The Philadelphia Eagles’ quest for a higher seed in the NFC playoffs just got a significant boost. With only three games remaining in the 2025 regular season, the Eagles received some welcome news on Monday: the Washington Commanders are shutting down their star quarterback, Jayden Daniels, for the rest of the year. This development removes a formidable obstacle from two of Philadelphia’s upcoming matchups, potentially paving the way for the Eagles to climb the standings.
Currently, if the season ended today, the Eagles would hold the No. 3 seed in the NFC. Ahead of them are the Los Angeles Rams at 11-3 and the Green Bay Packers, with the Chicago Bears sitting at 10-4. The Bears hold the tiebreaker over Philadelphia in the event of identical records, while the Eagles have the edge over the Rams. It’s a tight race, and while the Eagles can’t control the outcomes of other teams’ games, they can focus on their own schedule to maximize their chances.
Philadelphia’s final three games include two against the Washington Commanders and one against the Buffalo Bills. Winning all three would give the Eagles their best shot at moving up the leaderboard and securing multiple home playoff games. The Commanders, currently 4-10, were already underdogs, but the absence of Daniels makes these contests even more winnable for the Eagles.
According to NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport, the Commanders made the decision after re-evaluating Daniels, who has not yet been cleared to return. “Sources: The Commanders have decided to shut down QB Jayden Daniels for the final 3 games, turning his focus to supporting Marcus Mariota,” Rapoport reported. “Daniels was re-evaluated today & not yet cleared. With him expected to be medically ruled out vs. the Eagles, then facing a short week vs. the Cowboys on Christmas, the final decision was made today…
“Marcus Mariota had a clean, efficient game against the #Giants, one of the better backups in the NFL. Now, he gets the final three starts as Jayden Daniels resets for next season.”
No disrespect to Mariota—he’s a capable veteran who has kept Washington competitive in Daniels’ absence. However, at this stage in their careers, Mariota isn’t the dynamic threat that Daniels represents. The second-year quarterback has been a revelation for the Commanders, bringing mobility and playmaking ability that could have challenged the Eagles’ defense. Without him, these games should resemble Philadelphia’s earlier dominant win over the Las Vegas Raiders.
Of course, the Buffalo Bills loom as the toughest test in the Eagles’ remaining slate. Buffalo’s high-powered offense and stout defense will demand Philadelphia’s best effort. But if the Eagles can build on their recent optimistic performance and go 3-0 down the stretch, they’ll position themselves for whatever shakes out in the NFC standings.
It’s easy to dwell on the season’s negatives, but this latest update injects some positivity into the Eagles’ playoff push. By taking care of business on the field, Philadelphia can let the chips fall where they may. If you’re an Eagles fan, this bombshell couldn’t have come at a better time.