Tag: NFC East Rivalry

Time for the Commanders to start focusing on Giants

The Giants are a perfect test for Dan Quinn and the Commanders for several reasons.

The “Hail Mary” was wonderful!

It brought such ecstatic joy and instant happiness to the players, coaches, staff, ownership group, and fan base. Jayden Daniels had been part of a miraculous finish, with his pass being tipped and then caught by Noah Brown!

The Commanders are indeed 6-2 for the first time since 2008. The “Hail Mary” was great to talk about Sunday night, Monday and Tuesday. But the Commanders need to literally put the heroic play behind them because this is the NFL, and nothing lasts for long in this league if you are not preparing diligently, taking care of yourself, and being wise.

Frankly, their next opponent, the New York Giants, is a team that has repeatedly convinced this franchise that its football team is not as good as we think it is. You say, well, that was with the last administration of Ron Rivera as both GM and head coach.

Yes, it is true Rivera did not defeat the Giants in either game of 2020, 2022 and 2023. He did win both times in 2021. Yes, Rivera was only 2-5-1 in his eight games against the Giants in his four years as GM/HC in Washington.

But even this year’s team, led by Jayden Daniels, Dan Quinn, Adam Peters, and 30 new players, needed Giants kicker Graham Gano to get injured, or this team would have started 2024 with two losses.

Coming off such a huge emotional win, it is only natural that the players and coaches have been talking about this win, how they felt, how they responded, etc.

Consequently, it is only natural to have a letdown the next week. In addition, this will be a road game at New York. The Giants aren’t sitting around talking about the “Hail Mary” escape with a win. The Giants are doing their homework, looking to avenge how they lost 21-18 in a game they had opportunity to win just as much as Washington.

It won’t be as easy as many are thinking it will be.

Dorance Armstrong: ‘Turning the Commanders around will take everybody’

Dorance Armstrong liked playing for Dan Quinn in Dallas, and Wednesday he said it is exciting being here now with a divisional rival.

“It’s been smooth, it’s a new team.”

“We’re just trying to get the feeling of everybody getting to know each other,” said Dorance Armstrong to the media Wednesday at the Commanders OTA workouts.

The defensive end made his way to Washington via free agency, opting to leave the Cowboys for their divisional rival, the Commanders.

For now, during this week’s OTAs, Armstrong continued the theme of becoming a team. “Knowing this is going to be a long season, so we got to be able to play as a unit and be one.”

Armstrong revealed Wednesday that he has not been following the rumors of the NFL Players Association looking to reduce the number of OTA workouts they can have during the earlier portion of the offseason. When asked about it, Armstrong was unaware of it and even said, “I don’t care.”

Armstrong likes Dan Quinn’s approach to defense. He pointed to “the play style. If you watch film from the previous team, it jumps off the tape how fast they play, how fast they move. You don’t see that across the league everywhere.”

Others have mentioned how the coaching staff is vocal, energetic, and intense. Armstrong echoed this Wednesday and added, “We got to go out there and want to do it ourselves, too. But as long as we have those guys to make us go out there and push us and motivate us, then it’ll be that.”

See 2022-23 Dorance Armstrong highlights

If the Commanders are going to get this team turned around from the miserable 4-13 finish of 2023, at least Armstrong is realistic about how that change might occur. “It takes a lot, you know. You got to be willing to sacrifice a lot of things. It’s a big grind, man. It’s not easy. It’s gonna take everybody.”

Indeed, it will take everybody. The Commanders will be underdogs in all four games against the Cowboys and Eagles. They have not beaten the New York Giants since the 2021 season.

 

When they last met: Commanders and Eagles

We all remember what happened the last time these two teams played.

“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.

Washington 32, Philadelphia 21 – Week 10, Nov. 14, 2022

The 4-5 Commanders traveled to Philadelphia for a Monday Night Football contest against the undefeated 8-0 NFC East rival Eagles.

The unexpected occurred as it was the 10.5-point underdog Commanders who actually came out on top with a surprising 32-21 upset over the Eagles before a national television audience.

Here are the game highlights.

Kicker Joey Slye had a career night as he connected on field goals from 44, 58, 32 and 55 yards.

Washington offensive coordinator Scott Turner came into the game with a plan to best keep the ball away from the high-scoring Eagles, and the game plan worked tremendously.

As the Commanders continued to move the chains, they determined to keep running the ball. In fact, they ran the ball so much that the Commanders gained 152 yards on 49 carries, while the Eagles accumulated only 46 total offensive plays.

As a result of running the ball continuously, the Commanders maintained possession of the ball 40:24, while the Eagles only managed to have possession for a mere 19:36.

After trailing 7-0 and 14-7, the Commanders took their first lead at 1:39 remaining in the half on Brian Robinson’s 1-yard run. Two Slye field goals extended the Washington lead to 23-14.

Leading 26-21, defensive end Casey Toohill picked up a backward lateral from one yard out for the final 32-21 upset margin.

The Commanders won the turnover battle 4-2, while Robinson finished with 86 yards on his 26 carries. Terry McLaurin contributed 128 receiving yards on his 8 receptions. Jamin Davis was the leading Washington tackler with 9 tackles, including 5 solo and 4 assisted.

Carson Wentz excited to be a Commander

Carson Wentz sees big things for Commanders’ offense, and is excited to play Eagles Sunday.

Carson Wentz is calm on the outside but excited on the inside.

His emotions have to be churning somewhat as he prepares to face the Eagles at FedEx Field Sunday.

“I’m excited for it just because of the nature of the game. Obviously, you know, they’ve started hot. We know where we’re at and everything. It’s a divisional rivalry, all of those things. I’ve been a part of this one. I know the emotion that goes into it from the other side. So, I’m excited for it.”

Wentz would rather talk about playing for the Commanders and offensive coordinator Scott Turner.

“Obviously last week, the way we started was pretty bad, myself included. I do think just the way we can attack. I think we’ve shown we’re capable of being an explosive offense with the way we can spread the ball around, create mismatches. I think we got a lot of speed, a lot of playmakers that make my life easier. It has been fun when we see that we’re clicking out there, it has been fun. We just gotta find ways to be consistent when we’re doing it.”

He has one home game under his belt in burgundy and gold but is looking forward to this one Sunday.

“It’ll be fun. I do know it is exciting playing at home here. Week 1 was a lot of fun, you know, being at home there at FedEx. I’m sure the Eagles fans will travel well like they always do, but hopefully, we’re still dominating the stands there, but either way, it’ll be fun.”

When Wentz was asked about going up against Eagles QB Jalen Hurts, he didn’t take the bait.

“Again, we’re preparing to play their defense, you know, they got a good defense. I know our defense will be up for the task of stopping him in that explosive offense that they have there. But yeah, I don’t put a lot of stock into that. It’s a new team. A lot of new faces over there, so yeah, it’ll be a fun one either way though.”

Regarding the absence of the offense in the first half against Detroit, “I think we’ve shown that it just takes one play. I think, you know, for us last game not getting a first down those first couple drives and just missing here or there just one little thing. If we can just find a way to force the issue and find a first down. Create one play, one chunk play to kind of spark a little momentum and spark a little bit of that. We gotta find a way to do that.”

Hating to see center Chase Roullier injured was difficult for Wentz.

“Seeing him go down in the game, I think was the second to last play, it really made my heart hurt for him and, and the type of guy that he is not just for this team as a player, but who he is as a person and how hard he’s worked. So, definitely prayers up for him and I think things will look different in that regard front, but at the same time, I know those guys will be prepared, whoever it is and guys will be ready. They’re coached well.”

 

 

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.