The Philadelphia Eagles came into their regular-season finale on Sunday with high hopes of getting a win against the division rival Washington Commanders in order to improve their chances of clinching the No. 2 seed in the NFC heading into the NFL playoffs.
Unfortunately for Philadelphia, the team wasn’t able to accomplish that goal without the majority of its best players on the field, as Washington secured the win, and now the Eagles will have to take on the No. 6 seed San Francisco 49ers in NFC Wild Card Game next weekend.
Nick Sirianni Defends Decision to Bench Starters
GettyHead coach Nick Sirianni of the Philadelphia Eagles
After the loss to the Commanders on Sunday, Eagles head coach Nick Sirianni spoke to the media and was asked if he regretted not playing his starters against Washington.
“No,” Sirianni said. “Again, you go through your process, you make what you think is the best decision for the football team, and that’s what we did. I knew this was an outcome, that these things could happen. Like I said to you guys, one thing I could guarantee was giving them rest. I couldn’t guarantee anything else. Us being healthy and going into the playoffs healthy is a big deal for us and that’s served us well in the past. Again, I know there’ll be debate on that, but I have to do what I think’s best for the football team moving forward, and that’s what I did.”
Clearly, Sirianni is content with his decision, as the team is still in a good position to make a deep run in the playoffs.
However, the questions kept coming, with the Eagles head coach being asked if the players were okay with the decision to sit during Week 18.
“Yeah. Again, I told you guys early in the week, I’m going to talk to everybody and gather information, but at the end of the day, I have to make the decision that I think’s best for the football team,” Sirianni said. “That’s part of being the head coach. You always talk through it with everybody, and at the end of the day, you’ve got to make the decision that you feel is best, and that’s what I did.”
Currently, the Eagles are favored (-3.5) to come out on top against the 49ers at Lincoln Financial Field, but this matchup will certainly be a battle, even with San Francisco banged up on the defensive side of the football.
NFL Playoffs: Date & Time for Eagles vs. 49ers Revealed
GettyJalen Hurts #1 of the Philadelphia Eagles
According to ESPN’s Adam Schefter, the Eagles and 49ers will go head-to-head during Wild Card Weekend on Sunday, January 11 at 4:30 p.m. Eastern Standard Time.
Sirianni also spoke briefly on being set to face the 49ers in this win-or-go home showdown in Philadelphia.
“Every team in the playoffs is going to be a good team,” Sirianni said of facing the 49ers. “It’s going to be a good football team. I’ve got a lot of respect for [49ers Head] Coach [Kyle] Shanahan and all the success that he has had and that team. [49ers Defensive Coordinator] Coach [Robert] Saleh, all those guys. Again, the players. A lot of respect for that football team.”
This is how the playoff bracket looks in both the AFC and NFC, with the Eagles having a potentially tough road ahead even if they come out on top against the 49ers.
Only time will tell how things pan out for Jalen Hurts and company, but the defending Super Bowl champions definitely have a legitimate shot of repeating.
Eagles HC Nick Sirianni Defends Decision to Rest Starters After Loss