A major free agent acquisition who signed a three-year, $51 million contract last spring, Huff has appeared in all ten games, logging five tackles, 2.5 sacks, one forced fumble, 11 quarterback hurries, one quarterback hit, and 14 quarterback pressures in 154 pass rush snaps for the Eagles.
With Huff struggling off the edge, Philadelphia has relied on Brandon Graham, Josh Sweat, and Nolan Smith to provide pressure off the edge.
The Washington Commanders host the Dallas Cowboys in Week 12 and there are three reasons for optimism.
The Washington Commanders play host to division rival Dallas Cowboys on Sunday at 1 p.m. EDT in Landover, Maryland.
The Commanders are coming off their first set of back-to-back losses with Jayden Daniels under center, and they have an opportunity to regain some momentum with a big win over the Cowboys.
Cowboys head coach Mike McCarthy may get another year with the team after they lost Dak Prescott. Jerry Jones will be hard pressed to fire McCarthy without a reputable quarterback, although this is Jerry Jones, so anything is possible.
With all of the chaos in Dallas, it was hard to narrow down, but there are three reasons for optimism for the Commanders in Week 12.
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The Cowboys have no offensive leadership
Starting quarterback Dak Prescott tore his hamstring against the Atlanta Falcons a few weeks ago and will miss the remainder of the season. In his stead, Cooper Rush has not been an adequate replacement. The Cowboys lost 34-6 and 34-10 in their two games with Rush as the starter. While he put up 354 yards against the Houston Texans, he only had 45 against the Philadelphia Eagles. Some of that is play calling, but that’s a huge difference.
Rush can barely play his position, let alone lead his offense. That may be harsh since he lacks in-game experience, but it doesn’t change the facts. It will fall to Mike McCarthy and his play-calling, which hasn’t done the Cowboys many favors this season either.
That lack of leadership on offense, that lack of cohesion, will allow the Commanders to stop their offensive attack.
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The Cowboys have the 4th worst run defense in the NFL
The Commanders do one thing better than anything else: Run the football. Whether it’s Austin Ekeler, Brian Robinson, Jeremy McNichols, or Jayden Daniels, the ground game is the most reliable part of the Commanders’ offense. The Cowboys have the fourth-worst run defense in the entire NFL, allowing 1,510 yards on the ground this season.
The Commanders’ ground game is what will carry them on Sunday, and they will be successful against the Cowboys’ defense.
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Dallas lacks a ground game
Last week, the Commanders’ last-place run defense had zero answers for Saquon Barkley.
This week, they face a Cowboys team that has almost zero run game, so the Commanders’ inability to stop the run isn’t going to be a factor. Rico Dowdle is nowhere near the same type of back as Barkley, and Ezekiel Elliott would rather not be with his team than show up at a game. Fullback Hunter Luepke isn’t really utilized as a runner.
Their lack of a ground game is killing them right now. Opposing teams know they are going to throw it, and it’s easy to defend against a one-dimensional team. This is good for the Commanders since their defense is their weakest link.
PFF rated Lane Johnson and Jordan Mailata among the best offensive tackles in the NFL at winning 1-on-1 matchups on an island
The Eagles are 8-2, and Lane Johnson and Jordan Mailata have significantly contributed to their overall success over the past few years. Johnson is a perennial All-Pro and Pro Bowler, while Mailata has been dominant and should make one of those lists this season.
Philadelphia has the NFL’s best offensive line, and a significant component of that success is Johnson and Mailata’s ability to win one-on-one matchups on the outside.
PFF recently ranked and rated the best in the league at winning on the island, and the Eagles duo tops the list, with Mailata at No. 1.
So much of the Eagles’ offense is predicated to letting Lane Johnson and Jordan Mailata win on their own. https://t.co/xJU1MtEH2c
DeVonta Smith could be a game time decisions for Sunday night vs. the Rams after missing his second straight practice with a hamstring injury
The Eagles are 8-2 and roaring towards a fourth straight playoff appearance, but the idea is to have the entire 53-man roster healthy.
DeVonta Smith is dealing with a nagging hamstring injury, and the star wide receiver could be a game-time decision after missing his second straight practice of the week ahead of Sunday’s pivotal matchup at the Los Angeles Rams.
No WR DeVonta Smith (hamstring) at #Eagles practice for a second straight day.
DE Jalyx Hunt (ankle) and DT Milton Williams (foot) are out here and look ready to practice at some length.
Rookie outside linebacker Jalyx Hunt missed Wednesday’s practice with an ankle injury but was a limited participant early on Thursday.
Two key starters – linebacker Nakobe Dean (groin) and quarterback Jalen Hurts (ankle) – were limited.
Britain Covey, who had his 21-day practice window opened on Wednesday, was a full participant. Covey is eligible to come off Injured Reserve from his shoulder injury. The Eagles would need to make a corresponding roster move to activate Covey.
Smith has 41 catches for 516 yards (12.6 average) and four touchdowns, but he’s only accounted for six receptions and 43 yards on nine targets over his last two games.
The Eagles will face the Rams on Sunday night, giving Smith eight extra hours of rest before kickoff.
Earlier in the day, the Eagles announced that Bryce Huff would miss time following a Thursday surgery on his injured wrist.
DeVonta Smith (hamstring) was a non-participant, along with Jalyx Hunt and Milton Williams. Linebacker Nakobe Dean was a limited participant, while Britain Covey logged a full practice on his first day back.
DeVonta Smith missed the Philadelphia Eagles Wednesday practice with a lingering hamstring injury
A.J. Brown missed three games with a hamstring injury and has looked explosive and fluid heading into Week 12. DeVonta Smith could end up with that same prognosis if it helps the Eagles star get healthy for a playoff run.
Smith has been dealing with a hamstring injury for two weeks now, and although he hasn’t missed any game action, he has missed practice time.
Smith was a non-participant in Philadelphia’s Wednesday practice’s early, open media portion.
Smith has 41 catches for 516 yards (12.6 average) and four touchdowns, but he’s only accounted for six receptions and 43 yards on nine targets over his last two games.
The Eagles will face the Rams on Sunday night, giving Smith eight extra hours of rest before kickoff.
Philadelphia Eagles open the practice window for Britain Covey ahead of game vs. Los Angeles Rams in Week 12
Vic Fangio is not a fan of Cooper DeJean returning punts, and he could get his wish for the star cornerback to be removed after Britain Covey returned to practice on Wednesday.
Covey had his practice window opened nine weeks after suffering a broken shoulder in the win over New Orleans.
The Eagles opened the 21-day practice window for WR Britain Covey.
They also signed DT Siaki Ika to the practice squad and released WR Kyle Philips from the practice squad.
Last season, Covey led the NFL with 417 punt return yards and was the only player with multiple punt returns of 50+ yards. Since 2022, Covey has the league’s second-most punt return yards (734).
DeJean handled punt return duties in Covey’s absence, averaging 11.8 yards per return.
Every football game is a fierce battle of wits, but it takes on added and deeper level when it’s brother versus brother.
The second-ever Harbaugh Bowl, which we can call the “Harbowl” (as portmanteaus are all the rage these days), will soon be upon us.
Monday night, John Harbaugh and his Baltimore Ravens will be on the opposite side of the country, in Los Angeles, where they’ll take on his brother Jim’s Chargers.
Harbowl I occurred in Super Bowl XLVII, in 2013 when John’s Ravens beat Jim’s San Francisco 49ers 34-31. Meetings between the Harbaugh siblings are rare, and that’s what makes them all the more special.
Every football game is a fierce battle of wits, but it takes on an added and deeper level when it’s brother versus brother. Each man probably thinks that he knows all that there is to know about his opponent.
I also realize that the man on the opposite sideline almost certainly feels the same way about him. It’s somewhat reminiscent of a famous Sir Winston Churchill quote about warfare:
“Always remember, however sure you are that you could easily win, that there would not be a war if the other man did not think he also had a chance.”
And the Harbaugh brothers are two intellectuals who have, in the past, provided articulate public commentary on social matters transcending football.
At 2017 Big Ten Media Day, Jim discussed his plans to take his Michigan Wolverines squad on an upcoming trip to Paris and Normandy. He did so by referencing the Rome trip he took his team on the previous year.
“I think it was A+ on all levels,” Jim Harbaugh told The Sports Bank, regarding his voyage to the eternal city. He added that the trip was also a chance to “make the world your classroom.”
I can’t think of a better endorsement for the concept of travel than that.
As for John, back in September 2020, when NFL players were protesting police brutality and racial injustice in the legal system during the playing of the national anthem, he gave a very passionate take.
“I don’t know how you can criticize someone for being passionate and for believing in something important to them,” Harbaugh said in an interview with NBC Sports.
“They want America to be great, and to realize the ideals we were founded on.”
John Harbaugh seemed to understand the Black Lives Matter movement better than most other NFL head coaches.
These are two thoughtful guys, so we should expect a very heady game.
A major free agent acquisition who signed a three-year, $51 million contract last spring, Huff has appeared in all ten games, logging five tackles, 2.5 sacks, one forced fumble, 11 quarterback hurries, one quarterback hit, and 14 quarterback pressures in 154 pass rush snaps for the Eagles.
With Huff struggling off the edge, Philadelphia has relied on Brandon Graham, Josh Sweat, and Nolan Smith to provide pressure off the edge.
Pittsburgh Steelers QB Russell Wilson goes by @dangerusswilson online but Baltimore Ravens LB Roquan Smith may have a rebuttal in week 11.
Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Russell Wilson goes by the tag @dangerusswilson on social media. Perhaps Baltimore Ravens linebacker Roquan Smith will be looking to challenge that alias today.
Smith will be responsible for watching Wilson’s pre-snap reads and maneuvers in week 11. The Ravens’ defense must keep Wilson contained inside the pocket, which may allow the Ravens to tally up some sacks this afternoon.
Smith is his team’s leading tackler, playing middle linebacker exceptionally well. Not only will Smith need to hawk Wilson Sunday afternoon, but he will also need to account for the Steelers’ play-action scheme with running back Najee Harris.
Quite frankly, in the upcoming war this afternoon, the question for the Ravens’ defense will be whether or not they can get off the field, especially on third downs. Steelers head coach Mike Tomlin will want to keep the ball away from the Ravens’ offense as much as possible, so the Ravens’ defense needs to step up and stall drives.
Smith plays with tenacious intensity, and if he gets the chance to prove just how dangerous he can be this afternoon, Game time is 1:00 p.m. ET.
