PHILADELPHIA — First came playoff elimination. Clinching last place followed. Now they've secured a losing record.

The defending NFC champion Eagles completed their rapid decline from first to worst with a 27-21 loss to Arizona on Saturday that assured Philadelphia its first losing season since 1999.

Without several injured starters — including quarterback Donovan McNabb, running back Brian Westbrook and cornerback Lito Sheppard, and banished wide receiver Terrell Owens — the Eagles lost for the seventh time in nine games and fell to 6-9.

"We wanted to win the game," coach Andy Reid said. "I don't care about the 8-and-8. I wanted to take care of business and we did not do that."

Now that an 8-8 finish is out of reach, the Eagles' only incentive besides playing for pride against Washington next Sunday is trying to ruin the Redskins' playoff hopes. Washington (9-6) needs a victory to clinch at least a wild card spot in the NFC playoffs.

"You knew this wasn't going to be the season you wanted it to be for the last four, five weeks," safety Brian Dawkins said. "As a player, you have to have a short memory. You have to be able to get rid of the sting, prepare in the offseason and come out ready for next year."

Coincidentally, the Eagles' downfall this season started with a 17-10 loss to the Redskins on Nov. 6. Philadelphia lost 49-21 at Denver a week earlier, but went to Washington with a 4-3 record and an opportunity to close out the first half of the season with an important win.

But Owens was suspended one day before the game and the offense was shut down. McNabb sealed the loss with an interception at the Redskins' 7 in the final minutes.

"It's been a bad season. We've been playing awful," linebacker Jeremiah Trotter said.

One of the few bright spots for Philadelphia in recent weeks has been younger players getting valuable experience. Rookie running back Ryan Moats and offensive linemen Todd Herremans, Jamaal Jackson and Adrien Clarke have filled in on offense because of injuries. Second-year pro Bruce Perry made his NFL debut against the Cardinals as a kickoff returner.

Perry returned his first kickoff 49 yards and averaged 31.7 yards on six returns, the best production on special teams for the Eagles this year.

"That's what I pretty much wanted to do all year. I was given the opportunity and I wanted to go out there and show what I can do and I did that," Perry said.

Perry and the rest of the young guys have one final opportunity to impress coaches this season against the Redskins.