(Photo: NBC10 Philadelphia)
NFC Game Of The Week
Washington Commanders at Philadelphia Eagles
Commanders: Sunday was as tough of a loss as it gets. Had they won the game against the Pittsburgh Steelers, this would’ve been a statement victory, but they fell short and the inexperience showed at times. They have been one of the pleasant surprises in the league this year and have done it by taking care of the football and a defense that’s improved under Dan Quinn’s eye. In this sport, or sports in general, the common saying is who have you beat? At this point, it’s becoming cliche because yes, the Commanders haven’t defeated a team over 500 all year long, but once again, you play who you play and what’s on your schedule. I don’t think I need to elude any more to that. They’ve truly come out of left field and nobody expected this from them. A 7-3 start, the favorites to win Offensive Rookie of the Year and Coach of the Year along with being in first place for a majority of the year? Yeah, this is typical NFC East if I ever saw it. They are building up for the future and I wouldn’t be shocked if more free agents considered Washington as their next destination. Just last week, the Commanders made a splash and acquired Marshon Lattimore from the New Orleans Saints to help bolster up their secondary. They will continue to build around Jayden and bring in as much young talent as they can. The future is tremendously bright for this franchise. Tonight, they will make their way to South Philly on a short week to kick off week 11.
Eagles: I had my concerns about them. Early on, they were a bit too up and down for my liking as they would win a game, and then lose a game. After their embarrassing loss to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, I questioned if Nick Sirianni had lost this team. I’ve said this for years now and that’s when players want to play for a coach, they will go all out and leave everything on the field for them, no questions asked. It just appeared as if the team wasn’t responding to him anymore. Since that week four loss to the Buccaneers, the Philadelphia Eagles have reeled off five consecutive victories and are rolling right now. What else can I say about Saquon Barkley? One, I haven’t seen him smile as much as I have this year and that’s exactly what winning does, it makes everything around you much more enjoyable and two, he’s found himself in a role where he doesn’t have to be the key guy due to all the weapons around him, but he’s had the best season of his career. What Derrick Henry is to the Baltimore Ravens offense is what Saquon is to this Philly offense and if Derrick weren’t having the season he is, Saquon would be the favorite for Offensive Player of the Year as he’s just as vital as the king. On Sunday against the Cowboys, they just toyed with them and then some. Their offense is clicking and they’ve played much better defensively. I also like how they are quietly going about business, not saying much, just going out there and winning. Tonight, they return home for a divisional tilt.
Commanders X-Factor: Austin Ekeler– I’ve always been a fan of his game and then some. He was always a key piece to those Chargers offenses for years and he’s a savvy veteran for a young Commanders team. Austin brings another element to this Washington offense whether it’s out of the backfield as your traditional Running Back or as a receiver. He’s a playmaker and knows how to create those mismatches. Austin has become that safety valve for Jayden Daniels. Along with Brian Robinson Jr, both he and Austin have created a formidable duo out of the backfield.
Eagles X-Factor: Josh Sweat– A large reason why the Eagles have been successful as of late has been the fronts on both sides of the football. The Offensive Line is blocking well and the defense is also dominating the line of scrimmage. Just a few years back, Haason Reddick and Josh Sweat were amongst some of the best pass-rushing tandems in the league. Haason is in the mess in East Rutherford with the Jets and Josh has continued his consistent play. He is 6’5, weighs 265 pounds, and moves so fluidly off the snap of the ball. Josh never over-pursues as he stays square and level at all times.
Final Thoughts: This should be a fun way to start another week of NFL Football. Moving forward the rest of the season, it’s these two teams atop the division, then, the Cowboys and Giants. This is a huge gem for NFC East supremacy. Seeing how Washington bounces back after that loss to Pittsburgh is catching my eye. Also, the Commanders are getting a key reinforcement back tonight as Brian Robinson Jr will be active and ready to go. The Eagles are quietly going about their business as we speak. This Washington defense will have their hands full with Saquon Barkley tonight and the Commanders have also struggled to stop the run. Ganging up on Saquon and I understand that won’t be easy, but don’t make this a one-man tackling unit or he will feast. Last Sunday, the Commanders’ worst offensive performance against the Steelers was from a statistical and execution perspective. Do not blame Jayden for this game as all he can do is throw the ball, he can’t catch it either. As sloppy as they looked, they still had opportunities to change the outcome. They must capitalize when the moment presents itself. On the Eagles side, treat this like a playoff game and I say that because their experience will come in handy. They’ve been here before and understand what it takes to win under the lights. Enter this as if it were a must-win. Next, let Saquon do what Saquon does. If you want to keep the Washington offense off the field, win the Time of Possession battle and feed your playmaker the ball. Lastly, start fast. They’ve finally managed to score in the first quarter, something they struggled to do earlier in the year. I like the Eagles to get a win at home tonight.
Prediction: Eagles 28, Commanders 24
