PHILADELPHIA (Interstat) — In a stunning upset that defied overwhelming odds, the Washington Commanders closed a difficult season with a resilient 24-17 victory over the Philadelphia Eagles on Sunday at Lincoln Financial Field.

Playing the role of spoiler against an Eagles team with playoff aspirations, Washington overcame a sluggish start and a significant third-quarter deficit, scoring 14 unanswered points in the final period to secure the win before an announced crowd of 69,879. The victory improved Washington’s final record to five wins and 12 losses, while Philadelphia fell to 11-6, its postseason positioning now in jeopardy ahead of a critical Week 18 finale.

The most important part of the game was Washington’s fourth-quarter resurgence, a methodical and gritty display that erased a Philadelphia lead built on momentum. After the Eagles scored 17 consecutive points to take a 17-10 advantage, the Commanders authored two marathon touchdown drives that consumed clock and capitalised on critical Philadelphia errors.

Washington quarterback Josh Johnson, the 39-year-old veteran from Oakland, California, orchestrated the comeback with poised efficiency. He completed 14 of 22 passes for 131 yards and a touchdown, adding 45 crucial yards and another score on the ground. His 1-yard touchdown scramble with 2 minutes and 32 seconds remaining in the game provided the decisive points, capping a 13-play, 65-yard drive that took more than seven minutes off the clock.

The Commanders’ winning drive was sustained by a 32-yard defensive pass interference penalty on Eagles cornerback Kelee Ringo and fueled by the steady running of Chris Rodriguez Jr., who finished with 65 yards and a touchdown on 16 carries. Earlier in the quarter, Washington had tied the game at 17-17 on a 2-yard Johnson pass to tight end John Bates, concluding a 13-play, 65-yard march that was extended by a 29-yard pass interference call.

Philadelphia, which had seized control after a listless first half, could not answer. Eagles quarterback Tanner McKee, starting in place of an injured Jalen Hurts, struggled with consistency, completing 21 of 40 attempts for 241 yards with one touchdown and one interception. His final four passes of the game fell incomplete as the Eagles’ last desperate drive ended with a sack by Noah Igbinoghene.

The game began as a defensive struggle, with both offenses sputtering through a scoreless first quarter. Washington’s Jake Moody missed a 24-yard field goal attempt off the right upright on the game’s opening possession, squandering a promising 16-play drive.

Philadelphia broke the deadlock early in the second quarter. McKee engineered a 67-yard drive, connecting with tight end Grant Calcaterra on a 15-yard touchdown pass to give the Eagles a 7-0 lead.

Washington responded immediately. Johnson hit Terry McLaurin for a 25-yard gain to spark a 65-yard drive, which Rodriguez finished with a 1-yard plunge to tie the game. Just before halftime, the Commanders took their first lead. A 28-yard interception return by safety Jeremy Reaves set up a last-second, 56-yard field goal by Moody as time expired, sending Washington into the locker room with a 10-7 advantage.

The Eagles dominated the third quarter, scoring 10 points to reclaim the lead. They opened the second half with a 10-play, 72-yard touchdown drive, all on the ground, capped by a 2-yard Tank Bigsby run. Bigsby was a workhorse for Philadelphia, rushing for 75 yards on 16 carries and adding a 31-yard reception. Later in the quarter, a Jake Elliott 39-yard field goal extended the Eagles’ lead to 17-10, setting the stage for Washington’s fourth-quarter rally.

Defensively, Washington was led by linebackers Bobby Wagner and Jordan Magee, while the secondary, led by Reaves and his key interception, held firm in critical moments. For Philadelphia, linebacker Jeremiah Trotter Jr. recorded a game-high 12 tackles, and Jalyx Hunt added two tackles and a pivotal interception.

The loss is a significant setback for the Eagles, who were projected by Interstat’s ELO system with a 95.30 percent probability to win and were 3-point pregame favorites. The total score of 41 points went under the betting over/under line of 38.5. Philadelphia must now regroup for a must-win game against the San Francisco 49ers next Sunday to secure its playoff fate.

For Washington, the victory provides a positive conclusion to a season marked by close losses and offensive struggles, offering a measure of momentum heading into the offseason.