A meaningful game in November? That’s exactly what we have in store Thursday night when rookie quarterback Jayden Daniels and the Washington Commanders (7-3) come to South Philly to take on the Philadelphia Eagles (7-2) at 8:15 p.m. at Lincoln Financial Field. This game has the makings to be one of the top Thursday Night games of the season and perhaps one of the best contests overall in 2024.
First place in the NFC East is on the line after Washington lost to Pittsburgh at home last week 28-27 while the Eagles picked up their first win in Dallas since 2017 in the dismantling of the Cowboys 34-6. Both teams have plenty of talent, so let’s dive into the five key matchups to keep an eye out for in this one.
Eagles’ Pass Defense vs. Jayden Daniels
There’s no doubt the Eagles’ defense has turned a corner. Now it’s fair to say that the quarterbacks they’ve faced haven’t been very good during this five-game winning streak. Deshaun Watson, Daniel Jones, Joe Burrow, Mac Jones and Cooper Rush. One of those quarterbacks are not like the others. Neither is Daniels, the rookie out of LSU who has shined for the most part in his first season in the NFL.
The 2nd overall pick in this year’s draft has looked poised, confident and is a legitimate dual-threat quarterback. He has thrown for 2,147 yards with an impressive nine touchdowns to just two interceptions and hasn’t thrown a pick in five straight games. He’s also able to make big plays with his legs, running for 40 or more yards in six different games this season including a pair of 80+ rushing yard games this year. However, it appears the offense has been geared for him to not run as he’s still dealing with a rib injury.
Surprisingly, the rookie has been better on the road this season, completing 77% of his passes for 1,149 yards to go along with seven passing touchdowns to just one interception in five games, opposed to his 60% completion rate at home to go with 998 passing yards and just two passing touchdowns to one interception in the same amount of contests. How will he handle the raucous crowd at the Linc?
If the Eagles watched the game Daniels had against the Steelers last week, one thing should’ve stood out. Pressuring the young quarterback is a recipe for success. He rushes throws when under pressure and isn’t as quick to scramble as typical dual-threat quarterbacks are. However, the Eagles have to be mindful of the deep ball. Daniels has exceptional accuracy throwing down field and put it on display last week in the loss to the Steelers.
The Eagles’ secondary and linebackers will have one of its toughest tests of the season and will need to continue hot streak of creating takeaways against a young quarterback who up to this point, has made very few mistakes regarding ball security.
Quinyon Mitchell vs. Terry McLaurin
Wholistically, this game has the makings to be fantastic. Individually, the matchup between rookie cornerback Quinyon Mitchell and wide receiver Terry McLaurin should provide some fireworks as well. Mitchell, who is on the inside track for Defensive Rookie of the Year has been utterly dominant and has been battle tested to this point against some of the league’s top receivers. He will have another test in Commanders’ lead wideout in McLaurin.
Mitchell strictly plays right corner back and McLaurin has played primarily as the left wide receiver in formations for the Commanders, 77% of the snaps, to be exact. We should see these two go against one another the majority of this game. McLaurin is having a fantastic season, pacing the Commanders and third in the NFL in receiving yards with 711 trailing just Justin Jefferson and Ja’Marr Chase.
Mitchell has been equally as impressive and one of the highest-rated corners in the league. The Eagles rookie has allowed just 87 yards and nine catches over the last five games.
Eagles’ Wide Receivers vs. Commanders’ Secondary
Every week it seems the Eagles have the upper hand with one of the best duos in the league with A.J. Brown and DeVonta Smith. This week should be no different. Washington’s pass defense is ranked fifth in terms of passing yards allowed per game (182.8), but have been gashed on a per play basis, allowing 6.8 yards per pass attempt which is 23rd in the league.
So, the big play opportunities should be there for Jalen Hurts and company, including Jahan Dotson, who seems to be getting more involved with the offense and gaining the trust of Hurts. Keep an eye out for him to seek some revenge against his former team who traded him to Philadelphia earlier in the season for a third-round pick and a pair of seventh round selections in next year’s draft.
The secondary for the Commanders did get a boost when they brought over former Saints’ corner Marshon Lattimore, but he’s still nursing a hamstring injury. If he can’t go, the expected starting cornerbacks for Washington are not highly graded according to PFF. Mike Sanstrill is the highest graded corner at 68 followed by Noah Igbinoghene at 102 and Benjamin St-Juste at 105.
Brown has feasted against the Commanders in the last two meetings between these two teams, hauling in 17 catches for 305 yards and four touchdowns and it’s hard to see that trio slowing down the star wideout in this one.
Nick Sirianni vs. Dan Quinn
Quick turnarounds are tough for not only the athletes, but also the coaching staffs as well. Nick Sirianni has been vocal about how much time and effort goes into a regular week of preparation, but even more so when you have to play on Thursday night. Sirianni has extinguished all of the flames that were starting to flare around him after his ridiculous sideline antics after the Cleveland win by seemingly getting the team back on track and in the midst of a five-game winning streak.
How will he have the team prepared for the biggest game of the season so far and the biggest in this rivalry? Will we see the gambling Sirianni go for it on multiple fourth downs instead of taking the points in a crucial game like we did against Jacksonville? The Eagles are 12-for-18 (66.7%) on fourth down conversions this season and those 18 attempts are tied for fifth-most in the NFL.
Dan Quinn, in his first season at the helm of Washington has done a great job as well and he too like to roll the dice at times. The Commanders lead the league in 4th down conversion percentage, converting 91.7% of the time, successfully converting on 11 of 12 4th downs.
This game might come down to which coach opts to go for it instead of taking points depending on the game situation.
Saquon Barkley vs. Washington Rush Defense
Barkley seemingly makes this column every week and for good reason. However, he is coming off one of his quieter games against Dallas where he ran for just 66 yards on 14 carries and didn’t score a touchdown. Just nine yards shy of reaching the 1,000-yard mark, Barkley is positioned to have another big game on the ground against the Commanders. The good news is that the 14 carries were the second fewest for Barkley in a game this season after taking the ball a combined 49 times in the last two games. That can bode well for the star running back on the quick turnaround against a struggling rush defense.
Washington has had trouble stopping the run and has surrendered the fifth-most rushing yards per game in the NFL at 142.1 while allowing the fourth-most yards per attempt at 4.8.
The Eagles very well could try to dominate this game on the ground, which has been a successful formula for them to try and avoid the shootout potential this game has with the offenses.
Mandatory Credit: Tim Heitman-Imagn Images
