Jan. 2, 2026, 12:11 p.m. ET

The Philadelphia Eagles and Washington Commanders have been doing this for a while. This feud dates back to October 1934, when the latter was still in Boston and calling themselves the Braves. That makes this coming tussle the 183rd between the two. Washington leads the all-time series by a 90-87-5 margin. The next meeting will be decided with the Eagles’ starters riding the pine and enjoying some rest before the NFL playoffs begin.

Philadelphia can still earn the NFC’s second seed. They need to win in the finale, and they need a Chicago Bears loss vs. the Detroit Lions. If both scenarios play out, the Eagles rise from the third-seeded team to the second.

Victory is left up to the reserves, and here’s where we can all smile. The backups are good enough to win a home game vs. a battered and bruised Commanders team with nothing significant to play for.

Tanner McKee throws two touchdown passes, one to Jahan Dotson.

Tanner McKee is undefeated as a starter. Yes, he’s only played one game, and yes, that game was in 2024 vs. the lowly New York Giants. No one cares. He played for and against an NFL team. He won. Case closed… We repeat. Tanner McKee is undefeated as a starter.

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We are near the first anniversary of the day McKee completed 27 of 41 passes (65.9%), resulting in 269 yards and two touchdowns. He notched a 100.6 rating. We predict similar results in another regular-season finale.

Philadelphia will allow McKee moments to toss the ball around. Remember this. Before last year’s start, he entered a Week 17 game in relief of Kenny Pickett and threw two TDs on three completions. He only attempted four throws in that game.

Whether we realize this or not, this is a mini-audition for the NFL’s 31 other teams. It’s also an audition for some of the other reserves on the Eagles’ roster.

Tank Bigsby and Will Shipley combine for 175 yards rushing and 50 yards receiving.

The strengths of Nick Sirianni-led teams are that they are consistently competitive and have always been able to run the football. A quarterback’s best friend has always been a strong running game. Cue the Tank Bigsby and Will Shipley two-headed monster.

Eagles fans have clamored for more of Bigsby all season. They’ll see plenty of him in this one. Shipley will play the role of the return man and the necessary sidekick.

They combine for 225 total yards from scrimmage in this one. That leads to discussions about why these guys aren’t being implemented into the offense more often.

Kelee Ringo breaks up three passes.

It’s been a tough season for Kelee Ringo. He just hasn’t taken the step forward that some expected. He hasn’t taken the step forward that Philadelphia wanted to see.

Here’s an opportunity to end the regular season on a high note. Yes, he’ll have some challenges in this one, but he’ll do more good than harm and walk out of this one with a satisfactory performance punctuated by three pass breakups.

Ty Robinson produces three pressures and a sack.

If you’re like the rest of us and have waited to see some Ty Robinson magic, here comes your opportunity. This seems like the time to give significant snaps to a rookie defender we were all excited about.

He’s been a healthy scratch several times this season and active for ten games. In total, he has played 53 snaps and another 29 on special teams.

His 19 snaps in Philadelphia’s road game vs. the New York Giants are his season high. He should surpass that in this one (we hope).

How can you not be excited about a guy they call ‘The Vanilla Gorilla’? We’re on record for a three-pressure, one-sack prediction.

The Eagles win by ten points or more.

Look, this is a good Eagles team, and at random times during the Nick Sirianni era, we’ve seen the reserves play well when the starters have taken the final Week off. There are exceptions, but this isn’t a game that Philadelphia’s backups can’t win.

They indeed will win, and they’ll do so convincingly. The home fans leave happy here as Tanner McKee and company spearhead a ten-point win at home. Prediction: Eagles 27, Commanders 17