Tag: NFC East Division

What type of respect does ESPN possess for the Commanders roster?

ESPN ranks the Commanders roster in the bottom third of the NFL.

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What type of job does ESPN think Ron Rivera, Martin Mayhew and Marty Hurney have done in constructing the Washington Commanders’ current roster?

How good is any NFL team’s roster?

Are the offensive and defensive lines deep enough to endure a grueling 17-game regular season?

Are there enough skill position players providing an offense opportunity for some big plays each week?

Does your secondary have enough players that can not only run well enough in pass coverage, but also physical enough to come up and play the run well?

There will be close games, so how is your kicker under pressure?

The most important position is never ignored in this discussion: Who is your starting quarterback? In addition, the game is so brutal. Do you have a capable backup?

If you wish to read the entire article, here is the link as ESPN this week took all 32 NFL teams and attempted the impossible: to evaluate all 32 and then rank them in order.

Of course, there is MUCH subjectivity and, frankly, much guessing. NFL rosters change every season. There are different teams making the playoffs each NFL season. There are teams that go from worst to first. The fall of an NFL team can occur rather quickly.

Take the NFC East. It seems unfathomable, but there still has been no repeat divisional champion since the Eagles in 2005. It is the longest such streak in NFL history. The Eagles are the overwhelming favorite in 2023. Will this be the year the streak is finally broken?

Here’s what ESPN said about Washington’s roster, which it ranked No. 24:

Strongest unit: Defensive line. Washington’s starting defensive line is comprised of four first-round picks, with Jonathan Allen (2017) and Daron Payne (2018) inside and Montez Sweat (2019) and Chase Young (2020) on the edge. The first three rarely left the field and combined for 27 sacks last season. Young has flashed superstar upside, but he has appeared in only three games since tearing his ACL in Week 10 in 2021.

Weakest unit: Quarterback. Washington seems to have an eyebrow-raising amount of confidence in Sam Howell — a 2022 fifth-round pick who attempted 19 passes as a rookie. Perhaps the Commanders have found a diamond in the rough, but he’s an unknown. Jacoby Brissett was brought in as veteran competition, and while he’s coming off a career year, the 30-year-old is more a “stopgap” than a “solid starter.”

If you wish to avoid all of the explanations describing each roster, Commanders Wire now provides you with the bare skeleton, the roster rankings alone.

  • 1. Chiefs
  • 2.  Eagles
  • 3.  Bills
  • 4.  Dolphins
  • 5.  Bengals
  • 6.  Cowboys
  • 7.  Chargers
  • 8.  49ers
  • 9.  Browns
  • 10. Jets
  • 11. Ravens
  • 12. Seahawks
  • 13. Broncos
  • 14. Steelers
  • 15. Jaguars
  • 16. Vikings
  • 17. Lions
  • 18. Giants
  • 19. Saints
  • 20. Patriots
  • 21. Raiders
  • 22. Bears
  • 23. Packers
  • 24. Commanders
  • 25. Panthers
  • 26. Falcons
  • 27. Buccaneers
  • 28. Titans
  • 29. Texans
  • 30. Colts
  • 31. Rams
  • 32. Cardinals

 

Washington in the NFC East during the Daniel Snyder Era

Washington’s numbers against the NFC East under Dan Snyder aren’t pretty.

As we approach the end of the Daniel Snyder era, we can’t help but remind ourselves what were the results of his ownership against the other three NFC East divisional rivals?

No time for subjectivity here in this column. Simply just the facts on this one. So, we will look first at how Washington competed in head-to-head games within the NFC East division during the years 1999 through 2022.

Then in keeping with objectivity, we look at the raw data of how many winning seasons did each team accomplish? How many seasons were they winning 10-plus games? How many playoff births, NFC East division championships, NFC championships, and finally, Super Bowl championships were accomplished by the four NFC East teams during the years of Daniel Snyder’s ownership 1999-2022?

Head-to-Head

Washington vs Dallas 15-33

Washington vs NY Giants 18-29-1

Washington vs Philadelphia 19-29

Winning Seasons

Dallas 12

NY Giants 10

Philadelphia 16

Washington 6

Losing Seasons

Dallas 7

NY Giants  12

Philadelphia 6

Washington 14

Seasons Winning 10+ Games

Dallas 8

NY Giants 7

Philadelphia 12

Washington 3

Playoffs

Dallas 10

NY Giants 9

Philadelphia 15

Washington 6

Division Champs

Dallas 6

NY Giants 4

Philadelphia 10

Washington 4

Conference Champs

Dallas 0

NY Giants 3

Philadelphia 3

Washington 0

Super Bowl Champs

Dallas 0

NY Giants 2

Philadelphia 1

Washington 0

 

 

NFC East starting quarterback contracts

What a difference a year makes as it pertains to the QBs in the NFC East.

With the New York Giants signing Daniel Jones Tuesday, what is the current contracts status of the NFC East quarterbacks?

Jones is still only age 25, turning 26 in May. The Giants signed Jones to the whopping contract banking on their plan to surround him with better targets in the passing game and believing Jones still has much upside.

The 2023 cap number for Jones will be $19 million, with his guaranteed salary still a modest $10 million. The 2024 numbers for Jones show a sizeable leap with his guaranteed salary at $36 million and his cap number at $45 Million.

Over the Cap has the breakdown stating in 2025 Jones’ cap number will be $39,500,000 with his guaranteed salary being at $0. Jones thus far is the only Giants player under contract for 2026. He will be a cap hit in 2026 for $56,500,000 and his guaranteed salary again at $0.

The Cowboys Dak Prescott will turn 30 in July. Prescott will be a 2023 cap hit of $49,130,000, with a guaranteed salary of $31,000,000.

In 2024 Prescott will be a cap hit of $52,130,000, but the actual guaranteed money is $0. In 2025 Prescott would receive a prorated bonus of $18,130,000 and a cap hit would be $21,810,00, but again the guaranteed salary is $0.

The NFC East and NFC champ Philadelphia Eagles’ Jalen Hurts is certainly a huge bargain. His stellar play last season including a great Super Bowl performance means a colossal raise is coming for Hurts.

Currently, Hurts is entering the last year of his contract which was based upon his being drafted in round two (53) in the 2020 NFL draft. His base salary for 2023 will be $4,204,000, the prorated bonus ($485,486) and a workout bonus of $100,000. This means the Eagles will have a premiere quarterback who will be a cap hit of only $4,789,486.

And then there is the Commanders Sam Howell. Howell was drafted in the 5th round (144 overall) in the 2022 NFL Draft. Howell has only seen action in one game.

Both Ron Rivera and Martin Mayhew have stated the Commanders will look for another veteran quarterback, who would most definitely sign for more than Howell is making in 2023. Yet, Rivera and Mayhew have both said the starting job is now for Howell to win, as he starts out as the QB1.

Howell will have a base salary of $870,000, a prorated bonus of $90,400, being a cap hit of $960,400. Thus, now is a good time for the Commanders to sign and draft new offensive lineman to overhaul a unit that digressed from 2021’s solid season.

 

 

Commanders still in NFC playoff chase

A look at the NFC playoff picture for Week 16.

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As the Washington Commanders travel to San Francisco to battle the 49ers, the NFC playoff race is starting to take shape.

The 49ers and Vikings with wins last week, clinched their respective divisions, while the Eagles and Cowboys have clinched playoff berths.

Had the Commanders defeated the Giants last week, they could have clinched a playoff spot with a win this week and a Giants, Seahawks or Lions loss.

The Commanders have three games remaining (at 49ers, Browns, Cowboys) and they currently are in the final playoff spot at the No. 7 seed. Being at the No. 7 seed, if the Commanders finish at No. 7, they would be matched against the No. 2 seed, which currently is the Vikings.

The Giants, the No. 6 seed are at the Vikings, host the Colts, and at the Eagles. If the Giants retain the 6th seed position, they would face the No. 3 seed in the NFC, currently the 49ers.

The Seahawks and Lions are both 7-7, and one-half game back of the Commanders (7-6-1). The Seahawks in the final three weeks go to the Chiefs, and then host the Jets and Rams . While the Lions go to the Panthers, host the Bears and are at the Packers. The Seahawks have a win against both the Lions and the Giants.

The NFC South is as bad as the NFC East was in 2020. Washington won the East at 7-9, while currently the Bucs are 6-8, one game ahead of the Falcons, Panthers and Saints, each at 5-9.

NFC East makes another strong statement

It was another statement week from the NFC East.

Not only did the Commanders and Giants play such a tight game it ended in a 20-20 tie, but the Cowboys again provided the week’s most dominant performance, and the Eagles put a whoopin’ on the Titans.

After Week 13 games, the NFC East record is now 34-13-2. By contrast, the closest division to this success in 2022 has been the AFC East whose overall record is now 30-18.

Eagles 11-1

Cowboys 9-3

Giants 7-4-1

Commanders 7-5-1

The tie in New York meant that on the same day when Seattle won at Los Angeles, both the Commanders and Giants could have done much worse with a loss. The Giants could have fallen into a tie with the Seahawks at 7-5. The Commanders could have fallen to 7-6, a full game behind the Seahawks. So both the Commanders and Giants remained very much alive in pursuit of the playoffs.

Ok, yes, the Cowboys roughed up the Colts who entered the game 4-7-1. However, the Eagles really took care of business destroying a Titans team that came into the game 7-4. No one compares the Titans to teams like the Colts this season.

Dallas was in a tough, tightly contested game in the second half, leading only 21-19, when suddenly it was like they literally turned on the switch. “Ok, let’s get serious now.”  What followed were five yes, five fourth-quarter Cowboys touchdowns, resulting in a 54-19 massacre of the Colts.

Both the Eagles and Cowboys have shown they can defeat good teams; yet, in the last three weeks, the Cowboys have shown they can destroy NFL teams. One of those teams was the Vikings 40-3 in Minnesota. Keep in mind the Vikings are 10-2 this season. Did I forget to mention their two losses were convincing losses to the Eagles and the Cowboys?

Barring a major injury, don’t be surprised to find the Cowboys and Eagles continuing to play the best football throughout the end of this regular season.

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NFC East goes 3-0 in Week 7

Another stellar week for the NFC East. The best division in the NFL?

Is there any doubt the NFC East is the NFL’s best division seven weeks through this season?

The Commanders topped the Packers, the Giants won in Jacksonville, and the Cowboys easily defeated the Lions. Only the Eagles did not win, but that was because they were scheduled for their bye week.

  • Eagles 6-0
  • Giants 6-1
  • Cowboys 5-2
  • Commanders 3-4

NFC East Week 4 preview

We preview Week 4 around the NFC East.

  • Eagles 3-0
  • Cowboys 2-1
  • Giants 2-1
  • Commanders 1-2

 

PHILADELPHIA

The Eagles sit atop the division and this week play host to the surprising Jaguars who went out to Los Angeles in Week 3 and crushed the Chargers 38-10.

Jalen Hurts leads the Eagles passing offense which is currently 3rd in the NFL with 296.7 YPG.

The Eagles display effective offensive balance ranking 7th earning 150 YPG.

DALLAS

After losing Dak Prescott, the Cowboys have won both of their games and are understandably favored this week at home against Washington, who has lost their last two, being outscored 46-0 in the first half of those two games.

In addition, the Cowboys have received great news as Michael Gallup, Dalton Schultz and Connor McGovern are expected to return for the offense while Jayron Kearse is expected to be back on the defense.

Cowboys QB Cooper Rush has the eighth-highest DVOA overall at 18.8% while Washington’s Carson Wentz ranks 26th at -19.8%.

The Cowboys are fourth in the NFL in rushing offense at 16.2% with both Ezekiel Elliott and Tony Pollard placing in the top 10 in DVOA. The Commanders are far behind in rushing the ball, ranking 25th with a -24.8%.

Yet, the most glaring difference in the two teams thus far might actually be the Cowboys’ front 7 on defense has looked and performed far superior to Washington’s offensive line.

NEW YORK

The Giants are hosting the Bears in a contest between two 2-1 teams. The Giants are going to be without wide receivers Kadarius Toney and Wan’Dale Robinson. Even more, they will miss the play of defensive lineman Leonard Williams, who was also listed out.

The Giants defeated the Titans and the Panthers the first two weeks before falling to the Cowboys on Monday night at home.

The Bears upset San Francisco in Week 1, then fell to the Packers in Week 2. This past Sunday, the Bears defeated the Texans 23-20.

WASHINGTON

The Commanders’ offense yielded an embarrassing 17 QB hits to the Eagles in a 24-8 romp in Week 3. That same offensive line now must face the Dallas Cowboys front 7 which includes Micah Parsons, DeMarcus Lawrence and Dorance Armstrong, Jr.

Even more, Wes Schweitzer is out for Sunday, and Charles Leno has been battling a bad shoulder and is questionable.

Carson Wentz was sacked 9 times by the Eagles and endured 17 QB hits. He has thrown 7 touchdowns and 3 interceptions. However, Wentz has apparently not seen the field well, taking 15 sacks and his QBR is down to 40.4.

 

When they last met: Washington and Philadelphia

The last meeting between these two teams is remembered more for what happened after the game.

“When they last met” is an ongoing series during the NFL season, recalling the preceding game between Washington and the next opponent on the Commanders’ schedule.

Philadelphia 20, Washington 16 – Week 17, January 02, 2022

Leading by halftime by 9 points, the Washington Football Team could not score in the second half, falling to the Philadelphia Eagles 20-16 at Fed Ex Field in Landover.

Washington moved the ball quite well in the first half with drives of 67, 63, 54 and 57 yards resulting in a 11-yard touchdown by Jaret Patterson and three Joey Slye field goals for a Washington 16-7 halftime lead.

However, four second-half offensive possessions resulted in Washington moving the ball -5, 9, 30 and 55 yards. The final WFT drive began on the Washington 25 with the Eagles having taken a 20-16 lead with 2:21 remaining in the game.

Taylor Heinicke completed five consecutive passes moving the ball to the Philadelphia 35. On second down, Heinicke connected with Patterson to the Eagles’ 30. Then Heinicke again found Patterson for 10 yards to the Eagles’ 20 with 30 seconds remaining.

However, on first down, Heinicke attempted to connect with John Bates in the end zone but was intercepted by Rodney McLeod, sealing the come-from-behind win for the Eagles. Washington had built first-half leads of 10-0 and 16-7, yet the Eagles responded, outscoring Washington 13-0 in the second half.

Immediately following the game, as both teams were leaving the field, a security railing being leaned on by several Eagles’ fans collapsed, leaving the fans on the ground and Jalen Hurts whom the Eagles fans were attempting to reach.

 

Commanders Carson Wentz, the pressure, and NFC East quarterbacks

Which NFC East quarterback is under the most pressure in 2022?

Which NFC East quarterback is under the most pressure?

NFL Network’s “Good Morning Football” discussed the question for a segment Monday morning. Of course, to no one’s surprise, the four panelists all chose a different quarterback (Dak Prescott, Carson Wentz, Jalen Hurts, Daniel Jones) and then supplied their reasoning.

Tom Pelissero, in his reasoning, offered this opinion regarding Washington’s Carson Wentz.

“If we are talking pressure, I have a hard time saying it is anybody other than Carson Wentz. When you are in your third stop in three years, and we know the way things ended in Philadelphia, we know the way things ended in Indianapolis. Then, before you have even played a game, you do an interview where somebody is trying to get under your skin, asking really poorly worded questions. The team president has to get on Twitter and fight over the reporter and threaten access if you are covering/asking questions like that, and he gets in a spat?”

“First of all, this only happens in Washington. Secondly, it only happens surrounding Carson Wentz. There is just this drama that follows him. Carson Wentz, last year, everybody loses sight of the fact that he played pretty well. Set aside those last two games–which, of course, you can’t. Terrible against the Raiders after missing the week with COVID. Terrible the next week against the Jaguars; the whole team played badly against Jacksonville.”

“But those previous 15 games? He was pretty good. He had one or two plays in the game where he was throwing a left-handed interception out of his end zone for no particular reason. But you look at the stats; you look at the tape. He made a lot of plays. This is a good quarterback.”

But you’ve got to be able to calm everything else down around him, and you know the other part of this. The reality of the NFL is that the moment the quarterback who is under pressure and has that drama surrounding them has a bad game or has a bad play, it swells up from underneath.”

“You start to hear about, ‘Why don’t they play Sam Howell?’ Why don’t they play Heinicke?’ They are going to have to deal with that if he does not come out firing. I know that Scott Turner is going to get the absolute maximum out of Carson Wentz. Is that good enough? Can he avoid all of those pitfalls to live up to that pressure this year? That is my question.”

 

Carson Wentz hopes to bring stability to Washington quarterback position

Carson Wentz spoke to Julie Donaldson in his first interview as a Washington Commander.

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Carson Wentz is excited to be making the transition from the Colts to the Commanders.

Wentz appeared with Julie Donaldson, Washington’s Senior VP of Media and Content in his first public interview as a member of the Washington Commanders.

“It all happens fast, this business, this life…You don’t have a lot of time to process it. It is on to the next step. Things change in a hurry.”

“Things change quickly in this business. You learn that, and you embrace it…I am full speed ahead, ready to go, ready to work. My wife is awesome too; she is a champion.”

On now playing for a team once your divisional rival: “I’ll be just fine. For fans, it might be a little weird right away but I look forward to hopefully earning that trust and earning that appreciation from fans.”

“There are definitely some rivals in the NFC East, I still have some friends in Philly, so it will be fun to compete against them. The NFC East feels right. I’ve had a lot of fun competing in this division.”

Regarding the reaction from Philly when he returns: “I am very aware (laughing) and I will be ready for it. It has already crossed my mind and I will try to not let it be about that, and just keep it between the lines and play good football.”

Julie pointed out to Carson he is the 11th QB since the 2018 season and 7th QB for Ron Rivera in his 33 games with Washington. “Nothing is guaranteed in this game. I am going to do everything I can to set myself up to be healthy, to stay out on the field, to be available. I look forward to hopefully bringing some stability to this position God-willing for a long time.”

Concerning what he has learned about life these last three seasons: “I’ve learned it is God’s plan and not my own. As a man and as an athlete you think you can control everything. There are some things out of your control. You make the most of them and God changes your course, puts you on a path. I just try to be obedient to that and make the most of it.”

“Coach Rivera is someone I have had the utmost respect for in competing against him. Who he is as a man and as a coach I am excited to work together in that regard.”

Wentz started the AO1 Foundation and he has a sports complex in Haiti, a food truck in Philadelphia and Indianapolis, and an outdoor ministry that takes kids on trips and hunts. Carson and his wife (Madison) have two daughters and three dogs.