NFL
By: Mark T. Wilson
The Philadelphia Eagles and the Washington Commanders will do battle this Thursday at The Linc with first place in the NFC East on the line. The Eagles are coming off an impressive win over the Dallas Cowboys while the Commanders are dealing with a tough loss at the hands of the Pittsburgh Steelers. Will the Eagles continue their winning streak or will the Commanders find a way to right their ship against their division rival?
The Eagles and Commanders boast two of the best ground attacks in the NFL and have dynamic QBs leading the way. The one advantage the Eagles have is on the defensive side of the ball with Vic Fangio leading the way. Can the Eagles’ defense get in the face of the young QB and cause him to make mistakes or will he continue his ROY climb? This has Game of the Week written all over it.
Here are 3 keys to victory for the Philadelphia Eagles over the Washington Commanders.
Treat Like A Playoff Game
While this is just Week 11, the Philadelphia Eagles vs. the Washington Commanders should be billed as a playoff game of sorts. With both teams fighting for playoff position and the crown in the NFC East, this is a candidate for the Game of the Week. The Eagles are 7-2 and on a winning streak, while the Commanders are the talk of the NFL with their surprising record. However, we’ll see if this young Commanders’ team is up for the task.
The Eagles have been here before. They can win the big game with the lights shining bright. The Commanders are new to this and as we saw Sunday against the Pittsburgh Steelers, they lost a game in a matchup of solid teams. With two games against the Eagles left on the schedule, the Commanders must prove they are one of the best in the league. Their rise to prominence starts now. This is the game where the Eagles must continue to shut the critics up. Another must-win game for the Birds.
Let Barkley Loose
If you want to beat the Commanders, keep their offense off the field. For the Eagles, that will mean Time of Possession and that equals giving the ball to Saquon Barkley. It seems that’s one of the keys every week but when you have a weapon like that, why not? The Commanders are surrendering 142 yards per game on the ground with the Eagles rushing for 176 yards per game on the ground. This matchup bodes well for the Birds.
Jayden Daniels and the offense can put points on the board but it becomes harder if they are on the sidelines watching. If the Eagles can ground and pound with Barkley, Kenneth Gainwell, and Jalen hurts, the Commanders will have a hard time getting their offense in a rhythm.
Fast Start
The Philadelphia Eagles in the last two weeks have managed to score in the first quarter, finally. That has been their Achilles heel early this season. With their weapons now healthy and the offense clicking, the Birds are back in rhythm. Getting on the board early will put pressure not only on the Commanders’ defense but their offense as well. Daniels has been outstanding as a rookie but in a big game like this, the Eagles must add on to his responsibilities. This is Daniels’ first trip to The Linc where the crowd can be a bit overwhelming even for seasoned vets.
If Hurts and the offense can get on the board early, Daniels may be forced to rush throws. With their loss against the Steelers last week, he may start to feel the pressure to over-perform. The Commanders lose 2 straight, and the media will start to question just how legit this team really is. The Eagles’ secondary is vastly improved and if they can get out to an early two-score lead in the first quarter, Fangio can start to bring the house and put their offense in a hole.
