PHILADELPHIA – Eagles coach Doug Pederson said he was “coaching to win” Sunday night’s final season against the Washington Football Team, despite beating fullback Jalen Hurts in a three-point game early in the fourth quarter. draws the favor of Nate Sudfeld.
Pederson added that it was his decision alone and not influenced by the front office, which improved the Eagles’ draft position due to the 20-14 loss, which earned Washington the NFC East title. A Philadelphia victory would have handed over the division to the 6-10 New York Giants via a tie-breaking position.
Pederson said the plan to play in Sunday night was to give Sudfeld some playing time.
“Nate has been here for four years and I felt he deserved an opportunity to get some screenshots,” Pederson said.
Pederson pushed back the idea of trying to lose the game by noting that veterans like Brandon Graham, Zach Ertz and Darius Slay played. However, receiver Alshon Jeffery and quarterback Carson Wentz were both healthy scraps, and the switch from Hurts to Sudfeld, according to Pederson, was not about performance.
Hurts finished 7-out-20 to pass 72 yards with an interception and two rushing touchdowns. He was drawn early in the fourth with Washington at 17-14.
“As a contestant, I play to win,” Hurts said when asked if he was disappointed to leave the game. “You just have to trust Coach with that.”
The Eagles ended the season 4-11-1, finishing sixth in April’s NFL Series. A win would have moved them to ninth place overall.