Two NFC East teams that spent October going nowhere are trying to find a way forward Sunday night, when the Washington Commanders host the Philadelphia Eagles.
The records tell the story. Philadelphia is 2-5, Washington sits at 1-4-1, and both teams come in buried in the division after winless months.
The Commanders went 0-2-1 in October with Jayden Daniels, Marcus Mariota and rookie Athan Kaliakmanis taking snaps. The Eagles stumbled through an 0-4 stretch with Tanner McKee stepping in after an ailing Jalen Hurts.
Washington has not won since Sept. 27. Philadelphia’s last victory came Sept. 20, when it opened the season by beating Washington behind Hurts’ three touchdown passes.
“It’s going to be an absolute battle. I think it’s two angry teams willing to fight for the last snap and significant matchups in all three phases,” Commanders coach Dan Quinn said Wednesday.
“For us, what I’m really digging in and pushing on is I’m looking for winning football for all four quarters. We know the plan.
We know what needs to be done.”
Injuries to the starting quarterbacks have been a major part of the backdrop. Daniels’ left elbow and Hurts’ blood clots have both shadowed the broader struggles on each side.
The bigger problem, though, has been what’s happening on the defensive side of the ball. Philadelphia is tied with the Indianapolis Colts for the fewest takeaways in the league with three and is the only team without a recovered opponent fumble. The Eagles also have just eight sacks, ahead of only Miami’s total of six, with the Dolphins having played one fewer game.
Washington’s defense has its own issues. Only the Arizona Cardinals are allowing more points per game than the Commanders’ 28.7, and Washington is also second-worst in the league in red-zone defense, surrendering touchdowns on 18 of 22 trips inside the 20.
The Eagles enter on a short week after a 38-21 loss to the Dallas Cowboys on Monday night, a game in which they led 21-20 late in the third quarter before it slipped away. Philadelphia is trying to avoid its first six-game losing streak since an eight-game skid in 2012.
The numbers from that loss were ugly. The Eagles gave up 416 total yards, including 204 on the ground, and finished without a sack or a tackle for loss.
“I did not see an effort issue on Monday night,” Eagles coach Nick Sirianni said Wednesday. “Obviously, it was other things. ... But effort in no way, shape or form was an issue there.
“Now, do you bat 100% on effort? No, you don’t play a perfect football game.
So anytime there is an effort standout in a positive way, we show it to the team, we show what the standard is. And anytime there is one that we feel there was a loaf, we point that out and show that to the team.
But ... I didn’t look at the tape and say, 'Hey, this was an effort issue and this is why this play happened or that play happened.'”
Philadelphia also had six players miss practice Wednesday, including Saquon Barkley, DeVonta Smith and Dontayvion Wicks. Six more were limited.
Washington comes in rested after a bye and still looking for its first division win. The Commanders were stopped on a late two-point try in a 24-22 loss at Philadelphia in Week 1, fell 37-20 at Dallas in Week 2, and then played to a 27-27 overtime tie with the division-leading New York Giants in Week 5.
In Other News...
Commanders Suddenly Face A Big Trade Deadline Decision At Wide Receiver
The wide receiver market is starting to loom over Washington as the NFL trade deadline on Nov. 10 approaches, and the Commanders are at least being linked to a move that could help deepen their passing game. ESPN has put three names in the conversation: Clevelands Jerry Jeudy, Baltimores Rashod Bateman and Tampa Bays Chris Godwin, giving the front office a short list of options with very different levels of appeal.
Each candidate comes with a different type of fit and a different level of realism, which is what makes this such a tricky decision for Washington. Bateman appears to be the cleanest match for what the Commanders might want, while Godwin is the most complicated swing of the group because of his injury history and age, leaving the team to weigh upside against the kind of certainty it can actually get before the deadline. [Read more 🡒]
Commanders Trade Debate Just Got Real On The Offensive Line
Washingtons offensive line has been a point of concern this season, with the unit sitting 20th in the NFL by PFFs grading. That backdrop is what makes the latest trade chatter worth watching, because any move up front would be aimed at stabilizing a group that has not consistently given the offense the kind of protection and flexibility it needs.
ESPN has floated the Commanders as a possible landing spot for New Orleans guard Cesar Ruiz, a player whose appeal goes beyond one spot on the interior. Ruiz brings the kind of versatility teams covet along the line, and a deal would make sense on paper for both sides, but for now it remains only a projection rather than an actual transaction. [Read more 🡒]
Commanders Season Could Decide How Soon Laremy Tunsil Returns
Laremy Tunsils road back to the field is still in the early stages, but there is at least some encouraging news for the Commanders. The veteran left tackle tore his triceps in training camp and had surgery, leaving Washington to move forward without one of its biggest offseason additions while he works through the rehab process.
Dan Quinn said Tunsil is still a few weeks away from his next medical check to see how the healing is progressing, and the signs so far have been described as on track. Even so, whether Tunsil plays again this season may end up depending as much on where the Commanders stand in the standings as on the next round of evaluations. [Read more 🡒]