Hogs Haven
For the first time since Week 2, the Commanders are not in first place in the NFC East, but they can remedy that tonight with a road win against the Philadelphia Eagles.
Thursday night games are always a challenge for NFL teams, but Washington, with a Week 14 bye, is probably struggling a bit more than usual with team health. That includes the team’s newest defensive starter, CB Marshon Lattimore, who was already dealing with a hemstring injury when the Commanders front office acquired him from the Saints at the trade deadline. Against a team as talented as the Eagles, Lattimore’s coverage skills would be extremely welcome, but it appears as if he won’t be playing this week.
After stumbling to a 2-2 start and making headlines for the wrong reasons early in the season, the Eagles seem to have righted the ship. They have won five straight games against an admittedly soft lineup of opponents (Browns, Giants, Bengals, Jaguars, and the Dak-less Cowboys) with an overall record of 13-35, but aside from a one-score win against the Jags, the Eagles’ margins of victory have been emphatic.
Washington is aiming to bounce back from a stinging 1-point loss at home against the NFC North leading Steelers, whose defense probably posed the toughest challenge rookie QB Jayden Daniels has yet faced in his young career.
Philly could offer another stern test. The Steelers defense is 10th in the NFL ranked by DVOA; the Eagles are ranked 7th.
Offensively, Washington ranks 2nd by DVOA behind the Ravens, so it’s probably fair to say that this could be the toughest test the Philadelphia defense has had to face this season (and they still have a road game against Baltimore in Week 13).
Whatever the outcome of this game, nothing will be decided about the division title since the Commanders will host the Eagles for the 2nd matchup of the ‘24 season in 5 weeks, and on week after Philly plays the Steelers team that Washington faced this past Sunday.
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The Eagles opened the game with the ball on the 30-yard line following a touchback. Within the first few plays, LG Landon Dickerson was hurt and had to be helped from the field.
The Eagles converted a pair of quick first downs to reach midfield before the first big play of the day — a 25-yard catch and run by WR AJ Brown to get the ball to Washington’s 2-yard line.
After a loss and an offensive holding call, it was 2nd & 22 at the 35-yard line. Under pressure, Jalen Hurts ducked and threw the ball out of bounds to...
