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The Washington football team won the NFC East and headed for the playoffs, but not without controversy that had nothing to do with the franchise. In Washington’s 20-14 win over the Philadelphia Eagles on Sunday night, the Eagles retired starting quarterback Jalen Hurts in the fourth quarter of a three-point game for Nate Sudfeld – who hasn’t thrown a pass since 2018 .
Basically, Washington was given the game by Philadelphia – the New York Giants needing Washington to lose to the Eagles to win the NFC East (with a 6-10 record). The Eagles, having already rested eight starters on the depth chart, had nothing to gain by winning the season finale.
Whether the Eagles violated the integrity of the game is up for debate. Washington head coach Ron Rivera sees no wrongdoing from Pederson and the Eagles – and he’s not apologizing for winning the game, either.
“Well, honestly and honestly, it doesn’t matter. You play anyone. I’m not going to apologize for winning,” Rivera told reporters on Monday. “Apparently that’s what everyone wants me to do, is apologize for winning. I’m not going to do that. You play the game as it’s set up. ‘complained when Pittsburgh did what they did last night against Cleveland. I mean, come on. It’s just like that. “
Rivera mentioning that the Steelers will generate some controversy, given that Pittsburgh threw Mason Rudolph in the Week 17 Finals where the No.2 seed was still on the line – although the Steelers reportedly played on the weekend with a win anyway – and the Cleveland The Browns needed a win to land a playoff berth. Cleveland edged out Pittsburgh and clinched the spot, but the Steelers’ action came at the expense of the Dolphins. Miami needed a win over Buffalo or a loss to Cleveland, Indianapolis or Baltimore to secure a playoff berth. The Dolphins lost to the Bills and neither of the other teams lost. Miami missed the playoffs at 10-6.
If Ben Roethlisberger is playing, does Pittsburgh beat Cleveland? Does it matter?
Rivera will defend Pederson – who was an Eagles quarterback in 1999 when Rivera was linebacker coach – and he certainly won’t tell another team how to run the franchise. If the Eagles had won, they would have picked No.9 in the draft. Instead, they’ll pick No.6, while Washington will win the NFC East title, becoming only the third team since the 2002 realignment to advance to the playoffs with a losing record.
“We entered the playoffs. We’re 7-9. I was 7-8-1 in the playoffs. I was on an 8-8 team that was in the playoffs. You don’t apologize for going into the playoffs. You apologize for losing in the playoffs, at least I believe you do, “Rivera said. “But you don’t apologize for coming in.
“It’s been a tough role for us. Nobody seems to care. Nobody seemed to care two weeks ago when we didn’t have some of our best players. Nobody cared last week when we didn’t have them, so why should we worry if a coach decides to do something he thinks is best for his team?
“That’s what I think people need to understand. It’s just the way the game is played and the way a lot of things go. A lot of people are happy about it, and a lot of people aren’t. Not happy. That’s it. It’s like that. So many things have happened in this world that are difficult and difficult. It’s just the game that we play, and we’re going to play it as it comes to us. I’m not going to apologize. I’m not. It’s just like that. “
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