NFL
By: Mark T. Wilson
The Philadelphia Eagles will take on the Washington Commanders this Sunday. The Eagles, riding a 10-game winning streak and fresh off an impressive win over the Pittsburgh Steelers will look to lock up the NFC East. The Commanders, hot off a close win against the New Orleans Saints are looking for a win to keep their playoff standing in the positive.
This is their second game this season against one another with the Eagles walking away with a 23-18 win in Week 11. Can the Commanders stop the Eagles’ winning streak, or will they become another notch on the Eagles’ way to the division crown?
Here are 3 keys to victory for the Philadelphia Eagles against the Washington Commanders.
Use The Same Format
The best way to beat a team is to keep their offense off the field. In the first matchup, the Eagles won the TOP 33:04 to 26:56. There is not too much of a gap there, but following what the Eagles did to the Steelers last week, there is a good chance they learned a valuable lesson. The Commanders are in a dogfight for a playoff spot, and the Eagles could put a dent in their chances with a win.
How many teams can say they used a 10:29-minute drive to end a game in NFL history? Just one, the Philadelphia Eagles pulled that feat off against the Steelers. Imagine punting the ball early in the 4th and your offense never getting the ball back again. This is what happened this week. Saquon Barkey and Kenneth Gainwell should see the ball a lot. Mix that in with short passes, and this Eagles offense will step off the field 13-2.
Blitz More
The defense under Vic Fangio is not known for its blitz packages. But at some point, he will have to start dialing them up. The Eagles’ secondary can handle the one-on-one coverages. The plan for Fangio should be to knock Jayden Daniels off his mark. Blitz the rookie QB as much as possible and see how he does under heavy pressure. In their first game, the Eagles got to Daniels 3 times. That needs to be repeated.
The Commanders are fighting for a playoff spot and this is a must-win game for them. The stakes are already high and no team wants to be swept by a division rival. Zack Baun, Gardner-Johnson, or DeJean should bring pressure up the middle or off the sides. All are great tacklers which will help if Daniels decides to take off and run.
Utilize Weapons
Last week against the Steelers, the Philadelphia Eagles not only showcased their passing attack, they also used Kenneth Gainwell more than usual. To beat the Commanders again, Kellen Moore must follow that same game plan. Yes, it will take plays away from Barkley but showcasing to the league how versatile of an offense you have, should be priority No.1.
Barkley is on the hunt to break records this season but he’s more concerned about winning. Adding Gainwell more to the packages will help keep Barkley healthy for the stretch run and the playoffs. Getting AJ Brown and DeVonta Smith involved early as they did last week should also be important. In their first meeting, the Eagles rushed the ball 40 times for 228 yards and 3 TDs. Can they duplicate that success this week?
