PHILADELPHIA – Eagles coach Doug Pederson says he is “training to win” the regular season finale Sunday night against the Washington football team, despite drawing defender Jalen Hurts in a three-point game early in the season. -Fourth quarter in favor of Nate Sudfeld.
Pederson added that his decision was alone and was not influenced by the front office, which saw the Eagles’ position improve as they lost 20-14 to Washington’s NFC East title. A Philadelphia victory would have given the 6-10 New York Giants division a tiebreaker.
Pederson said the plan for Sunday night’s game was to give Sudfeld some playing time.
“Nate has been here for four years and I felt he deserved a chance to get some photos,” Pederson said.
Pederson rejected the notion that he was trying to lose the game, noting that veterans such as Brandon Graham, Zach Ertz and Darius Slay played. However, receiver Alshon Jeffery and defender Carson Wentz were both healthy scratches, and the move from Hurts to Sudfeld was not about performance, according to Pederson.
Hurts finished 7-of-20 for 72 yards with an interception and two quick touchdowns. He was shot early in the fourth, with Washington 17-14.
“As a competitor, I play the game,” Hurts said when asked if he was disappointed to leave the game. – You just have to trust the coach with this.
The Eagles finished the season 4-11-1 and secured the sixth pick in the April NFL draft. A victory would have moved them to ninth place overall.