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The Eagles-Commanders rivalry has heated up this year, with the two teams sitting at the top of the NFC East standings.
Last week, Washington defeated Philadelphia in a thriller to remain alive in the NFC East division race, but there was more to the game than just on-field play.
After the game, Eagles coach Nick Sirianni and Commanders tight end Zach Ertz reportedly had to be separated after an argument in the postgame scrum. Ertz, of course, spent the majority of his career with the Eagles, including as a member of the 2017 Super Bowl champion team.
— John Doran (@JohnDoranTV) December 26, 2024The Sporting News examines Sirianni and Ertz's interaction after the Commanders-Eagles game on Sunday.
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Nick Sirianni-Zach Ertz beef, explained
After the Commanders' win over the Eagles last week, Sirianni and Ertz reportedly got into a heated argument and needed to be separated by security chief Dom DiSandro.
Sirianni commented on Ertz's performance in the game and Ertz didn't appreciate the remark, according to Jeff McLane of The Philadelphia Inquirer. DiSandro was able to separate the two and escorted Sirianni back to the Eagles' locker room. McLane reports Sirianni later apologized to Ertz over a Zoom call.
— Philadelphia Inquirer Sports (@phillysport) December 26, 2024Sirianni has a history of controversial interactions, including trash-talking to fans earlier this year and having a reportedly "fractured" relationship with quarterback Jalen Hurts entering the season. However, the Eagels' 12-3 record, which includes a 10-game winning streak, has cooled Sirianni's potential hot seat.
Ertz spent the first nine years of his career in Philadelphia but only overlapped with Sirianni for half a season. Mid-way through Sirianni's first season with the Eagles in 2021, Philadelphia traded Ertz to the Cardinals at the trade deadline.
Currently, the Eagles hold a two-game lead over the Commanders in the NFC East and can clinch the division with a win in the final two weeks. However, based on the current playoff picture, the Commanders would be the No. 7 seed and projected to play the No. 2 seed Eagles in Philadelphia during the wild-card round.
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