NFC East Rivalry Ignites: Eagles Face off Against Commanders
The Philadelphia Eagles are set to host the Washington Commanders for a pivotal Thursday Night Football matchup. With the Eagles steamrolling the past month of the season, they face one of their tougher opponents this season in the Commanders. Rookie quarterback Jayden Daniels has taken the league by storm, leading Washington to one of their best starts in recent memory. The Commanders hold a 7-3 record, and the outcome of this game will decide who takes control of the NFC East. With Dallas’ season continuing to spiral, the division will be decided between Philadelphia and Washington. In better news, Eagles tackle Jordan Mailata will return to the starting lineup tomorrow. Newly acquired Commanders cornerback Marshon Lattimore is listed as out. All things considered, what areas of execution need to be performed for the Eagles to secure a sixth consecutive victory tomorrow?
Through all four quarters, the Eagles need to continue their reliance on Saquon Barkley. The identity of this offense starts with Barkley, and his productivity truly opens up the rest of the offense. He should have a heavy workload and a big performance on prime-time football. For the Commanders, star receiver A.J. Brown may be their greatest nightmare. In the two games against Washington in 2023, Brown combined for 17 catches, 305 yards, and four touchdowns. History could easily repeat itself in a crucial game for divisional control. Seemingly flying under the radar, tight end Dallas Goedert is putting together a productive season in the six games he’s been in action. He’s averaging 54 yards per game, which is amongst the highest in his career. It would be ideal to see Goedert incorporated in a handful of plays tomorrow.
The defense has surprisingly outperformed the offense so far this year. The additions of Zack Baun and Isaiah Rodgers have stood to be some of the best moves in the offseason. Focusing on the homegrown players, the development of Jalen Carter, Quinyon Mitchell, and Cooper DeJean continues to progress each week. The Eagles are ranked number two in total defense and have allowed the third-fewest touchdowns in the league, with 16. Commanders’ star receiver Terry McLaurin is having a career year with Daniels, and it will be interesting to see if Mitchell can continue his dominant stretch of games against opponents' number-one receivers. For Philadelphia, the game will most likely look sloppy at times. Washington is a respectable opponent with impact players on both sides of the ball. The bottom line is the stakes are the highest they’ve been for Philadelphia tomorrow night. A win tomorrow would carry even greater momentum and garner national respect for Philadelphia heading into the stretch run of the 2024 season.
