Despite the ultimate outcome, Philadelphia Eagles head coach Nick Sirianni said that he doesn’t regret his decision to rest the majority of the team’s starters against the Washington Commanders in Week 18.
The Eagles had an opportunity to secure the No. 2 seed in the NFC with a win over the Commanders and a Detroit Lions win over the Chicago Bears. The Lions did their part, but the Eagles couldn’t do the same as the lost the game to Washington, 24-17.
Nick Sirianni doesn't regret resting Eagles starters in Week 18
Had Philadelphia played its starters for at least some of the contest, the outcome probably would have been different, but Sirianni doubled down on his thought process regarding resting the starters after the game.
“No,” Sirianni replied when asked if he regretted the decision. “Again, you go through your process, you make what you think it the best decision for the football team and that’s what we did. I knew this was an outcome, that these things could happen.
“Like I said to you guys, one thing I could guarantee was giving them rest. I couldn’t guarantee anything else. And us being healthy and going into the playoffs healthy, is a big deal for us. That’s served us well in the past."
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The loss to Washington cost the Eagles the second seed. Instead, they're the No. 3 seed and they'll host the San Francisco 49ers in the Wild Card Round of the playoffs.
If the Eagles advance beyond the first round, they'll have no more guaranteed home games. They would have also head homefield advantage in the Divisional Round as the second seed.
Sirianni is well aware that the decision has been, and will continue to be, debated, but he maintains that he operated in the best interest of his team's chances of repeating as Super Bowl champions.
"So, again, I know there will be debate on that. I have to do what I think is best for the football team moving forward," Sirianni said. "And that’s what I did.”