The Washington Commanders’ strongest unit is their defensive place. Even with out Chase youthful, the group is huge, athletic, and reliable. On Monday evening time soccer tonight they are going to be going up in the direction of a group with one among many strongest offenses inside the NFL — the undefeated Philadelphia Eagles.
of their Week three matchup, accidents minimize into the Commanders’ defensive place depth with three gamers out, collectively with current sack chief Daron Payne. Tack on two starting defensive backs additionally inactive for that recreation, and the Eagles KO’d the Commanders by halftime. They didn’t run the ball properly, however Jalen Hurts was excellent as a passer, throwing for 340 yards and three touchdowns. Carson Wentz was the fully different. He averaged 4.9 yards per go try and threw for no touchdowns regardless of his group being down 24-zero at halftime.
That ugly 24-eight defeat was a part of a 4-recreation shedding streak to current the Commanders a 1-5 start to the season, however they’ve been pretty a bit elevated of late. they’ve gained three of their final 4 video games, and final week turned one among many many teams left scratching their heads after a one-rating loss to the Minnesota Vikings.
What has sparked this turnaround is their protection. Per DVOA (protection-adjusted worth Over common), they’ve the twelfth-best protection inside the NFL and are not any. 2 in the direction of the run. they’re additionally one among solely two teams inside the NFL to have 5 gamers with three or extra whole sacks on the season.
That go rush was all by means of Cousins in Week 9 in the direction of the Vikings. If the Commanders don’t get acknowledged as for an illegal contact on a protracted snapper penalty late inside the fourth quarter, they get the ball again, at house, with barely beneath two minutes remaining, and solely down three factors.
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The Commanders’ protection has not given up greater than 20 factors since a 21-17 loss to the Tennessee Titans in Week 5. A ferocious efficiency in Week 6 in Chicago compelled the Bears to re-consider their whole offensive scheme after a 12-7 loss, and swap into one among many essential explosive gadgets inside the NFL.
for the set off that Eagles’ huge Sunday evening time soccer win in the direction of the Dallas Cowboys in Week 6, they’ve confronted the Houston Texans, the Pittsburgh Steelers (with out T.J. Watt), and had their BYE week. the actuality that they are the one undefeated group left inside the NFL is spectacular, however they haven’t performed elite rivals since earlier than the NBA common season tipped off. Now the Eagles should go up in the direction of a division rival that has seen them as quickly as, and is a a lot extra healthful group than they have been again in September.
in spite of every part of the Eagles have an unbelievable benefit on offense, with pretty a bit elevated quarterback play and a sturdy speeding assault. The Commanders haven’t been in a place to persistently run the ball all season and their starting quarterback is at the second Taylor Heinicke.
however the Commanders do share one commonality on offense with the Eagles. in addition they’ve two dynamic playmakers at vast receiver with Terry McLaurin and Curtis Samuel Jr. If the Commanders defensive place shuts down the run want it did in the direction of the Eagles in Week three, and is ready to do a greater job of containing Hurts with extra healthful our bodies to throw at him, this might likely very properly be the week that Eagles lastly catch an L inside the loss column.
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