A divisional win for the Philadelphia Eagles should have been a moment of triumph, but it was overshadowed by a controversial decision from Nick Sirianni that left his own star running back, Saquon Barkley, publicly frustrated. Frustrated by the decision, Barkley spoke his thoughts in the post-game locker room interview.

“We got to be better, obviously we got to take care of each other. That’s a brotherhood, on their side and our side. Just to say you’re a tough guy, it’s not really worth it. And you lose a lot of money too. So we got to be better there, but I guess it was a theme,” Barkley said.

“But this team don’t like us, this is the truth, and we don’t like them either. But we got to keep it football.”

Translation? Barkley wants the team to stay united instead of focusing on unnecessary noise. It was his reference to the fight that broke down after the running back converted the two-point attempt in the fourth quarter. Around the 4:26 mark before the finish, almost the entire Commanders’ defense, including cornerback Mike Sainristil and defensive tackle Javon Kinlaw, safety Quan Martin, and linebacker Nick Bellore, were agitated. Guard Tyler Steen also traded barbs, but the situation soon became pretty violent.

While Saquon Barkley ran to protect his teammate, left tackle Jordan Mailata also tried to fight back. But Steen alone fought back as the Commanders’ defense threw punches and held his facemask. All the on-ground referees threw flags (six total) and ejected Steen, Kinlaw, and Martin. The running back also shoved a referee who tried to separate him. He also claimed that the rivals created the ruckus as they were losing.

However, the fights are meant to be settled through execution: in skills, drives, and plays, not elsewhere. The turning point was the two-point conversion.

Nick Sirianni disrespects the divisional rivals by using Saquon Barkley

The Commanders have a recent history with the Eagles. Last year, the Birds defeated them by scoring 55 points in the NFC conference game, the most in any conference playoff game. In the Week 16 game as well, they were ahead by 17 points, but Sirianni opted for a two-point conversion after running back Tanks Bigsby’s score.

Quarterback Jalen Hurts handed the ball to Saquon Barkley, who kept it clutched between both hands and took off to the left. Linebacker Bobby Wagner tackled him, but the running back managed to score. The insulting play was the decision itself to go for two points as only four minutes remained in the game.

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According to HC Sirianni, he had calculated the lead and wanted to make sure the Commanders didn’t come back. He said they had a 17-point lead, but needed a 19-point lead. The Commanders would have needed two touchdowns, two 2-point conversions, and one field goal to equalize.

Commanders head coach Dan Quinn had a different stance. He warned them about the disrespect and the revenge in the season-ender against the divisional rivals. But the Eagles aren’t worried. They have the best away win record in the league since 2021. Saquon Barkley’s demand to unite will inspire them even more.