Eagles vs. Washington score, results: Washington clinches NFC East with win in Philly

Jacob Hancock

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Eagles vs. Washington score, results: Washington clinches NFC East with win in Philly image

Well, someone had to win the NFC East, so why not the Washington Football Team?

Washington clinched the division title and a playoff berth with a 20-14 win over the Eagles on "Sunday Night Football." It certainly wasn't flashy, but Washington's defense held Philadelphia scoreless in the second half to seal the victory.

Alex Smith completed 22 of 32 passes (68.8 percent) for 162 yards with a pair of first-half touchdowns, followed by a couple of second-half interceptions. But the big key for Washington was that neither of those turnovers led to points for the Eagles.

Washington scored on each of its first two possessions to set the tone. Smith threw a perfect TD pass to Terry McLaurin in the corner of the end zone on the opening drive. Then Kamren Curl came up with an interception that set up a 42-yard field goal by Dustin Hopkins to make it 10-0.

The Eagles responded in the second quarter with a pair of touchdowns, both coming on runs by rookie QB Jalen Hurts, to take a 14-10 lead with 3:54 remaining in the first half.

Following punts from both teams, Washington got the ball back at its 45-yard line, thanks to a 20-yard return by Steve Sims Jr., with 1:24 to play in the half. That allowed Smith to string together a nine-play, 55-yard TD drive that ended with a perfectly executed jump ball to Logan Thomas for a 13-yard score to make it 17-14 with 20 seconds to spare before halftime.

After that, there wasn't much excitement outside of Eagles coach Doug Pederson passing up a tying field goal late in the third quarter to try to score on fourth-and-goal from the Washington 4. Hurts' pass for Quez Watkins in the end zone fell incomplete and Washington took over on downs.

MORE: Eagles' decision to switch QBs called a 'disgrace'

There also was a two-minute stretch in the fourth quarter that saw three turnovers in just six plays. It started when Nate Sudfeld inexplicably entered the game for Hurts. Sudfeld was picked off by Jeremy Reaves, giving Washington the ball at its 45 with 11:37 remaining.

Three plays later, Philadelphia's defense came up with a big play as T.J. Edwards picked off Smith's pass, giving the Eagles the ball back at their 41 with 10:13 to play. Just two plays later, however, Sudfeld fumbled the snap and Defensive Rookie of the Year front-runner Chase Young scooped it up, giving Washington the ball at the Philadelphia 25.

That recovery set up another 42-yard field goal from Hopkins to extend Washington's lead to 20-14 with 7:42 left in the game.

Hurts never re-entered the game. He finished with 7-of-20 passing (35 percent) for 72 yards with an interception. He also ran for 34 yards and the two TDs.

Washington (7-9) will play Tom Brady and the Buccaneers (11-5) in the NFC wild-card round at FedEx Field on Saturday, Jan. 9, at 8:15 p.m. ET.

Sporting News tracked live scoring updates and highlights from Eagles vs. Washington on "Sunday Night Football." Follow below for complete results from the NFL Week 17 game.

MORE: Watch NFL games live with fuboTV (7-day free trial)

Eagles vs. Washington score

  Q1 Q2 Q3 Q4 Final
Eagles 0 14 0 0 14
Washington 10 7 0 3 20

Eagles vs. Washington live updates, highlights from 'Sunday Night Football'

(All times Eastern)

FINAL: Washington 20, Eagles 14.

11:20 p.m. — Washington punts.  The Eagles get the stop they need and get the ball back at their 8-yard line with 56 seconds remaining.

11:15 p.m. — First Down, Washington.  Ty McGill jumps into the neutral zone and gives Washington the first. That should all but do it here.

11:13 p.m. — 2-Minute Warning.  Washington has it but it's fourth and 1 at its 49-yard line. Big decision coming here.

11:05 p.m. — Eagles punt.  Sudfeld still in the game but can't get much going; Washington gets the ball back at its 25-yard line with 4:28 remaining. Philadelphia has two timeouts and the 2-minute warning to stop the clock.

10:56 p.m. — FIELD GOAL, WASHINGTON.  Hopkins connects from 42 yards to extend Washington's lead to 20-14 with 7:42 left to play in regulation.

10:52 p.m. — FUMBLE.  Sudfeld can't handle a low snap and Chase Young scoops it up for the turnover. Washington gets it back at the Philadelphia 25-yard line with 9:34 remaining.

10:48 p.m. — INTERCEPTION.  Philly gets it right back as Smith is picked off by T.J. Edwards. Eagles take over at their 41-yard line with 10:13 left to play.

10:44 p.m. — INTERCEPTION.  Sudfeld's pass on third down is picked off by Jeremy Reaves and Washington takes over at its 45-yard line with 11:37 remaining.

10:40 p.m. — Washington punts.  Eagles get the ball back at their 11-yard line with 12:35 remaining in regulation.

10:35 p.m. — END OF 3Q: Washington 17, Eagles 14.  Washington has it, third and 1 at its 24-yard line to start the fourth quarter. Nate Sudfeld enters the game at QB for Hurts.

10:28 p.m. — TURNOVER ON DOWNS.  Philadelphia fails to get points off the turnover as Hurts' pass falls incomplete on fourth and goal. Washington takes over at its 4-yard line with 1:54 remaining in the third quarter.

10:24 p.m. — INTERCEPTION.  Marucs Epps lays the wood on JD McKissic as the ball is thrown to him in the flat and then gathers the bobbled ball for the pick. Philadelphia takes over at the Washington 15-yard line with 4:54 remaining in the third quarter.

10:21 p.m. — Eagles punt.  Philly is finally able to move the ball into Washington territory but the drive stalls out. Washington gets the ball back at its 20-yard line with 4:58 left in the third quarter.

10:13 p.m. — Washington punts.  Three three-and-outs between both teams to start the half; Philadelphia takes over at its 29-yard line with 9:32 remaining in the third quarter.

10:08 p.m. — Eagles punt.  Philaelphia goes three and out as well after some nice pressure by Chase Young to bother Hurts. Washington gets the ball back at its 18-yard line with 11:02 remaining in the third quarter.

10:05 p.m. — Washington punts.  Three and out for Washington to start the half, Eagles get the ball back at their 28-yard line with 12:31 left in the third quarter.

9:47 p.m. — HALF: Washington 17, Eagles 14.  Washington will get the ball to start the second half.

9:42 p.m. — TOUCHDOWN, WASHINGTON.  Smith throws a jump ball up to Logan Thomas, who goes up and gets it for the 13-yard TD. Washington leads 17-14 with 20 seconds left in the half.

9:32 p.m. — Eagles punt.  A quick three-and-out gives Washington the ball back at its 45-yard line following a 20-yard return by Steven Sims Jr., 1:24 left before halftime.

9:26 p.m. — Washington punts.  Smith is sacked by Alex Singleton on third down and Philadelphia gets the ball back at its 26-yard line with 1:52 left to play in the half.

9:21 p.m. — TOUCHDOWN, EAGLES.  Hurts scrambles up the middle and trots in untouched for a 6-yard rushing score to give Philadelphia a 14-10 lead with 3:54 remaining in the first half.

9:13 p.m. — Washington punts.  Philadelphia gets the ball back at its 35-yard line with 8:03 left in the first half, chance to tie or take the lead.

9:05 p.m. — TOUCHDOWN, EAGLES.  A nice bounceback from the turnover on the previous drive as Hurts caps it off with a 6-yard TD run on the read option. Washington's lead is now 10-7 with 10:18 remaining in the second quarter.

8:57 p.m. — END OF 1Q: Washington 10, Eagles 0.  Philadelphia has it, first and 10 at the Washington 34-yard line to start the second quarter.

Greg Ward made a nice play on a double pass to avoid a tackle and throw it down field to Travis Fulgham for a 15-yard gain to end the period.

8:49 p.m. — FIELD GOAL, WASHINGTON.  Washington can't pick up a first down but the good field allows Dustin Hopkins to hit a 42-yard field goal to extend the lead to 10-0 with 2:02 remaining in the first quarter.

8:46 p.m. — INTERCEPTION.  Jalen Hurts is picked off by Kamren Curl and Washington takes over at the Philadelphia 32-yard line with 4:07 left to play in the first quarter.

8:40 p.m. — TOUCHDOWN, WASHINGTON.  Alex Smith hits Terry McLaurin on the far side corner route in the back of the end zone for a 5-yard TD and Washington leads 7-0 with 4:19 left in the first quarter.

8:27 p.m. — Eagles punt.  Washington gets the ball at its 9-yard line with 12:32 remaining in the first quarter.

8:20 p.m. — Washington wins the toss.  The Eagles will receive to start.

Eagles vs. Washington start time

All "Sunday Night Football" games in 2020 have the same start time of 8:20 p.m. ET. There are Sunday night games scheduled for every week of the season except Week 17, though the NFL has the ability to flex a game into a Week 17 "SNF" window.

'Sunday Night Football' schedule 2020

Week 1 Sept. 10 (Thu.) Kansas City Chiefs vs. Houston Texans
  Sept. 13 Los Angeles Rams vs. Dallas Cowboys 
Week 2 Sept. 20 Seattle Seahawks vs. New England Patriots
Week 3 Sept. 27 New Orleans Saints vs. Green Bay Packers
Week 4 Oct. 4 San Francisco 49ers vs. Philadelphia Eagles
Week 5 Oct. 11 Seattle Seahawks vs. Minnesota Vikings
Week 6 Oct. 18 San Francisco 49ers vs. Los Angeles Rams
Week 7 Oct. 25 Seattle Seahawks vs. Arizona Cardinals
Week 8 Nov. 1 Philadelphia Eagles vs. Dallas Cowboys
Week 9 Nov. 8 Tampa Bay Buccaneers vs. New Orleans Saints
Week 10 Nov. 15 New England Patriots vs. Baltimore Ravens
Week 11 Nov. 22 Las Vegas Raiders vs. Kansas City Chiefs
Week 12 Nov. 29 Green Bay Packers vs. Chicago Bears
Week 13 Dec. 6 Kansas City Chiefs vs. Denver Broncos
Week 14 Dec. 13 Buffalo Bills vs. Pittsburgh Steelers
Week 15 Dec. 20 New York Giants vs. Cleveland Browns
Week 16 Dec. 27 Green Bay Packers vs. Tennessee Titans
Week 17 Jan. 3 Philadelphia Eagles vs. Washington Football Team

Jacob Hancock