Eagles' Nick Sirianni defends decision to rest starters despite chance at No. 2 seed

Philadelphia Eagles head coach Nick Sirianni defended his decision to rest starters during a 24-17 loss to the Washington Commanders, despite the opportunity to secure the No. 2 seed in the NFC. The Eagles missed the chance for a higher playoff seed after the Chicago Bears lost 19-16 to the Detroit Lions, which would have allowed Philadelphia to potentially host two playoff games. Instead, with backups playing, the Eagles could not hold off Washington, impacting their playoff positioning.

Quarterback Jalen Hurts and other key players were rested, leading to Tanner McKee starting and completing 21 of 40 passes for 241 yards, a touchdown, and an interception. The Eagles' defense, also composed of backups, could not maintain a 17-10 lead in the fourth quarter. Sirianni emphasized the importance of entering the playoffs healthy, stating that rest was a guaranteed benefit.

The No. 3-seeded Eagles will begin their playoff run at home against the San Francisco 49ers