Eagles can clinch the NFC East by beating the Commanders, but home field matters more to them

ASHBURN, Va. (AP) — Saquon Barkley has yet to win a division title since entering the NFL and thinks it would be cool if he and the Philadelphia Eagles could accomplish that.

Cooler — and much colder than domed stadiums elsewhere — is the chance for a playoff game or two in Philly, which he has experienced as a visitor.

“It was loud and hectic,” Barkley said. “It’s not a myth about home-field advantage. It's not a myth about the energy and vibe you have playing at home.”

Riding a franchise-record 10-game winning streak into their game Sunday at the Washington Commanders, Barkley and the Eagles can clinch the NFC East and one of the conference's top two seeds if they make it 11 wins in a row. Hosting opponents at Lincoln Financial Field, and perhaps the NFC running through it this winter, is far more of a motivating factor than another banner hanging from the stadium's rafters.

“I can only imagine the fear of the teams that have to walk through those gates at the Linc,” safety Reed Blankenship said. “That’s big time if we get home-field advantage.”

The Eagles, Detroit Lions and Minnesota Vikings are all 12-2 going into Week 16, and one of them will get a first-round bye. The Commanders (9-5) can clinch a playoff spot by knocking off Philadelphia and getting some help around the league in the form of losses by Atlanta and either Seattle or the Los Angeles Rams.

“Obviously they want to beat us, and we need to beat them,” Washington running back Brian Robinson Jr. said. “It’s a great feeling to know what we’re fighting for.”

Making the playoffs in quarterback Jayden Daniels' rookie season and the first year with general manager Adam Peters and coach Dan Quinn and their staffs in charge would be a major step forward in the rebuilding process.

For the Eagles, who lost to Kansas City in the Super Bowl in the 2022 season, a division championship would be a bounce back after their collapse and first-round defeat in ‘23. But that doesn’t mean they're discussing it internally as an important goal.

“We know that if we do win this game, that will happen, but really all we can focus on is our preparation,” coach Nick Sirianni said. “We’ll talk about that when we’re able to put the hat on or the T-shirt on there. That’s when we’ll talk about that.”

Barkley took a day off from practice this week to recover from a rugged workload that has him leading the league in carries and with a nagging injury that cost him some snaps against Pittsburgh.

Barkley said he feels “pretty good” as he resumes his chase of Eric Dickerson’s single-season rushing record of 2,105 yards for the Rams in 1984. Barkley ran for 65 yards against the Steelers, a total that hampered a realistic shot at catching Dickerson over the final three games.

“I’m fully aware of how far I am,” Barkley said. “I’m not scared of it.”

Barkley remains the NFL rushing leader with 1,688 yards. He needs 418 yards over the final three games — an average of just over 139 yards apiece — to break Dickerson’s record. The 27-year-old has surpassed that total five times this season.

“If I don’t get it, I’m not going to be depressed,” Barkley said. “If I get it, I’m not going to be that crazy happy, either. It’s a record. Records are meant to be broken. My mindset is focused on winning games and competing for a championship, and that’s the only thing that really matters to me.”

Barkley ran for 146 yards and two TDs in November against Washington, sparking the Eagles' 26-18 comeback victory.

After completing roughly 61% of his passes in five games since returning from a rib injury, Daniels is at nearly 82% the past two. The 24-year-old called it a matter of “just finding completions, getting the ball in my hands and letting the guys make plays.”

But the process of getting Daniels more comfortable throwing from the pocket has been ongoing since spring workouts.

“Remaining a passer longer, (opposing) guys stay in coverage longer, the receivers down the field are working,” Quinn said. "I think that part of the game, there’s been improvement, and I would say we’re still progressing in that spot.”

Eagles QB Jalen Hurts steered the passing game back on track against Pittsburgh and did it with a broken finger on his non-throwing hand.

The injury didn’t necessarily affect his throwing, and he accounted for three TDs in the 27-13 victory over the Steelers. Hurts said the injury did hamper his running style and played a role in a lost fumble.

“It’s an adjustment,” he said. “I think on the run, I know for sure, I don’t have my ball in the inside arm, I’d have it on the outside arm if I felt comfortable doing it. I just wasn’t and not at that state. It’s a game of adjustments and finding a way. I’ve got to be better knowing my circumstance.”

Hurts wore a splint on his left hand, covered by a glove, and threw for 290 yards and two TDs against the Steelers. He’ll likely wear similar protection at Washington.

“It’s on the up,” he said. “Breaks don’t heal in a day.”

AP Sports Writer Dan Gelston in Philadelphia contributed to this report.

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Washington Commanders quarterback Jayden Daniels (5) runs the ball in the second half of an NFL football game against the New Orleans Saints in New Orleans, Sunday, Dec. 15, 2024. (AP Photo/Butch Dill)

Washington Commanders cornerback Mike Sainristil (0) celebrates a win after an NFL football game against the New Orleans Saints in New Orleans, Sunday, Dec. 15, 2024. (AP Photo/Gerald Herbert)

Philadelphia Eagles quarterback Jalen Hurts greets Pittsburgh Steelers head coach Mike Tomlin after an NFL football game Sunday, Dec. 15, 2024, in Philadelphia. (AP Photo/Derik Hamilton)

FILE - Philadelphia Eagles quarterback Jalen Hurts (1) and Washington Commanders quarterback Jayden Daniels shake hands following an NFL football game Thursday, Nov. 14, 2024, in Philadelphia. The Eagles won 26-18. (AP Photo/Chris Szagola, File)

FILE - Philadelphia Eagles running back Kenneth Gainwell (14) runs with the ball during the second half of an NFL football game against the Washington Commanders Thursday, Nov. 14, 2024, in Philadelphia. (AP Photo/Matt Slocum, File)

FILE - Philadelphia Eagles running back Saquon Barkley, left, runs for a touchdown during the second half of an NFL football game against the Washington Commanders Thursday, Nov. 14, 2024, in Philadelphia. (AP Photo/Laurence Kesterson, File)

The first stage of Mohamed Salah’s rehabilitation at Liverpool is complete after the Egypt forward returned to the team for its 2-0 win over Brighton in the Premier League on Saturday.

The question now as Salah heads off to the Africa Cup of Nations: Is there a future for him at Anfield when he comes back?

Salah, who let rip last weekend about his current frustrations at Liverpool, entered as a 26th-minute substitute to a big ovation and set up the second of Hugo Ekitike’s goals as the defending champion extended its unbeaten run to five games in all competitions.

Also Saturday, Chelsea beat Everton 2-0 and was set on its way to victory by Cole Palmer’s first goal in three months. First-place Arsenal hosts last-place Wolverhampton later.

Salah held talks with Liverpool manager Arne Slot on Friday in an effort to overcome their issues and the result was that Salah was recalled to the matchday squad for the Brighton game. He had been a substitute for the last three Premier League matches before being left at home for the midweek Champions League trip to Inter Milan as a punishment for his explosive comments to reporters last weekend.

“It was an easy decision to put him in the squad," Slot said. “I have said many times before what has been said between us will stay between us.”

Liverpool's fans demonstrated they are willing to excuse Salah for his show of anger and gave him a rapturous welcome when he came on as a substitute for the injured Joe Gomez midway through the first half.

By then, Liverpool was leading 1-0 thanks to Ekitike's rising shot inside the first minute and Salah showed glimpses of his class, especially on the counterattack. It was Salah's corner kick that was headed in by Ekitike for the second goal in the 60th, sparking another round of chants for the Egyptian.

Slot said Salah was a threat all game.

“Pleasing to see but not a surprise,” Slot said.

Salah could be away for more than a month if Egypt goes all the way in the Africa Cup.

It was a second straight start for Palmer, whose season has been blighted by a groin injury that has restricted him to seven games in all competitions.

There looked to be nothing wrong with Palmer when he ran onto Malo Gusto's pass and slipped a finish inside the near post to give Chelsea the lead in the 21st minute at Stamford Bridge.

However, Palmer said after the game that he wasn't at his best yet because he was “still dealing with an injury.”

“It’s just a matter of not doing too much too soon,” Palmer told the BBC. “Literally, it’s just a day-by-day thing. Hopefully it gets better.”

Gusto added the second goal in the 45th minute for Chelsea, which jumped to fourth place.

Steve Douglas is at https://twitter.com/sdouglas80

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Chelsea's Cole Palmer celebrates after scoring his sides first goal during the English Premier League soccer match between Chelsea and Everton in London, Saturday, Dec. 13, 2025. (Adam Davy/PA via AP)

Liverpool's Hugo Ekitike celebrates after scoring his side's second goal during the English Premier League soccer match between Liverpool and Brighton and Hove Albion in Liverpool, England, Saturday, Dec. 13, 2025. (AP Photo/Jon Super)

Liverpool fans hold placard depicting Liverpool's Mohamed Salah before the English Premier League soccer match between Liverpool and Brighton and Hove Albion in Liverpool, England, Saturday, Dec. 13, 2025. (AP Photo/Jon Super)

Liverpool's Mohamed Salah, left, challenges for the ball with Brighton's Lewis Dunk during the English Premier League soccer match between Liverpool and Brighton and Hove Albion in Liverpool, England, Saturday, Dec. 13, 2025. (AP Photo/Jon Super)