Eagles coach defends late two-point try in win over Commanders

PHILADELPHIA — The Philadelphia Eagles defeated the Washington Commanders 29-18 on Saturday after coach Nick Sirianni opted to go for a two-point conversion with about 4:30 left. Eagles running back Saquon Barkley carried the ball in for the conversion, extending Philadelphia’s lead to 19 points. The play helped trigger a benches-clearing melee that led to the ejections of Commanders defenders Javon Kinlaw and Quan Martin, and Eagles offensive lineman Tyler Steen.

"We wanted to make sure we went up that way, just in case. That was what our math told us in that particular case," Sirianni said after the game. "It’s a division game. It’s always back-and-forth. … That’s the team we played in the NFC championship game last year. I know how badly they wanted to beat us. I know how badly we wanted to beat them. We’ve always got to keep our cool in moments like that. But that’s NFC East football. … They’ve got tough guys. We’ve got tough guys."

The late sequence and the two-point try came as the game turned physical in the fourth quarter. Kinlaw and Martin were among those ejected, along with Eagles lineman Steen, after a scuffle that drew officials’ attention and settled into a charged atmosphere around the field. Commanders coach Dan Quinn declined to hide his displeasure, noting the two teams would meet again in January. "If that’s how they want to get down, all good. We’ll play them again in two weeks," he said.

Terry McLaurin, Washington’s wide receiver, said he understood why Sirianni chose to go for two. "Eagles vs. Commanders, man. That’s how it goes. There’s a lot of history, obviously. They were beating us. They’re not going to throw in the towel. They were going for 2 to bury us. As a team, it’s not like you’re going to tell them, ‘Don’t go for 2.’ We have to stop them," McLaurin said.

The result kept Philadelphia’s position in the NFC East clear and set up a potential rematch later this season. The game, played at Northwest Stadium in a stadium-hostile environment, tested both teams’ resilience and showcased the intensity that defines the rivalry. The fracas that followed the late conversion underscored the emotional stakes of a divisional showdown that has long shaped the balance of power in the division. The clubs are scheduled to renew hostilities in early January, with implications for seeding and momentum heading into the postseason era of the schedule.

With the win, the Eagles maintained their grip on a heated rivalry that has only grown more intense in recent seasons. Both teams now turn attention to their next challenge, while the memory of the late sequence may linger as a talking point in the weeks ahead. The Associated Press contributed to this report.