penalties could be called as the melee subsided. Steen’s exit drew attention from players and fans alike, and he was escorted off the field by Eagles security, known to fans as “Big Dom.” Fox analyst Joe Davis described the scene as “a full-on shoving match” that had turned ugly, noting Steen’s involvement as punches were thrown.
Play continued after the break, and the Eagles’ defense steadied as the team moved toward sealing the victory and the division crown. Washington, already with backup plans in place at quarterback, had started Jayden Daniels for the season and had turned to Marcus Mariota as the game progressed. Mariota, shaken up at the end of the opening drive of the second half, spent time in the blue medical tent before returning to the sideline; the Commanders later said he was evaluated for a concussion and cleared to continue, though he eventually left the game due to the nature of the injury situation in Washington’s passing game. The team had already announced that Daniels would not play again this season, leaving Washington relying on a rotating cast at quarterback.
In the shadow of the brawl, Barkley remained a bright spot for the Eagles. He finished with 132 yards on 21 rushing attempts and reached the end zone on a late drive, including a 49-yard burst that highlighted his burst and vision as the season heads toward January. His performance helped stabilize an offense that had to navigate the ejection of Steen and the temporary disruption on special teams and defense.
After the game, Barkley offered a candid but concise reflection on the intra-divisional rivalry: “This team don't like us and we don't like them either. It's chippy out there, we have a lot of history. It's the truth.” The exchange underscored a longstanding, competitive tension between the two franchises, which carried into the night’s physical clash and the ensuing moments of reflection in the Eagles’ locker room.
With the win, Philadelphia secured the NFC East title and dashed any remaining playoff aspirations for the Cowboys, who entered the weekend still in contention but left defeated in a season that has seen its share of dramatic twists. Washington, meanwhile, faced the reality of a late-season fade after reaching a brief height atop the conference earlier in the year, but injuries at quarterback and the toll of a difficult schedule left the team with pride to play for rather than postseason hopes.
From a tactical standpoint, the game’s pace and physicality tested both teams’ depth and resilience. The Eagles’ offense leaned on Barkley’s ground game and a steady, if pressured, performance from their playmakers, while the defense tightened in the late stages to hold Washington to a single-score second half and protect the lead as the game wore on. The Commanders, dealing with injury concerns and a shifting quarterback situation, could not overcome the early deficit, and the night’s events will likely prompt reviews of on-field conduct in the weeks to come.
As the season moves toward its conclusion, the Eagles can look back on this night as a pivotal turning point—an emphatic statement win that clinched a divisional title and demonstrated the team’s capacity to respond under pressure, both on the field and in the scrappy, contentious moments that can define a rivalry.