The Eagles host the Commanders with a trip to the Super Bowl on the line. Here is our prediction and preview:
When Philadelphia has the ball:
Whether or not he chooses to admit it, there’s something wrong with Jalen Hurts. He’s passing up opportunities to throw the ball downfield to check it down to his other receivers. By taking A.J. Brown and DeVonta Smith out of the game it’s making the Eagles ultra reliant on their rushing attack.
Eagles Run Game:
Luckily, their rushing attack is one of the best in football. The last time these two teams played, Saquon Barkley had 29 carries for 150 yards and two touchdowns. He’s going to need to have at least 100 yards and a touchdown for the Eagles to have any chance. Look for Hurts to also get about 60 to 70 yards rushing, as the Commanders pass rush will force him out of the pocket, and instead of throwing, it’s very likely that he will take off running.
Eagles Pass Game
For the Eagles to win, A.J. Brown and DeVonta Smith need 15 receptions for over 130 yards and at least one touchdown between them. This type of production will show that their offense is two-dimensional and that Hurts was able to figure out his passing issues. Also, having Dallas Goedert back from the IR will be extremely helpful, as he missed the Week 16 game.
When Washington has the ball:
Everything the Commanders do begins with Jayden Daniels. He’s easily the NFL rookie of the year, and he may be one of the best rookie quarterbacks ever. The last time these two teams played, Daniels had five touchdown passes and rushed for 81 yards, and he’s going to need a game close to that as well if Washington wants to pull off the upset. Most importantly, Daniels can’t force the ball to his receivers. The Eagles secondary is very smart and Daniels can’t only take what’s being given.
Commanders Run Game:
The last time these teams played, Brian Robinson Jr. rushed for 24 yards on 10 carries. However, one thing of note was that Austin Ekeler missed the game on IR. He is now back, which adds another layer to the Commanders offense. Ekeler normally gets somewhere between 12 to 14 touches, and he’s going to need to be effective with those touches, as Robinson will likely get stopped.
Commanders Pass Game:
In just a few short weeks, Dyami Brown has asserted himself as the clear WR2. The Commanders are going to need both Brown and Zaccheaus to play at their highest levels, as Darius Slay will likely shadow Terry McLaurin throughout the game. Zach Ertz only had one catch for 12 yards in the last matchup, which will need to change as he is an instrumental part of the Commanders offense.
Prediction:
Washington has been an incredible Cinderella story all season, but normally, games like this come down to superior line play. Philadelphia’s offensive and defensive line are superior which should be the reason they pull out this game 24-20.
