In-Depth Analysis of the Washington Commanders vs Philadelphia Eagles Match Player Stats

In a game that few saw coming, the Washington Commanders pulled off a 24-17 victory over the Philadelphia Eagles on January 4, 2026, at Lincoln Financial Field. With the Eagles resting most starters to chase the NFC’s No. 2 seed, backups took the field, but the strategy backfired, dropping them to the No. 3 spot. For the Commanders, it was a feel-good finale to a tough 5-12 season, highlighted by 39-year-old quarterback Josh Johnson’s dual-threat performance.

• Research suggests the Eagles’ decision to rest players like Jalen Hurts and Saquon Barkley opened the door for an upset, though it ultimately cost them seeding.
• Josh Johnson delivered a memorable outing, throwing for 131 yards and a touchdown while adding 45 rushing yards and another score, marking his first rushing touchdown since 2018.
• Terry McLaurin led Commanders receivers with 57 yards, pushing his career total against the Eagles past 1,000 yards.
• Bobby Wagner notched five tackles, surpassing 2,000 for his career and joining an elite group including Ray Lewis and London Fletcher.
• On the Eagles’ side, Tanner McKee threw for 241 yards in his start, and Tank Bigsby rushed for 75 yards and a touchdown, but turnovers and penalties (9 for 123 yards) proved costly.
• DeVonta Smith added 52 yards, securing his third straight 1,000-yard season despite limited play.

The matchup carried different stakes for each team. The Eagles, already clinched as NFC East champs at 11-6, aimed to preserve health for the playoffs but ended up hosting the 49ers in the Wild Card round instead of getting a bye. The Commanders, finishing third in the division behind the 7-9-1 Cowboys, used the game to build momentum and celebrate milestones. Penalties hampered Philadelphia, while Washington dominated time of possession at 34:09.

For more on the full box score, check out Pro Football Reference’s detailed stats here.

Josh Johnson’s story stole the show: at 39, the veteran quarterback showed why he’s stuck around the league for nearly two decades, engineering a fourth-quarter comeback with poise. On defense, Wagner’s milestone added a layer of history. For Eagles fans, Smith’s quiet achievement offered a silver lining in a disappointing close to the regular season.

Picture this: it’s the final Sunday of the 2025 NFL regular season, and the Philadelphia Eagles, locked into the playoffs, decide to give their stars a breather. Meanwhile, the Washington Commanders, with nothing to lose, trot out their backups and veterans for one last push. What unfolds is a gritty 24-17 win for Washington that not only spoils Philly’s seeding hopes but also etches some personal triumphs into the record books. If you’re an NFL fan dissecting the Washington Commanders vs Philadelphia Eagles match player stats, or a fantasy player eyeing those late-season gems, this breakdown dives deep into the numbers, snap counts, and narratives that defined the January 4, 2026, clash at Lincoln Financial Field.

We’ll unpack it all, from offensive fireworks (or lack thereof) to defensive stands, blending the cold hard stats with the human stories, like Josh Johnson’s career-defining moment and Bobby Wagner’s historic tackle count. Think of this as your go-to resource, whether you’re a die-hard Commanders supporter reliving the upset or an Eagles backer analyzing what went wrong in the season finale.

The game was a tale of two approaches. The Eagles, finishing 11-6 and clinching the NFC East, rested key players like Jalen Hurts, Saquon Barkley, A.J. Brown, and most of their offensive line to preserve energy for the postseason. This left Tanner McKee at quarterback and opened opportunities for reserves like Tank Bigsby, who Philadelphia had acquired mid-season via trade. On the flip side, the Commanders (5-12) played with heart, dominating possession and capitalizing on Philly’s nine penalties for 123 yards.

Here’s a snapshot of the team stats to set the stage:

Washington’s ground game powered the win, with 41 rushes for 143 yards and two touchdowns. Philly moved the ball through the air but couldn’t convert in the red zone, settling for a field goal in the third quarter that kept the door open for Johnson’s heroics. The Eagles’ loss dropped them to the NFC’s No. 3 seed, setting up a home Wild Card matchup against the San Francisco 49ers, while the Commanders ended on a high note, going 3-3 in the NFC East.

For context on the division, here’s the final 2025 NFC East standings:

The Eagles’ dominance in the division was clear, but this Week 18 slip-up highlighted the risks of resting starters.

Let’s start with the signal-callers, as the Josh Johnson vs Tanner McKee stats comparison tells a big part of the story. Johnson, the 39-year-old journeyman, stepped in for the Commanders and delivered a performance that felt like a career capstone. He completed 14 of 22 passes for 131 yards, one touchdown, and one interception, while adding nine rushes for 45 yards and a game-sealing one-yard touchdown scamper in the fourth quarter. It was his first rushing score since Week 14 of 2018, and the first time since then he’d notched both a passing and rushing touchdown in the same game. Imagine being in your late 30s, bouncing around the league for 18 years, and then leading a comeback against a playoff team: that’s the kind of grit that makes football special.

On the Eagles’ side, third-year backup Tanner McKee got the nod and showed flashes, going 21 of 40 for 241 yards, one touchdown (a 15-yard strike to Grant Calcaterra), and one interception. His longest pass went for 31 yards to Tank Bigsby, but three sacks for 14 yards lost disrupted the rhythm. McKee’s 68.9 passer rating reflects a solid effort against a motivated Commanders defense, but it wasn’t enough to hold off the late surge.

Rushing was where Washington shined. Chris Rodriguez Jr. led with 16 carries for 65 yards and a one-yard touchdown plunge in the second quarter. Rookie Jacory Croskey-Merritt added 13 carries for 29 yards, capping a season where he racked up 805 rushing yards, the sixth-most by a Commanders rookie ever. For the Eagles, Tank Bigsby’s Week 18 performance stood out: 16 carries for 75 yards and a two-yard touchdown that briefly gave Philly a 14-10 lead. His 31-yard reception added versatility, but the ground attack stalled overall.

Receiving-wise, Terry McLaurin’s career stats vs the Philadelphia Eagles hit new heights. He hauled in all four targets for 57 yards, pushing his lifetime yards against Philly over 1,000 (1,027 total), passing Gary Clark for fourth in franchise history against the Eagles. Deebo Samuel chipped in two catches for 20 yards, while tight end John Bates scored on a two-yard reception from Johnson, his first touchdown catch since 2022.

For the Eagles, DeVonta Smith quietly crossed the 1,000-yard mark for the third straight season, finishing with 77 receptions for 1,008 yards overall. In this game, he had three grabs for 52 yards, including a leaping 27-yard catch that sealed the milestone. Jahan Dotson added three for 40 yards, and Calcaterra’s touchdown grab was a highlight.

Defense kept this game close, with both sides generating pressure. The Commanders sacked McKee three times: Daron Payne, Noah Igbinoghene (his first career sack), and Von Miller each got one. Miller’s ninth sack of the season tied him with DeMarcus Ware for ninth all-time since 1982. Safety Jeremy Reaves snagged an interception (his second career pick) for 28 yards, setting up a field goal. Bobby Wagner’s 2000 career tackles milestone came with five stops (one solo, four assists), his lowest output of the year but enough to join Ray Lewis and London Fletcher as the only players to hit that mark.

Eagles defenders like Jeremiah Trotter Jr. (12 tackles) and Jihaad Campbell (10) were busy, but no sacks on Johnson hurt their cause. Jalyx Hunt recovered a fumble and intercepted a pass, but penalties undermined the unit.

Here’s a table of top tacklers:

Special teams played clean. Washington’s Jake Moody hit a 56-yard field goal (his second-longest ever) and went 3/3 on extra points. Philly’s Jake Elliott was perfect on his attempts. Punter Tress Way tied a franchise games-played record.

Snap counts reveal workload: For Commanders offense, linemen like Andrew Wylie played all 69 snaps (100%), while McLaurin saw 70%. On defense, Wagner, Reaves, and Frankie Luvu were in for every play. No full Eagles snaps available, but reserves like Bigsby and McKee carried the load.

This game wasn’t just stats: it was about legacies. Johnson’s rushing touchdown capped an emotional victory, proving age is just a number in the NFL. Wagner’s entry into the 2,000-tackle club adds to his Hall of Fame case. McLaurin’s dominance vs Philly cements him as a Commanders great, and Smith’s 1,000-yard season shows consistency despite team changes. Even Bigsby’s solid outing hints at his potential as a rotational back.

In the broader Week 18 NFL recap, this result shook up playoff seeding, reminding teams that every game matters.

Wrapping up the Washington Commanders season finale stats 2026, this matchup showed how backups can flip scripts. For fantasy players, gems like Johnson’s dual scores or Bigsby’s yards could inform offseason drafts. Eagles fans, take heart in Smith’s milestone; Commanders supporters, celebrate the upset.

Actionable takeaways: 1. Always scout backups in meaningless games for fantasy insights. 2. Study snap counts to predict workloads. 3. Track milestones like Wagner’s for historical context.

What did you think of Johnson’s performance? Share in the comments!

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What was Josh Johnson’s rushing touchdown significance?

It was his first since 2018 and part of a rare passing-rushing TD double in the game.

How did Terry McLaurin perform against the Eagles?

He had four catches for 57 yards, surpassing 1,000 career yards vs Philadelphia.

Did DeVonta Smith reach 1,000 yards in 2025?

Yes, he finished with 1,008 yards, marking his third straight 1,000-yard season.

What were Tank Bigsby’s rushing stats in Week 18?

He rushed 16 times for 75 yards and one touchdown.

How many tackles did Bobby Wagner have to reach 2,000 career?

He added five in the game, pushing him over the milestone.

What were the final NFC East standings in 2025?

Eagles 11-6, Cowboys 7-9-1, Commanders 5-12, Giants 4-13.

Who were the starting QBs in the Commanders vs Eagles game?

Josh Johnson for Washington and Tanner McKee for Philadelphia.