Tag: NFC East

Potential Cowboys target Travis Hunter says he’s ‘definitely’ declaring for 2025 NFL Draft

Colorado’s Heisman Trophy favorite Travis Hunter says he’s “definitely” declaring for the 2025 NFL draft and could be a target Dallas Cowboys

The Eagles are 8-2, and outside of another dramatic collapse, Nick Sirianni’s team is set for another playoff run and a late first-round pick.

For the Dallas Cowboys, New York Giants, and possibly the Washington Commanders, Thursday’s NFL draft announcement from Travis Hunter should make potentially missing the playoffs worth it.

The Giants will surely be in on the Shedeur Sanders sweepstakes at the top of the NFL draft. For the Cowboys and Commanders, all eyes will be on Travis Hunter and his draft position.

Hunter made it clear to Adam Rittenberg of ESPN that his time in Boulder is ending.

Dallas and Washington have urgent needs on both sides of the football field, and Hunter would solve many of them. Hunter has 74 catches for 911 yards and nine touchdowns this season at wide receiver, and he’s also run for one touchdown on offense. As a shutdown cornerback, Hunter has 24 tackles, three interceptions, eight passes defensed, and a forced fumble.

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Commanders DE Dorance Armstrong weighs in on Cowboys’ struggles

What does Commanders DE — and former Dallas Cowboy — Dorance Armstrong think of his former team’s struggles?

Defensive end Dorance Armstrong Jr. spent the first six seasons of his NFL career with the Dallas Cowboys. A fourth-round pick from Kansas in the 2018 NFL draft, Armstrong played his final three seasons in Dallas for Dan Quinn.

When Quinn departed Dallas to take the head coaching position with the Washington Commanders, Armstrong saw an opportunity and followed him. It’s been a good move for Quinn and Armstrong. Washington is 7-4, led the NFC East for much of the season, and remains firmly in the playoff mix.

This Sunday, Armstrong faces his former team for the first time. Things aren’t going so well in Dallas, as the Cowboys hold a 3-7 record and have lost five consecutive games.

What does Armstrong think about seeing the Cowboys from the other side?

“Obviously, when you play the team you came from, you have a more…..more urgency or something, I don’t know what it is about that, but that’s what it is right now for me,” Armstrong said.

With so many former Cowboys on Washington’s current roster, including Armstrong, Dante Fowler Jr., Tyler Biadasz and Noah Brown, they see the Cowboys’ current struggles.

So, has Armstrong paid attention to Dallas’ current struggles?

“Me, personally, yeah, I watch here and there,” Armstrong said. “Most of them are still my guys, for real, but I watch ’em; I see what’s going on.”

Armstrong was then asked what his thoughts were on the 2024 Cowboys.

“It’s not good, I’ll just say that,” Armstrong said with a smile.

Dallas allowed several players to depart in the offseason, some of whom followed Quinn to Washington. Each of those former Cowboys has played a pivotal role in the Commanders’ impressive turnaround.

 

Terry McLaurin challenges Commanders after second straight loss

Terry McLaurin doing what great leaders do.

This is a different Washington Commanders team. Don’t let a recent two-game losing streak fool you. Wide receiver Terry McLaurin has seen it all in six years and knows things are different.

That’s why, after Thursday’s loss to the Philadelphia Eagles, McLaurin wanted to see the team’s “brotherhood” respond to adversity the way it has to success.

“I think it’s easy to preach brotherhood when everything’s going good, when you’re winning and having a good time and things like that,” McLaurin said after Thursday’s game.

“So, this is when kind of those…..what your program is built on, this is when it needs to stand out. So, you know, we hang our hat on our brotherhood and this is definitely the time that we need to stand up for that.”

Truer words have never been spoken.

Since taking over, head coach Dan Quinn has preached brotherhood. It’s not a motto for Quinn; he believes in it, he teaches it, and players love and respect him for it. The Commanders began the season with lots of smiles and little adversity.

That changed after two consecutive losses, moving Washington into second place in the NFC East. How will the Commanders and rookie quarterback Jayden Daniels respond?

In moments like this, we learn more about a team than when they are succeeding. The Commanders face the Dallas Cowboys in Week 12 and are heavy favorites.

NFC playoff picture for Commanders through Week 11

The Commanders are in an excellent position, but there is plenty of work ahead.

Having gone through 11 weeks of the 2024 season, what is the NFC playoff picture look like for the Commanders?

  • Two division leaders are earning the respect of the rest of the NFC as Detroit (9-1) and Philadelphia (8-2) clearly are playing the best football in the conference.
  • One division is literally up for grabs. The NFC West could easily be won by any of the four teams. The Cardinals (6-4) lead, but the Seahawks, 49ers and Rams are all tied only one game back at 5-5.
  • The NFC South is a two-team race between the Falcons (6-5) and the Bucs (4-6).

So, the NFC division leaders and top current top-four seeds along with wildcard seeds are:

  1. Detroit 9-1  (NFC North)
  2. Philadelphia 8-2  (NFC East)
  3. Arizona 6-4  (NFC West)
  4. Atlanta 6-5  (NFC South)
  5. Minnesota 8-2  (NFC North)
  6. Green Bay 7-3 (NFC North)
  7. Washington (7-4) (NFC East)

With the Commanders having lost two consecutive games, they have fallen down to the last qualifying spot, the number 7 seed. What this means is that in the first round of the playoffs, if the regular season were to conclude with the teams in this order, Washington would travel to Philadelphia to play the Eagles.

Consequently, as it stands today, the first round of the NFC playoffs would find these match ups:

(7) Washington at (2) Philadelphia

(6) Green Bay at (3) Arizona

(5) Minnesota at (4) Atlanta

(1) Detroit would have the first-round bye and play at home in the second round against the lowest seeded team to advance to the second round.

Which Commanders’ rivalry is ranked as top 5 in the NFL?

Is Washington/Dallas still an important NFL rivalry?

When you think of Dallas and Washington, you think of the Cowboys and Redskins. While Washington has a new name these days, the history between the two longtime NFC East rivals remains.

While some fans will say the rivalry isn’t what it once was, former NFL wide receiver and current NFL.com analyst Bucky Brooks ranked his top-five NFL rivalries and placed Washington/Dallas at No. 3.

Some would argue this is among the very best rivalries in sports, given the memorable battles that have fueled this never-ending feud between these division rivals. The Cowboys and Commanders mix like oil and water, with Dallas’ glitz and glamour clashing with Washington’s blue-collar tradition. With these teams typically staying true to their identities through their respective playing styles, the testy matchups have produced plenty of fireworks and enduring highlights over the years.

What do you think, Washington fans?

Younger NFL fans, specifically from the Dallas side, may not view this rivalry the same as fans who can still remember Washington’s glory years. The Cowboys have had the upper hand for several years, and some believe that the Eagles and Cowboys are the new NFC East blood rivalry.

However, times are changing in Washington. Daniel Snyder is no longer the owner, and the Commanders resemble a professional football franchise for the first time in years. Most importantly, Washington has a franchise quarterback — Jayden Daniels.

It would be good for the NFL if Washington vs. Dallas mattered again.

Quick facts from Commanders’ Week 11 loss to Eagles

Some quick numbers and facts from the Commanders’ loss to Eagles.

The Commanders led going into the final quarter and then were totally outplayed in the last 15 minutes, falling to the Philadelphia Eagles 26-18.

Here are some of the quick facts from the fourth loss of the Commanders’ season:

  • The most basic fact is that the Commanders were outscored 20-8 in the final quarter. What’s more, they have been outscored 39-11 in the final quarter in the last three games.
  • For the first time this season, the Commanders have lost two consecutive games.
  • When Jayden Daniels threw an interception in the fourth quarter, it was the first Commanders’ turnover in their last six games.
  • Speaking of six games, the Eagles have now won six straight.
  • The Commanders gave up 228 rushing yards on 40 carries by the Eagles, including 146 yards in 26 carries by Saquon Barkley.
  • The Commanders were out-gained by the Eagles 434 to 264, averaging 4.2 per play to 6.2 for the Eagles.
  • The Commanders were only 3-12 on third downs.
  • The Commanders’ ground game was beaten badly by the Eagles 228-93 yards.
  • Terry McLaurin was shut down tonight, not receiving his first target/reception until 10:27 in the final quarter, with one 10-yard reception.
  • The Commanders’ defense held the Eagles out of the end zone in the first half. This was only the second game this season in which the Eagles have not scored a first-half touchdown.
  • With tonight’s 146 rushing yards, Saquon Barkley now has six games this season where he has rushed for 100+ yards.
  • The Eagles entered the game with 19 sacks during their five-game winning streak, and they added three more tonight.
  • Dante Fowler came into the game with 8.5 sacks this season and eight in the last six games. He did not record a tackle or assist Thursday.
  • Austin Ekeler and Zach Ertz led the Commanders in receiving yards with 89 and 47 yards, respectively.
  • It was exactly two years ago tonight that the Commanders went to Lincoln Financial Field and upset the 8-0 Eagles 32-21 on Monday Night Football.
  • With his reception, Terry McLaurin became the sixth player in Washington NFL franchise history with 6,000 receiving yards, joining Art Monk, Charley Taylor, Gary Clark, Santana Moss, and Bobby Mitchell.
  • The Eagles entered the game as a 4.5-point favorite, and with the win tonight, they have now defeated Washington six of the last seven times the two teams have faced each other.
  • Tonight’s game was Zach Ertz’s first game in Philadelphia since being traded by the Eagles to the Cardinals in October 2021.

Commanders lead Eagles 7-3 at halftime

Commanders lead the Eagles 7-3 at halftime.

You were sadly mistaken if you were expecting a shootout on Thursday Night Football between the Washington Commanders (7-3) and the Philadelphia Eagles (7-2). At halftime, the underdog Commanders lead the Eagles 7-3.

The Eagles began the game on offense, but Washington’s defense forced a stop, and Philadelphia kicker Jake Elliott missed a field goal. Jayden Daniels and the Commanders went on offense and went three-and-out.

After an Eagles’ punt, Daniels found running back Austin Ekeler for a short gain and the veteran did the rest, going 34 yards and giving Washington a first down at the Philly 24-yard line. Three plays later, running back Brian Robinson Jr. scored from one yard to give the Commanders an early 7-0 lead.

The Eagles missed another field but made one just before halftime, and that’s about it from an offensive perspective.

Neither quarterback looked particularly strong in the first half. Daniels completed eight of 13 passes for 83 yards. He also rushed for eight yards on three carries.

Jalen Hurts completed 10 of 10 passes for 101 yards. Running back Saquon Barkley has 15 carries for 56 yards, but Washington’s defense has done a good job of getting off the field.

The Eagles won the time of possession battle (18:29/11:31). Philadelphia outgained Washington 174-124.

Commanders WR Terry McLaurin does not have one target in the first half.

Washington opens the second half with the football.

Legendary former Eagles QB: Jayden Daniels is the best rookie QB he’s ever seen

Philadelphia great thinks Jayden Daniels is the best rookie QB ever.

Ron Jaworski spent 17 years playing quarterback in the NFL, most notably from his 10 seasons with the Philadelphia Eagles. Since retirement, he’s worked in the media for various outlets. This week, Jaworski joined a Philadelphia radio station to discuss the Eagles’ opponent this week, the Washington Commanders, and rookie quarterback Jayden Daniels.

He’s a huge fan of Daniels.

“I don’t want to overblow what I am going to say, but I will,” Jaworski told Joe DeCamara and Jon Ritchie on Tuesday’s 94WIP Morning Show via Andrew Porter of Audacy.

“He’s the best rookie quarterback I have ever seen. I’ve seen a lot of them. The guy has been absolutely phenomenal. His calmness, his ability to throw the ball deep, short, his anticipation. I look at his feet; he’s very calm in the pocket. He’s a guy that kind of plays with a smile on his face, he’s enjoying playing football. He seems to have rallied the Washington Commanders. He’s really been outstanding………It’s remarkable for a rookie; I’ve been just blown away.”

Jaworski joins the list of former players and coaches impressed with the 2024 NFL draft’s No. 2 overall pick. Daniels has led the Commanders to a 7-3 record, and they rank in the top five in most offensive stats, including scoring.

Jaworski’s Eagles host Daniels and Washington on Thursday night in the most-anticipated NFC game of the season.

Dan Quinn refuses to talk to Commanders about standings & playoffs

Dan Quinn does not want his team to miss one step on this journey by talking about the future.

What has Dan Quinn told his Commanders team about the NFL standings or the playoffs?

“Zero, zero,” Quinn replied to the media on Tuesday.

The former Atlanta Falcons head coach won a division and finished second in the division three times. To conclude the 2016 season, he won the NFC title and nearly won a Super Bowl.

So he knows the ropes. He also knows the dangers of allowing players to look too far ahead. They can easily forget what is right in front of them and not being prepared, lose their opportunities.

“That’s not a coaching cop-out either. I just honestly want to stay in the pocket of where we’re at. I don’t want us to miss a step on this journey, and I don’t want to miss the next step that we have to take. And that’s this weekend and then the next one and the next one.”

When the Commanders won their Week 9 game at the NY Giants, they weren’t dominant, but they did do enough to prevent the Giants from having the ball and a chance to take the lead in the second half (27-22 final).

Quinn and Adam Peters have changed this entire culture, from 4-13 in 2023 to talking about how high a seed the Commanders can be in the NFC playoffs in 2021.

“I’m just kind of thinking about today, today’s practice and Thursday’s game, man. And like I haven’t talked to them much past that. It’s just let’s go battle for it this weekend. And I did the same thing last weekend when a lot of talk was, there’s two games in 11 days, and that I said, maybe we just got one game this week, and we got one game next week. And so, we’ll worry about next week then.”

 

Commanders’ Dan Quinn on why the NFC East is special

Dan Quinn on why the NFC East is special to him.

“It’s probably more nostalgic for me than for them.”

That was Dan Quinn Tuesday, meeting with the media when asked about coaching in the NFC East.

Quinn was born in 1970 in New Jersey and grew up in Jersey, playing his high school football at Morristown High School. So, one can understand why being a head coach in the NFC East and facing the Eagles in Philadelphia in a nationally televised Thursday night game can be “nostalgic” for him.

“It’s closer to home for me, because I grew up watching the NFC East and the battles that took place. So, for me, loving football and growing up and to see these matchups, it’s really cool for me because it does hit closer to home where I grew up. Like I said, falling in love with the game and seeing it all.”

In his first season as Washington’s coach, he must remember as a kid (age 10) that the Eagles won the NFC Championship Game over Dallas before losing to the Raiders in Super Bowl XV.

From 1982-84, it was Joe Gibbs and the Redskins who won the division, went to Super Bowls XVII (beating the Dolphins) and XVIII (losing to the Raiders). When in high school playing football, it was the Giants who won Super Bowl XXI over the Broncos and again the Redskins in Super Bowl XXII, defeating the Broncos.

Now, one of the team advisors is Doug Williams, who quarterbacked Washington to that Super Bowl XXII victory. Perhaps Quinn even remembers such defensive forces that day as Dave Butz, Darryl Grant, Charles Mann, Dexter Manley and Darrell Green.

Head coaches like Dick Vermeil, Joe Gibbs, Bill Parcells and Tom Landry were men he watched on the sidelines growing up in New Jersey. Now, he is on the sidelines coaching in these great rivalries in the same division.

“To be part of this division, it’s really cool. So, it’s probably more nostalgic for me than for them, but I do know that it’s a really cool division, and the fan bases are awesome.”

Quinn sounded like he would rather be nowhere else in the NFL. “Taking our show on the road to go up and have another division battle, Thursday night in November? Like come on, what are we talking about?”