PHILADELPHIA – Eagles coach Doug Pederson said he was “coaching to win Sunday night’s regular season finale against the Washington Football Team” despite recruiting quarterback Jalen Hurts in a three-point game early in the fourth quarter in favor of Nate Sudfeld.
Pederson added that it was only his decision and unaffected by the front office that improved the Eagles’ position as a result of the 20-14 loss that earned Washington the NFC East title. A Philadelphia victory would have left the 6-10 New York Giants the division via a tiebreaker.
Pederson said the plan to enter Sunday night’s game was to give Sudfeld some playing time.
“Nate has been here for four years and I thought he deserved a chance to get some snaps,” said Pederson.
Pederson pushed back the idea that he was trying to lose the game by noting that veterans like Brandon Graham, Zach Ertz and Darius played Slay. However, receiver Alshon Jeffery and quarterback Carson Wentz were both healthy scratches, and the switch from Hurts to Sudfeld wasn’t about performance, according to Pederson.
Hurts finished 7-of-20 passing for 72 yards with one interception and two hasty touchdowns. He was drawn into the fourth early, as Washington moved up 17-14.
“As a competitor, I play to win,” Hurts said when asked if he was disappointed with leaving the game. “You just have to trust Coach with that.”
The Eagles closed the season 4-11-1, taking sixth pick in April’s NFL draft. A win would have brought them to ninth place.