LANDOVER, Md. – The Eagles know they can clinch a playoff spot Sunday, but they’re not looking past their game against the Washington Football Team.
The Eagles (8-7) need a win, plus a Minnesota loss and either a San Francisco win or New Orleans loss in order to clinch before the final game next Sunday.
WFT (6-9) is technically still alive for a spot as well. But the Football Team will be eliminated with a loss.
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“When I first heard about (clinching a playoff spot), it was every scenario was like, ‘OK, if this happens and this happens and this happens, we’re in,'” Eagles coach Nick Sirianni said. “OK, what else? ‘If this happens and this happens and this happens, we’re also in.’
“But every one of those things requires us winning and that’s all that we can control.”
Another poor start by Eagles
For the second time in 12 days, the Eagles fell into a 10-0 hole against Washington.
This time, it was because of a poor defensive performance as opposed to Eagles turnovers. WFT took the opening kickoff and marched down the field, getting a touchdown on Jaret Patterson’s 11-yard run.
The Eagles were then stopped on downs at Washington’s 24 as Jordan Howard, playing despite a stinger suffered last week, couldn’t convert on 4th-and-1.
The Football Team once again marched down the field. This time, the Eagles defense held once WFT got into the red zone as Joey Slye kicked a 31-yard field goal with 2 minutes left in the first quarter.
Jordan Howard playing, 2 others not
RB Miles Sanders is the only starter not playing. Sanders broke his hand in the first half last week against the Giants.
But RB Jordan Howard is expected to play. Howard suffered a stinger in the fourth quarter last Sunday and was listed as questionable. The Eagles did not activate any of their two running backs on the practice squad in Jason Huntley and Kerryon Johnson, a sign that Howard is OK.
That leaves Howard, Boston Scott and rookie Kenny Gainwell as the Eagles’ running backs.
In addition, LB Shaun Bradley (shoulder) will not play after he was involved in a car accident Saturday morning on his way to the team’s practice facility. The team said in a statement that Bradley is being held out for precautionary reasons.
In addition to Sanders and Bradley, the Eagles’ inactives were QB Reid Sinnett, CB Tay Gowan, T Le’Raven Clark, C/G Jack Anderson and DT Marlon Tuipulotu.
WFT, meanwhile, will be missing RB Antonio Gibson, who’s on the COVID-19 list and DE Montez Sweat (personal reasons). In addition, T Sam Cosmi is also on the COVID list.
Contact Martin Frank at mfrank@delawareonline.com. Follow on Twitter @Mfranknfl.
