Washington prevails

Alex Smith threw two touchdown passes and Washington beat the Philadelphia Eagles 20- 14 to capture the lowly NFC East. The Washington franchise, which changed its nickname in July after years of protests, became the first team in the Super Bowl era to reach the playoffs following a 2-7 start.

PHILADELPHIA — Just call the Washington Football Team division champs.

Alex Smith threw two touchdown passes and Washington beat the Philadelphia Eagles 20-14 Sunday night to capture the lowly NFC East.

The Washington franchise, which changed its nickname in July after years of protests about it, became the first team in the Super Bowl era to reach the playoffs following a 2-7 start.

Led by Smith and firstyear Coach Ron Rivera, who overcame a form of skin cancer during the season, Washington (7-9) is the third team to win a division title with a losing record during a full 16game season. Seattle (2010) and Carolina (2014) previously did it and each won a playoff game.

Washington earned the NFC’s No. 4 seed and will host Tom Brady and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers (11-5) in a wild-card game on Saturday night. Smith threw a 13-yard TD pass to Logan Thomas in the second quarter to give Washington a 17-14 lead it never relinquished after Jalen Hurts scored on a pair of 6-yard TD runs for Philadelphia (4-11-1).

The 36- year- old Smith began the season as the No. 3 quarterback, a remarkable comeback following 17 surgeries on his leg and a life-threatening infection put his career in jeopardy.

Smith tossed a 5-yard pass to Terry McLaurin to give Washington a 7-0 lead in the first quarter. After Kamren Curl (Arkansas Razorbacks) intercepted Hurts’ pass, Dustin Hopkins kicked a 42yard field goal to make it 10-0.

Smith finished 22 of 32 for 162 yards and 2 interceptions with the 2 TDs.