Week 16 between the Philadelphia Eagles and Washington Commanders delivered everything the NFC East rivalry promises: dominance, drama, and a flashpoint of epic proportions. What should have been a routine closeout in a lopsided Philadelphia win instead spiraled into a legit brawl that emptied pockets across both sidelines. Emotions boiled over late, fists flew, and now the NFL has stepped in with a heavy financial message.
NFL Hands Down $70,048 in Fines After Fourth-Quarter Chaos in Commanders-Eagles
The league did not hesitate. Within days, fines were finalized, names were released, and the moment that changed the tone of the game was officially stamped as costly. There were no suspensions or further discipline, just cold, complex numbers and a reminder that rivalry games rarely cool off quietly.
NFL insider Tom Pelissero reported that the league fined five players a combined $70,048 for their roles in the late fourth-quarter brawl during Philadelphia’s Week 16 win over Washington. The incident occurred at the 4:26 mark of the fourth quarter, moments after Philly converted a two-point try that pushed its lead to 19.
Philadelphia right guard Tyler Steen endured a brutal week. The lineman was fined $16,870, split evenly between unnecessary roughness and unsportsmanlike conduct, both assessed at $8,435. Steen was ejected after appearing to fend off multiple Washington players as the melee escalated near the goal line.
The NFL fined five players for their roles in last week’s brawl, including Commanders DT Javon Kinlaw ($20,288 – swung) and Eagles OL Tyler Steen ($16,870 – unnecessary roughness and unsportsmanlike conduct).pic.twitter.com/gSv0v4iFsN
— Tom Pelissero (@TomPelissero) December 27, 2025
Washington DT Javon Kinlaw received the steepest penalty. The league fined him $20,288 for unsportsmanlike conduct after throwing a swing. Defensive back Quan Martin was hit with an $11,572 fine for unnecessary roughness, while cornerback Mike Sainristil was fined $9,725 for striking-related conduct. Safety Will Harris added another $11,593 for a facemask violation.
The fight stemmed from post-play jawing involving Philadelphia rookie wide receiver Darius Cooper. Words turned into shoves. Shoves turned into punches. Within seconds, officials were separating bodies as flags flooded the field. Steen, Kinlaw, and Martin were all ejected from the game. Nick Sirianni promptly pulled his starters with Philadelphia comfortably ahead.
Despite the optics, the NFL confirmed no suspensions would follow. ESPN’s Adam Schefter reported that while the altercation was reviewed, fines were deemed sufficient punishment.
Steen later addressed the moment, explaining how quickly things unraveled: “Nobody really said anything specific, at least not that I remember. I just remember after the play, there was a lot of commotion, and things escalated pretty quickly, and then got out of hand.”
He added context to Washington’s frustration: “Emotions are high, everybody’s kind of amped up, and things like that can happen pretty quickly. They were obviously upset because we’re winning the game by a good amount. So, you know, things like that just happen.”
The Eagles have a 100% chance of reaching the playoffs according to PFSN’s NFL Football Playoff Meter (FPM). They won 29-18, clinching back-to-back NFC East titles. However, the rivalry is not finished. Philadelphia will host Washington again in Week 18.
While the Eagles are playoff-bound and Washington is eliminated, the league knows one thing: Bad blood does not disappear just because the standings say so.
