The Philadelphia Eagles stayed consistent to their season by making few mistakes and taking over in the fourth quarter to soar past the Washington Commanders to a 26-18 win at Lincoln Financial Field and extend their lead in the NFC East by a game and a half.
The score is not indicative of the beating the Commanders took in the fourth quarter. In fact, had Eagles kicker Jake Elliott not missed two field goals and an extra point during the game, the results could have been much worse for Washington.
The Commanders played solid defense for the first three quarters showing their improvement from early in the season. The bend-but-don’t break effort was rewarded with two missed field goals and a 10-6 lead by the end of the third quarter. But the Eagles, as they have done for most of the season, soared in the fourth quarter outscoring the Commanders by 20 points before a late touchdown and two-point conversion by Jaylen Daniels to former Eagles tight end Zach Ertz.
There is no question that the Eagles are not only the best team in the NFC East after 11 weeks but they’re an elite team in the NFC and the NFL. If Saquon Barkley didn’t drop a first down pass against the Atlanta Falcons on a Monday Night Football game during the second game this season, the Eagles might have only one loss at this point. A true litmus test of a Super Bowl run for the team, however, could take place in the next few weeks as they travel to play the Los Angeles Rams next Sunday night and more important, head to Baltimore to face the Ravens on December 1 at M&T Bank Stadium, and then meet the Pittsburgh Steelers two weeks later at home—both national games scheduled for Sunday starts at 4:25 p.m.
For three quarters, the Commanders played a competitive game against the Eagles but there is a pattern forming in the past two games that may be a concern for Washington. Defenses are finding ways to pressure Daniels into poor throws. He threw one of his few interceptions this season to Reed Blankenship and Daniels has been late with throws. He’s also holding back and taking too much time to find running room when receivers are covered. Granted, the Steelers and Eagles have two of the best defenses in the league but it could also be the rib injury to Daniels that may be affecting his play.
Defensive coaches may also have seen enough film of the Commanders after 11 games that offensive coordinator Kliff Kingsbury will need to make adjustments down the stretch to his offense to accommodate Daniels and keep defenses off balance. The Eagles, for example, made Terry McLaurin a non-factor in the game.
Daniels and the Commanders will have nearly a week and a half off until next Sunday that will help heal some injuries, including newly traded cornerback Marshon Lattimore’s hamstring. With the improved play of rookie cornerback Mike Sainristill, along with greater comfort overall by players in the defensive scheme, the Commanders have the potential for a strong finish. If the team is to rise to a next level, the extended time off may not only rejuvenate the offense but take the defense to a higher level as well.
The next two games against the Dallas Cowboys and Tennessee Titans will serve as a good gauge for the team as to the status of an offense that has played against two excellent defensive teams. It could answer the question if it was the competition that caused the problems, Daniels’ injury, Kingsbury’s need to make some tweaks to his play calling or all of the above.
If the Commanders are able to regroup and get back to winning, the playoffs will be in sight and along with a bye week before playing the Saints in New Orleans, a rematch against the Eagles could also be, again, for first place in the division.
Still, based on Thursday night, the Commanders are not there yet.
After scoring a touchdown in the first quarter on a 1-yard push by Brian Robinson, Jr., following a 58-yard drive in 4 plays, the Eagles responded with a 21-yard field goal at the end of the first half.
Up 7-3 as the third quarter started, Austin Ekeler received the second half kickoff and fumbled 31 yard line. Fortunately for the Commanders, Mykal Walker recovered the ball. Jaylen Daniels and the Washington offense moved 33 yards in 8 plays to the Philadelphia 38-yard line. A defensive pass interference penalty on pass to Noah Brown put the ball on the 50 yard line and a pass short right to Ekeler to the ball to the Philadelphia 28 and Brian Robinson rumbled 8 yards to the 20.
But the Eagles defense stiffened. Daniels lost two yards trying to run up the middle and an incomplete pass for McLaurin to set up a 4th and 4. A 5-yard delay penalty made the field goal from 45 yards out but Zane Gonzalez kicked it through the uprights for a 10-3 lead.
Hurts and the Eagles offense responded with a 10 play, 74 yard drive featuring a 43-yard pass play to Saquon Barkley who took 2-yard flip pass and ran down an open field to the Washington 17-yard line. The drive stalled and Jake Elliott’s 31-yard field goal put the Eagles within four.
The Barkley pass play foreshadowed a fourth quarter that featured everything from two touchdown runs for Barkley of 23 and 39 yards, respectively, to the familiar “brotherly push” for a Hurts 1-yard TD prior to the Barkley runs.
But it was the choice by Dan Quinn with the score 12-10 after Elliott missed the extra point that may have been the turning point of the game. Follow the score by Hurts, the Commanders drove with a nice tempo to the Eagles 34 yard line and a pass to tight end John Bates moved the ball to the 24. From there, Brian Robinson ran for no yards and then lost a yard.
On 4th and 2 from the Philadelphia 26 yard line, head coach Dann Quinn decided to go for it. Daniels took the ball on a designed run. The snap was bobbled by Daniels as he started to run right and the defense led by Zack Baun and Reed Blankenship quickly descended on Daniels.
The Eagles then turned the game into the Barkley show but the Commanders defense was also getting knocked off the ball opening huge lanes for Barkley. The Commanders offense drove down the field against a prevent defense during the final four minutes of the game. A 15-play, 70-yard drive may have only helped fantasy football teams but only made the score look close.
Daniels threw a touchdown pass to Ertz and Ertz then caught the 2-point conversion extending his arms in the back of the end zone. The call was ruled incomplete at first but replay showed Ertz had both feet down.
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