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Washington dominated the Philadelphia Eagles in a 38-24 win, clinching the NFC East and guaranteeing a home playoff game. Kirk Cousins threw for four touchdowns and 365 yards in the win.
The Eagles got on the board first with a nice eight-play, 80-yard drive, capped off by Ryan Mathews punching it in from the 1-yard line. After the teams exchanged punts, Washington got its first score of the night with Cousins hitting Jordan Reed for a 22-yard touchdown, but Dustin Hopkins shanked the extra point attempt.
On their next drive, Cousins once again established his connection with Reed, hooking up with the tight end for his second touchdown of the night. The Eagles had a chance to take the lead back late in the second quarter, but Nelson Agholor had a brutal drop in the end zone, forcing Philadelphia to settle for a field goal. Washington could've extended its lead at the end of the first half, but Cousins took a knee instead of spiking the ball with seconds left on the clock. Washington instead went into the locker room leading, 16-10.
Washington extended its lead to two possessions when Cousins found Chris Thompson in the end zone. Philadelphia tried making this a game again when DeMarco Murray ran in for a 4-yard touchdown, but Murray gave the ball right back on the Eagles' next drive, muffing a handoff that led to a fumble return touchdown for DeAngelo Hall.
At that point, Washington was comfortable running out the clock, driving down the field on a 14-play, 88-yard drive that ended with Cousins hitting Pierre Garcon on an end zone fade. Washington took a 38-17 lead that made the final quarter more of a formality than anything. Jordan Matthews' touchdown at the 4:40 mark was only a consolation for Philadelphia, which once again got ran off its home field.
Three things we learned
1. Your new NFC East champions
If nothing else, Washington guaranteed that the NFC East winner will finish the season at .500, saving the league some embarrassment from its most-hyped division having a losing record. Washington was far from perfect this season, but it's done enough to rise up the scrap heap and secure a home playoff game. Now it can rest and prepare for its Wild Card opponent, which would currently be the Seattle Seahawks.
2. Jordan Reed is the real deal
Reed always had talent, but injuries and poor quarterback play have prevented him from reaching his true ceiling. He looks to have reached it this year. Cousins-to-Reed is gaining the same kind of supernatural chemistry that we see with Ben Roethlisberger-to-Antonio Brown, Tom Brady-to-Julian Edelman and Philip Rivers-to-Antonio Gates. When Cousins and Reed are on the same page, there aren't many defenses in the league that can stop them, making Washington a tough out in the playoffs.
3. Philadelphia has some serious questions to answer this offseason
What, exactly, is the Eagles' identity right now? For all the bluster and hot takes about Chip Kelly's methods, nobody expected his offense to be this boring and directionless. Sam Bradford doesn't look like the answer at quarterback. DeSean Jackson and Jeremy Maclin are sorely missed in the receiving corps. The running game has been in shambles since Kelly jettisoned LeSean McCoy, and Murray is the biggest free agent bust in recent memory. The defense is getting worse by the week.
Kelly probably won't be fired this year, but he needs to think long and hard about what kind of team he wants next season. This collection of misfits simply isn't getting it done.