Pederson-Hurts – 2020 Washington Game Riddle

On January 3, 2021, at Lincoln Financial Field, the Philadelphia Eagles faced the Washington Football Team in a primetime matchup that would become one of the NFL’s most debated games of the 2020 season. With the Eagles already eliminated from playoff contention at 4-10-1, head coach Doug Pederson made a decision that stunned fans, players, and analysts alike: he benched rookie quarterback Jalen Hurts, who was playing well, in favor of third-stringer Nate Sudfeld in the fourth quarter. The Eagles lost 20-14, and the move sparked accusations of “tanking” to secure a better draft pick. Five years later, the question remains: why did Pederson pull Hurts, and what really happened behind the scenes?

The context of the game is critical. Washington, at 6-9, needed a win to clinch the NFC East and a playoff spot. The Eagles, with nothing to play for, started Hurts, who had taken over as the starter in Week 14 after Carson Wentz’s benching. Hurts was 7-of-20 for 72 yards, one interception, and a rushing touchdown when Pederson replaced him with Sudfeld, who promptly threw an interception and fumbled, effectively sealing Washington’s victory. The decision was baffling, especially since Hurts, while not spectacular, was keeping the game competitive.

Post-game reactions were explosive. Giants players and fans, whose playoff hopes depended on a Washington loss, were furious, with New York safety Logan Ryan publicly calling the move “disappointing.” NFL analysts, including ESPN’s Adam Schefter, speculated that Pederson was intentionally losing to improve the Eagles’ draft position from No. 9 to No. 6, which they used to select DeVonta Smith in 2021. The term “tanking” dominated headlines, but Pederson insisted he was “coaching to win” and wanted to evaluate Sudfeld, a claim met with widespread skepticism.

The Lincoln Financial Field press conference that night only deepened the confusion. Pederson’s explanation—that Sudfeld “deserved snaps”—felt hollow, given Sudfeld’s minimal role in his four years with the team. Hurts, visibly frustrated but diplomatic, said he respected the coach’s decision. Behind closed doors, however, reports from NBC Sports Philadelphia suggested tension in the locker room, with veterans like Fletcher Cox questioning the move. Did Pederson act alone, or was he following orders from general manager Howie Roseman or owner Jeffrey Lurie?

The tanking narrative gained traction because the Eagles’ 2020 season was a mess. A 4-11-1 record, internal strife over Wentz’s benching, and a thin roster plagued by injuries created a perfect storm. Losing to Washington ensured a top-10 draft pick, a valuable asset for a team in rebuild mode. Yet, the NFL’s competitive integrity was at stake. Unlike tanking in the NBA, where resting stars is common, the NFL’s culture demands maximum effort, especially in primetime games with playoff implications. The league issued no formal investigation, but commissioner Roger Goodell later called the situation “unfortunate,” a rare acknowledgment of the controversy.

Another theory points to Pederson’s job security. By late 2020, his relationship with Lurie and Roseman was strained, with reports of disagreements over offensive staff and play-calling. Pederson was fired eight days after the Washington game, suggesting the benching might have been a defiant act or a miscalculation to prove a point. Some speculate he wanted to showcase Sudfeld to justify his roster decisions, while others believe he was signaling frustration with the front office’s meddling. Neither Pederson nor Hurts has provided clarity since, leaving fans to piece together the puzzle.

The role of Jalen Hurts adds another layer. As a rookie thrust into a dysfunctional team, Hurts was building momentum as the potential quarterback of the future. His benching, even temporarily, risked undermining his confidence. Yet, Hurts’ professionalism shone through, and he emerged as the starter in 2021 under Nick Sirianni, leading the Eagles to the playoffs. Did Pederson’s decision reflect a lack of faith in Hurts, or was it a pragmatic move to protect him in a meaningless game? The answer remains elusive.

Fan discussions on X and Reddit from 2021 reveal a split. Some Eagles supporters defended Pederson, arguing that a better draft pick was worth the loss, while others saw it as a betrayal of team pride. Washington fans, grateful for the playoff berth, jokingly called Sudfeld an “honorary captain.” The lack of concrete evidence—no leaked memos, no whistleblower accounts—keeps the debate alive. Even Pederson, now head coach of the Jacksonville Jaguars, has avoided revisiting the topic, saying only that he “did what was best for the team.”

The 2020 Washington game remains a flashpoint in Eagles history, a moment that encapsulates the chaos of that season. Lincoln Financial Field, usually a fortress of passion, became the stage for a decision that defied logic and fueled speculation. Was it tanking, a coaching blunder, or something more personal? Without testimony from Pederson, Hurts, or the Eagles’ front office, the riddle persists, a quiet controversy that continues to intrigue those who remember the night the Eagles’ intentions went dark.