The Philadelphia Eagles secured their second consecutive NFC East title on Saturday, December 21, 2025, with a gritty 29–18 road victory over the Washington Commanders at Northwest Stadium. It wasn’t a flawless performance as Philadelphia coughed up a fumble on the opening kickoff, but the Eagles consistently rose to the occasion when it mattered most.
Defense proved to be the difference, especially after halftime. The defining moment came late in the third quarter, when rookie defensive back Cooper DeJean came up with a momentum-swinging interception that halted Washington’s push and firmly swung control back to Philadelphia. From there, the Eagles tightened their grip and closed out the division-clinching win.
Cooper DeJean’s Game-Changing Interception And John Cena Tribute Power Eagles Victory
Cooper DeJean’s impact play came from sharp instincts and perfect anticipation. The Eagles’ defensive back baited Commanders quarterback Josh Johnson by reading his eyes, then broke hard toward the far sideline to jump the route and snatch a clean interception.
The takeaway stopped Washington’s momentum at a critical juncture, setting up another Philadelphia scoring drive in what was still a one-score game. DeJean made sure the moment didn’t go unnoticed.
He celebrated with a playful nod to WWE icon John Cena, mimicking the Five Knuckle Shuffle on teammate Quinyon Mitchell before mock-pinning him as Eagles players surrounded them and counted to three—an instant crossover moment that caught fans’ attention.
At halftime, Philadelphia trailed 10–7, but the tone shifted immediately after the break. Jalen Hurts marched the offense down the field and capped a methodical 16-play, 74-yard drive—lasting 10 minutes and 35 seconds—with a 15-yard touchdown strike to Dallas Goedert.
Momentum firmly in their grasp, the Eagles capitalized again after DeJean’s interception. Saquon Barkley powered in from 12 yards to finish a 7-play, 37-yard drive before backup running back Tank Bigsby sealed the outcome with a 22-yard touchdown run, stretching the lead to 29–10 with 4:26 remaining and putting the game out of reach.
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Barkley put the finishing touches on the night with a dominant performance, rushing for 132 yards while averaging an impressive 6.3 yards per carry. Hurts was efficient and composed, completing 22 of 30 passes for 185 yards as Philadelphia calmly fended off Washington’s late push to secure the division crown.
With the victory, the Eagles not only clinched the NFC East but also reinforced their identity as a team that thrives in critical moments. Timely defensive execution proved decisive, punctuated by DeJean’s game-swinging interception, and a memorable John Cena–inspired celebration that added flair to a statement win.
John Cena Explains Emotional Meaning Behind Smiling Tap Out In Final WWE Match
John Cena officially brought his in-ring WWE career to a close on December 13 at Saturday Night’s Main Event, submitting to Gunther in a bout billed as his final match. The image of the 17-time world champion tapping out—while smiling—instantly split fan opinion, especially given that Cena’s legacy has long been anchored by the mantra “Never Give Up.”
According to Cena, the ending was shaped largely by the emotion inside the arena, particularly in the closing minutes when the crowd response became impossible to ignore. In a conversation with Cody Rhodes on his What Do You Wanna Talk About podcast, Cena explained:
“I envision something beautiful. Saturday far exceeded whatever was in my heart and soul. I know I’m out there one last time. I’m out there, and they hate the guy I’m working with. They universally cheer me. That is f***ing rare. For the last five minutes, everything I preach about story, drama, and having a conversation with the audience…the ones I love are in the front row, I know my colleagues are watching on the monitor in the back.”
The decision to finish the match with Gunther’s sleeper hold was deliberate. Cena explained that the hold created space for reflection and emotional connection, rather than a sudden or jarring ending. He said, “We’re just in a sleeper hold, but we’re having that conversation with the audience. As I essentially take my last breath and have struggled.”
John Cena talks about why he smiled as he tapped out in his final match:
— Wrestle Ops (@WrestleOps) December 18, 2025
“So now I'm out there. They hate the guy I'm working with. They universally cheer me, that is f*cking rare. And for the last 5 minutes, everything I preach about story and drama and having a conversation… pic.twitter.com/NzDD04SGZS
The 17-time kingpin added, “You think of somebody, the natural causes scenario, or however we picture loss in our life, all of us have been through it. They struggle and struggle, but they hang on just long enough to make sure to say goodbye to everyone meaningful in their lives.”
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For Cena, the smile wasn’t about surrender but about closure. He described the moment as one of emotional completion, having made peace with everyone and everything that mattered most.
“That whole day was so many meaningful and vulnerable conversations. Then, you realize, I’ve connected with everybody I love. Physically, I feel great. I think it’s time to take that last breath. I hate to keep going back to obituaries, but that was, ‘This person died peacefully,’” Cena said.
In the lead-up to the event, Cena made it clear that his retirement would be definitive, leaving no room for ambiguity. He reiterated on the podcast that his goal was for fans to experience a sense of calm and acceptance rather than shock or denial, framing his departure as a fully realized ending.
