Oh, how things have changed in just four weeks.
What is the mental mindset of the Commanders?
Four weeks ago, the Commanders gave the Eagles all they wanted before falling 34-31 in overtime.
Since that hard-fought loss, the Commanders have responded with a 24-16 win over the Falcons and two embarrassingly weak losses to the Bears (40-20) and Giants (14-7).
As a result, there has been increasing talk of the Commanders trading off some players this week, of Ron Rivera not being around next year, and Jonathan Allen’s outburst revealing a deep, understandable frustration.
When things go wrong Sunday against the Eagles, will the Commanders fight or roll over?
The Eagles Offense Produces
The Eagles are 4th in total yards, Washington? 19th. They get on top of you and keep the ball, as they are second in offensive plays this season. They grind out the clock, averaging 5.5 yards a play (11th), and moving the chains (2nd in first downs).
If you think they only run the ball, the Eagles are 7th in passing yards, while the Commanders are 18th. One thing that has limited the Eagles is Jalen Hurts does have 8 interceptions.
The Eagles Running Game is one of the best
The Eagles will run the ball and then run it some more, leading the NFL in rushes with 235 after 7 games. They keep running the ball because they are third in the league in rushing yards (999).
The threat of the “Tush Push” is real. The Eagles run it enough that it lowers their average per rushing play. However, that doesn’t matter because they keep the chains moving. So, don’t let the 4.3 yards per rushing play surprise you. You see, they began running the “Tush Push” in 2022 in 4th down and short yardage situations. To date, the Eagles have converted 41 of their 44 “Tush Push” attempts.
The Commanders’ passing game vs the Eagles’ pressure
The Eagles defense is 6th, knocking down the quarterback. They are also tied for third in quarterback sacks (24). Even more bad news for the Commanders is the Eagles are second in quarterback pressures with 83. They are also third in quarterback hurries with 34.
These factors alone reveal it is absolutely imperative that the Commanders game plan be radically different from last week’s first-half debacle against the Giants. The Eagles get after the quarterback much better than the Giants have through seven weeks.