The 8-0 Eagles are led by quarterback Jalen Hurts and boast one in every of the most full, proficient rosters in the NFL. The offensive line is the greatest in the league, in accordance to Washington defensive coordinator Jack Del Rio. And the teaching workers, led by Nick Sirianni, is aggressive and maximizes its expertise. Sirianni is 3-0 towards Washington.
While the odds are lengthy — Philadelphia is a 10-point favourite, in accordance to Vegas Insider — there are paths to successful for the 4-5 Commanders.
Get the ball out of Hurts’s fingers
The Eagles’ offense relies on run-pass choices (RPOs). Hurts typically stands in shotgun, and as he places the ball in the operating again’s abdomen, he additionally reads the protection to resolve whether or not to run or move. In learn possibility runs, he makes use of the identical setup whereas deciding whether or not to hand off or hold it.
Logan Paulsen, a former tight finish who’s now a broadcast analyst for the Commanders, mentioned the key to Washington’s defensive technique is to stress the mesh level — the place Hurts and the operating again meet — and pressure Hurts to quit the ball.
Philadelphia has different playmakers: Two top-flight receivers (A.J. Brown and DeVonta Smith), two fast operating backs (Miles Sanders and Kenneth Gainwell) and an elite receiving tight finish (Dallas Goedert). But getting the ball out of Hurts’s fingers would symbolize a minor win and restrict the chaos Hurts can create off-schedule.
In a Week 3 loss to Philadelphia, Washington’s defensive success was undercut by explosive performs. Philadelphia hit eight of them, together with passes downfield for 38, 44 and 45 air yards. This week, corners Kendall Fuller and Benjamin St-Juste have emphasised repeatedly that the secondary wants to restrict 50-50 balls to Brown and Smith.
“If we can keep their explosive players contained … then we can start managing the game because we got a really good front seven,” St-Juste mentioned, including, “[Last time], we gave them 24 points in the first half, like off explosive plays. Every explosive play led to a touchdown. And then in the second half, we gave up zero. So it says a lot about how, if you limit the explosive plays and limit those deep balls, like how Jalen Hurts likes to run around and extend the play — if you can limit that, I know we have a chance to win this game.”
Hang on to the ballere. Washington should hold on to the ball partly as a result of Philadelphia is unimaginable at maximizing turnovers — its plus-15 margin leads the NFL and is double the subsequent greatest crew (Baltimore, plus-seven) — and its proficient, bodily offense grinds down opposing defenses. In second halves this season, Paulsen mentioned, the Eagles offense goes into “four-wheel-drive” by operating and demoralizing a crew’s protection.
Washington will in all probability want to run the ball successfully to chew up clock and, even when it will possibly’t rating, enable the protection to relaxation.
Left deal with Charles Leno Jr. mentioned the Commanders’ offensive line is in a greater place this week than it was in the final matchup, partly as a result of it has lastly settled on “a good veteran group” with Andrew Norwell at left guard, Tyler Larsen at heart, Trai Turner at proper guard and Cornelius Lucas at proper deal with.
“The offense possessing the football is going to be gigantic in this game,” Paulsen mentioned. “The defense has shown that they get up for these games. They’re going to play well in this game, but they can’t do it for 80 snaps. They need some type of support.”
Rack up yards after the catch
In the absence of big-armed quarterback Carson Wentz, the Commanders’ offense has struggled to create explosive performs passing (except a referee helps out). The Commanders have thrown downfield much less, and the receivers appear to be placing extra onus on themselves to transfer the offense.
“We’re kind of trying to put more of an emphasis of trying to take those short gains and make ’em longer gains, get more [yards after the catch],” McLaurin mentioned. “When you’re going against a [good] tackling defense, you have to be able to break those tackles and make explosive plays happen. So, as a receiver, you’re going against two great corners and all those things, but I think we have a chance to do better than we did the last showing.”
Washington dominated out linebacker Cole Holcomb (foot), backup linebacker David Mayo (hamstring) and operating again J.D. McKissic (neck). The crew additionally listed Larsen (again) and Norwell (groin) as questionable.
The absence of Holcomb and Mayo could possibly be an enormous deal due to the Eagles’ RPO offense, which challenges the eye self-discipline and athleticism of linebackers.
Receiver Jahan Dotson (hamstring) will play, Rivera mentioned.
Defensive finish Chase Young (ACL surgical procedure) wasn’t on the report as a result of he’s not on the energetic roster. Washington has till 4 p.m. Monday to activate Young, however when requested Saturday if he’d play, Rivera appeared skeptical. He identified Young couldn’t observe Friday as a result of rain pressured them inside to a turf subject.
Philadelphia dominated out slot nook Avonte Maddox (hamstring) and nook/particular teamer Josh Jobe (hamstring). Josiah Scott, who has been restricted with an ankle harm Thursday and Friday, is anticipated to substitute Maddox.