Top 3 Eagles-Commanders game of all time
As Washington gears up to take on divisional rivals Philadelphia in the NFC Championship game, here is a look at their most memorable faceoffs.
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Jalen Hurts and Jayden Daniels (Image Credits: L-via IMAGO, R-via AP)
The Philadelphia Eagles are set to take on the Washington Commanders in what is bound to be a thrilling NFC Championship game this weekend. The two teams have been going against one another since the 1930s. Their head-to-head regular season games carry a level of increased intensity.
Over the past few years, the Washington Commanders may have struggled to make a Super Bowl run, but their fanbase looks forward to their regular season game against Philadelphia in the hopes of beating their longstanding rivals.
The all-time series record is close between the Eagles and the Commanders. Washington has the edge over Philly by a margin of four wins, with the series standing at 90-86-6.
Both teams have maintained their share of long win streaks. The Redskins (now known as Commanders) dominated from 1938-1942 and won 11 consecutive games against their rivals. Philadelphia got its revenge later that decade as the team went on an 8-game win streak from 1947-1950. They repeated this feat once again in the 90s.
Out of the total 182 meetings between the Eagles and the Commanders, three games stand out in the history books. They are as follows:
3. 1990 NFC Wild Card Round
Interestingly, this was the first, and last time the Eagles and Commanders met in the postseason. That will change on 26 January 2025 when they play one another for a berth to the Super Bowl.
Circling back to the 1990 playoff game, the then-Washington Redskins got off to a rocky start. The team wound up turning the ball over twice and gave up possession to the Eagles. The score was 0-6, and the optimism was strife for Philadelphia, who had gotten the better of them earlier in their regular season matchup, having won 28-14.
However, the tide began to shift in Washington’s favor towards the end of the second quarter. Quarterback Mark Rypien regained his composure and led a 16-yard touchdown drive after connecting with receiver Art Monk. The Eagles were unsuccessful while attempting to score on the next play as QB Randall Cunningham threw an interception.
Eventually, the Eagles’ struggles worsened. In the second half, they fumbled the ball, and corner Ben Smith returned it for a 94-yard touchdown. The final score wound up being 20-6, and the Redskins won the game. This was Mark Rypien’s first playoff game and the last game of Buddy Ryan, who was subsequently fired as the Eagles’ HC.
2. 2010’s Monday Night Massacre
The 15th of November 2010 was meant to be just another Monday Night matchup between the Philadelphia Eagles and the Commanders. However, Michael Vick, the quarterback of Philadelphia at the time, lit their divisional rivals up.
Minutes before the game, DeSean Jackson and Washington’s LaRon Landry got into a heated scuffle which served as added motivation for Vick and the offense. The quarterback sported his iconic tinted visor on his helmet and went on to throw four touchdown passes, and two rushing touchdowns, and dominated Washington.
The Commanders had no answer for Michael Vick. Philadelphia scored 59 points in just three quarters! Yes, fifty-nine points.
What made the storyline of this game more interesting is that Donovan McNabb, who spent 11 years in Philly, was traded earlier in the off-season to Washington. He was on the other side of the ball and despite his best attempt, could only lead his team to score 21 points. The Eagles massacred their arch-rivals, and that is why this game is known as the ‘Monday Night Massacre.’
1. The Body bag game
Injuries are an inevitable part of football. They are beyond the control of the players and not uncommon. However, when one team goes on to lose most of its key starters in just one game to injuries, it has to be considered historic.
On November 12, 1990, Lady Luck and Father Fate were not on the side of the Washington Redskins. It was meant to be a divisional rivalry game for them as they went on the road to face the Philadelphia Eagles. However, shortly after kickoff, disaster struck for the Redskins.
Their starting quarterback, Jeff Rutledge, was injured after taking a hard hit from the Eagles. The team turned to Stan Humphries, the backup QB. He, too, went on to leave the game after taking a hit. Ultimately, Washington made their rookie running back Brian Mitchell play quarterback because they had no options left. Mitchell had played QB in college for a while and he went on to complete 3/6 passes and scored a touchdown.
By the end of the night, nine of Washington’s players were injured. Both of their quarterbacks had left the game.
As the injuries piled on and their players were being carried off the field, two Eagles’ players made the following comments. “Do you guys need any more body bags?” and “You guys are going to need an extra bus just to carry all the stretchers!” Because of this, the game is infamously remembered as the ‘Body Bag game.’
Due to the quarterback situation that the Redskins faced in this game, the NFL allowed teams to dress a third quarterback out of their main game day roster to avoid the repeat of a similar situation.
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Sumedh Joshi
(2265 Articles Published)