The Commanders ended the season with a 24-17 defeat of the Philadelphia Eagles on the road at Lincoln Financial Field.
Eagles head coach Nick Sirianni made the controversial decision to rest most of his starters to keep them fresh for the playoffs. The Eagles listed starters for the game included 3 players on offense who had started in the season opener and 5 on defense who were starters on opening day.
Commanders head coach Dan Quinn fielded the starters he had available. They included 5 players on
offense who had started on opening day and 7 players on defence.
There were noticeable similarities to a preseason game. Having written up every game this season, I would have to say that there was about as little going on in this game as any of them.
The Commanders’ biggest two positive plays on offense were pass interference calls on the Eagles. The Commanders only managed 7 plays over +/-2.4 EPA, including the two DPI penalties and an incompletion by Eagles backup QB Tanner McKee.
The Eagles only managed 5 big plays, one of which was a missed chip-shot field good by Commanders’ kicker Jake Moody, and another was a botched snap that QB Josh Johnson didn’t see coming.
While some fans celebrated the Commanders’ fifth and final win of the season, others lamented that winning the meaningless battle of the backups cost Washington two positions in the draft order.
In the interest of completeness, here is a rundown of who played where, who stepped up and who didn’t in the 2025 season closer.
Stats Sources
Stats were sourced from the NFL, Pro Football Reference (PFR), Pro Football Focus (PFF), or ESPN. NFL official stats were used whenever available. When the source is not indicated, it means either than NFL official stats were used or that there was agreement between stats services. The source is not always indicated if a stat is only available from one source (eg. PFF: stops, run stops, Y/RR, QB hurries; ESPN: QBR).
BIGGEST PLAYS OF THE GAME
Expected Points Added (EPA) quantifies the contribution of individual plays to a team’s scoring potential on a drive. These are all the plays with EPA greater than 2.4 or less than -2.4.
Biggest Plays for Commanders
Q2, 9:57, 3rd and 9 at PHI 24: Josh Johnson pass incomplete deep right intended for Treylon Burks. Penalty on Jakorian Bennett: Defensive Pass Interference, 23 yards. EPA 4.16
Q4, 12:02, 1st and 10 at PHI 30: Josh Johnson pass incomplete deep left intended for Deebo Samuel. Penalty on Mac McWilliams: Defensive Pass Interference, 29 yards. EPA 3.39
Q2, 12:20, 3rd and 7 at WAS 38: Josh Johnson pass complete deep left to Terry McLaurin for 25 yards. EPA 2.69
Q4, 4:51, 3rd and 7 at PHI 11: Josh Johnson scrambles left end for 7 yards. EPA 2.66
Q1, 7:26, 4th and 3 at PHI 44: Josh Johnson pass complete short left to Terry McLaurin for 5 yards. EPA 2.65
Q2, 4:49, 4th and 2 at WAS 6: Tanner McKee pass incomplete short right intended for Grant Calcaterra. EPA -2.63
Q2, 1:00, 3rd and 10 at WAS 20: Tanner McKee pass deep left intended for Jahan Dotson is intercepted by Jeremy Reaves at WAS-1 and returned for 28 yards. EPA -3.88
Biggest Plays for Eagles
Q2, 13:43, 3rd and 7 at WAS 15: Tanner McKee pass complete short middle to Grant Calcaterra for 15 yards, touchdown. EPA 3.54
Q1, 0:22, 3rd and 1 at PHI 40: Tanner McKee pass complete deep right to DeVonta Smith for 27 yards. EPA 2.42
Q1, 2:36, 4th and 5 at PHI 6: Jake Moody 24 yard field goal no good. EPA -3.27
Q2, 2:00, 2nd and 7 at WAS 24: Josh Johnson pass short right intended for Deebo Samuel is intercepted by Jalyx Hunt at WAS-22 and returned for no gain. EPA -4.32
Q3, 10:57, 1st and 10 at WAS 42: Josh Johnson aborted snap, recovered by Jalyx Hunt at WAS-28. EPA -5.44
OFFENSE
The offense only committed 2 penalties this week.
Josh Johnson completed a modest 14/22 passes (63.6%; ADOt 6.0 yds) for 131 yards, 13 first downs, 1 TD and 1 INT. He added 45 yds on 9 rushing attempts (5.0 Y/A) with 4 first downs and 1 TD (55.6% Success Rate). He also fumbled for a second number.
Despite those fairly modest stats, his 89.4 Total QBR was second highest in Week 18, trailing only Buffalo’s Mitch Trubisky at 90.8. The reason for that is that, despite the low totals and the two turnovers, he was very efficient at moving the ball when called upon.
Despite not being designated the starter, Chris Rodriguez was the most productive rusher, with 16 carries for 65 yds (4.1 Y/A), 4 first downs and 1 TD. He averaged a healthy 2.3 YBC/Att per PFR with 2 broken tackles per PFR, or a more paltry 1.25 YBC/Att with 6 forced missed tackles, if you prefer PFF. He also caught his lone passing target for an 18 yd gain, with all 18 yds after the catch.
Bill Croskey-Merritt had a harder time finding running space and averaged just 2.2 Y/A on 13 carries for 29 yds with 2 first downs (30.8% Success Rate). He fumbled once without turning the ball over. While there were some discrepancies on the numbers, there was agreement that he was contacted earlier than his teammate. PFR recorded 1.40 YBC/Att and PFF had him at just 0.92 YBC/Att.
Jeremy McNichols had 1 carry for 3 yds, and added an 8 yard reception on 1 passing target.
Terry McLaurin caught 4/4 targets for 57 yards and generated even more yardage than that in pass interference penalties on the Eagles’ backup defensive backs. He was by far the most productive receiver at 2.38 Y/RR among Commanders with more than one target.
Deebo Samuel was second on the team with just 20 receiving yards on 2 receptions out of 5 targets (0.83 Y/RR). He also had 2 carries for 1 yd.
Treylon Burks caught 2/4 targets for 12 yds. He also had the highest PFF run blocking grade on the team: 70.7.
John Bates led the TEs by catching 2/2 targets for 13 yards and 1 TD. As usual, he spent most of his time on the field as a run blocker. His 65.7 run blocking grade was the third highest on the team.
Ben Sinnott caught 2/2 passes for 3 yards. He played a team-high 9 snaps from the fullback alignment, although he was only second on the team in percentage of snaps at FB (23.7%). His 61.2 run block grade was fourth highest on the team.
Sinnott committed 2 false start infractions in the 4th quarter (11:14, 3:21), both on 2nd and 1 from the Philadelphia 1 yd line.
Trent Scott was used as an extra blocker at the iTE and FB positions. He led the Commanders in proportion of snaps at FB, at a whopping 30%. Sadly, he was not targeted as a receiver.
The Commanders were completely stable at OL for the first time since Week 14.
Back-up LT Brandon Coleman allowed just 1 QB hurry in 34 pass blocking snaps (2.9% Pressure Rate). He earned a 57.7 run blocking grade.
LG Chris Paul also allowed 1 hurry (2.9% Pressure Rate). His 42.5 run blocking grade was the lowest on the OL, which is not unusual for him.
Paul committed the only OL penalty this week, a 5 yard false start infraction in the 3rd quarter.
Back-up C Nick Allegretti was perfect in pass protection (0 pressures) and less than perfect at run blocking (43.1 run block grade(.
Back-up RG Andrew Wylie allowed 1 QB hit and 1 hurry (5.9% Pressure Rate). He earned a 55.1 run blocking grade.
RT Josh Conerly Jr capped off a very promising rookie campaign with a perfect game in pass protection (0 pressures). He earned a 55.0 run blocking grade.
DEFENSE
Only 3 penalties were called on the defense this week.
Jacob Martin tallied just 1 tackle, 1 assist, and 1 QB hit on the official stat sheet, but added 3 hurries (11.4% Pressure Rate) and 2 run stops (16.7% Run Stop Rate) via PFF’s advance metrics. Over the season he has averaged 11% Pressure Rate and 5.3% Run Stop rate, which are decent numbers for a rotational pass rush specialist.
Von Miller recorded 1 tackle, 1 assist, 1 sack, 1 TFL, and 1 QB hit. PFF adds another hurry, to bring his Pressure Rate to a very respectable 15.8% (season average 12.5%). The sack brought Miller’s career total to 138.5 tying him at 9th place on the NFL leader board, dating back to 1982, when the NFL started counting sacks as an official statistic.
Drake Jackson and Preston Smith each contributed 1 tackle assist. Jacksongenerated 1 hurry.
He also committed the first penalty of his NFL career, a false start infraction for 5 yds in the 2nd quarter.
LDT Daron Payne was used at DE on 38.1% of defensive snaps. He flashed reminders of why Ron Rivera signed him to a premium contract. He recorded 3 tackles, 1 assist, 1 sack, 1 tackle and 2 QB hits on the official stat sheet. Three additional hurries recorded by PFF bring his Pressure Rate to 18.2%, which was the highest on the DL and is very good for an interior lineman. His team-leading 22.2% Run Stop Rate (2 stops/9 run def. snaps) was also outstanding, notwithstanding being based on a tiny sample.
RDT Javon Kinlaw recorded 2 tackles, 2 assists and 1 TFL in the official books. PFF counted 4 hurries resulting in a very healthy 11.4% Pressure Rate for an interior defender.
NT Shy Tuttle recorded 1 official tackle assist.
A week after his career day against the Cowboys, Johnny Newton fell back down to earth hard, recording no official stats against the Eagles. PFF counted 1 QB hurry. He was used at DE on 52.6% of defensive snaps. Ricky Barber was in the same boat, with no official or advanced stats to report.
Bobby Wagner recorded just 1 tackle and 4 assists, his lowest output of the season. That tackle was the 2,000th of his career, putting him in the company of Ray Lewis and Redskins’ great London Fletcher as the only players in NFL history to achieve that milestone.
He was targeted 4 times in coverage, allowing 3 receptions for 37 yds, per PFF. PFR counted just 2 tgt, 1 rec and 12 yds.
Wagner was flagged for a facemask near the end of the third quarter, but the penalty was offset by one on the offense, resulting in no play.
Frankie Luvu split time nearly equally between off ball LB and edge defense. He recorded 1 tackle and 1 QB hit, with 1 missed tackle. He was targeted once in coverage, allowing a 12 yd reception.
Jordan Magee played less than half as much as the other starters, yet still recorded 3 tackles and 1 assist, with 2 total defensive stops and 1 consensus missed tackle.
In coverage, PFF recorded 1 tgt, 1 rec for 3 yds. PFR counted 2 tgt, 2 rec and 34 yds.
Jonathan Jones was the Commanders most second most active defender, recording 6 tackles and 1 assist, including 2 run stops (12.5% Run Stop Rate).
In coverage he allowed 6 rec for 90 yds (1.96 Y/Cov Snap), about twice the rate of yardage allowed that you would like to see from a boundary corner. PFF counted 11 targets (54.5% Rec); while PFR counted 12 (50% rec).
Mike Sainristil had a made 3 tackles and 3 assists with 1 run stop. He was solid in coverage, allowing just 4 receptions in 46 coverage snaps for 40 yds (0.87 Y/Cov Snp) with 1 PBU. PFF counted 7 tgts (57.1% rec); while PFR counted 6 (66.7% rec).
Sainristil was called for holding on the same no-play as Wagner’s facemask, so it did not count.
Noah Igbinoghene decorated the official stat sheet with 2 tackles, 1 assist, 1 sack and 1 QB hit. He generated pressure on a team leading 100% of pass rush attempts (n=2). He allowed 0 receptions in 25 coverage snaps. PFR counted 1 tgt, but PFF attributed it to another defender.
All-Pro Reavo was Washington’s most active defender with 5 tackles, 1 assist, 1 INT, and 2 PBU in the official stat sheet.
In 46 coverage snaps, he allowed 4 targets and 2 receptions for 14 yds, per PFF. PFR was not as kind to him, recording 7 tgt, 4 rec, and 48 yds.
Will Harris recorded 2 tackles and 1 assist. In 46 coverage snaps, he allowed 4 tgt and 3 rec for 30 yds PFF, or 2 tgt, 2 rec for 18 yds, per PFR.
Quan Martin has been getting less and less playing time as the season has wound down. And that trend continued. He was targeted once in 6 coverage snaps and conceded a 15 yd TD reception to TE Grant Calcaterra.
SPECIAL TEAMS
There were no penalties on special teams this week.
Kicker Jake Moody made a field goal from 56 yds and missed one from 24 yds. Thankfully, he was 3/3 on extra points. The missed chip shot brings his total to 2 misses out of 18 kicks (11.1%) from under 30 yards with 3 teams this season, including field goal and extra point attempts. He has only made 87% of attempts from under 40 yards. He should face competition in camp.
By and large Tress Way continued his master class in punting, which I have been highlighting this season. He punted 3 times for 151 total yards (50.3 YPA), with a long of 63 yds and 1 landed inside the Eagles’ 20. Uncharacteristically, two of the punts were returned by Britain Covey for 12 and 8 yds. Covey’s 10 YPR average was more than double Way’s season season average. Nevertheless, thanks in part to Larry Izzo’s coverage unit, Way still finished the season as the NFL leader at 4.6 YPR (min. 15 attempts). The next closest punter was Buffalo’s Mitch Wishnowsky at 6.3 YPR.
Treylon Burks returned 1 kickoff for 22 yds.
Last and least, River Cracraft returned 1 punt for 1 yd.
Nick Bellore, Ale Kaho and Antonio Hamilton made 1 tackle apiece in coverage.
Jeremy Reaves made 1 tackle, with 1 miss.
Quan Martin chipped in 1 tackle assist.
And John Bates missed 1 tackle.
That’s a Wrap
That’s it from me for the 2025 season. I will back after a two week holiday across the ditch with one or two season wrap-ups before diving into the draft and other off-season topics.
