Eagles coach defends controversial decision to go for two points late vs Commanders

Greg Olsen and Joe Davis break down the Philadelphia Eagles' win over the Washington Commanders.

Philadelphia Eagles head coach Nick Sirianni defended going for two points late against the Washington Commanders with about 4:30 left in Saturday’s game.

Eagles running back Saquon Barkley ran the ball in for the conversion to put Philadelphia up 19 points. Philadelphia went on to win 29-18. The move sparked a huge brawl that resulted in Commanders defenders Javon Kinlaw and Quan Martin, and Eagles offensive lineman Tyler Steen being ejected from the game.

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Washington Commanders linebacker Bobby Wagner (54) argues with Philadelphia Eagles running back Saquon Barkley (26) after a fight in the fourth quarter at Northwest Stadium on Dec. 20, 2025. (Geoff Burke/Imagn Images)

Sirianni said he wasn’t running up the score – the decision was more about being comfortable being up 19 points instead of 18.

"We wanted to make sure we went up that way, just in case. That was what our math told us in that particular case," Sirianni said. "It’s a division game. It’s always back-and-forth. … That’s the team we played in the NFC championship game last year. I know how badly they wanted to beat us.

"I know how badly we wanted to beat them. We’ve always got to keep our cool in moments like that. But that’s NFC East football. … They’ve got tough guys. We’ve got tough guys."

Philadelphia Eagles head coach Nick Sirianni talks to the media during a news conference following an NFL football game against the Washington Commanders, Saturday, Dec. 20, 2025, in Landover, Maryland. (AP Photo/Stephanie Scarbrough)

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