TOTAL domination! It was a blowout/shutout, where we allowed just 75 yards all game long, while scoring 31 points. We adjusted to the weather, and instead of throwing it a ton, we ran for 183 yards, controlling the clock for 39 minutes. We responded well to what was happening around us, and stayed in control of what we could control. For example, not playing down to the opponent.
This week’s opponent, the 4 – 10 Commanders, didn’t build enough foundation in the off-season. Now injury, age, and a lack of depth, have them already eliminated from playoff contention. Usually teams like that want to play spoiler. However, with nine other teams with records of 4 – 10 or worse, the Commanders coaching staff may tank to keep or improve their top ten spot in the upcoming Draft.
A win moves us to 10 – 5, clinching both the 2025 NFC East title and a playoff berth.
A loss holds us to 9 – 6. While we would still be in the lead to win the division, we would make things much more complicated for ourselves.
****
The point of Four Things isn’t to predict a winner, it’s to discuss which tactics would give our Eagles the best chance to win this game. Often I list fundamentals, as some of the four things. BUT NO MORE! Unless something specific is needed, fundamentals like Running the ball; playing lots of Man Press; and Tackling instead of going for the strip, will be automatically included. (Like the five consonants and a vowel that Wheel Of Fortune automatically spots you.) So here are the Four Things that we need to focus on this week versus: the COMMANDERS.
RB Saquon Barkley rips off a 60 yard TD run.
1) Exploit Age On the Perimeter:Between the Commanders starting DE’s and OLB’s, the respective ages are 33, 30, 29 and 36. Let’s get a couple of toss/pitch runs to RB Saquon Barkley, and maybe a Jet Sweep to WR Jahan Dotson. Let’s challenge any steps those defenders may have lost to age, as well as stress their joints with change of direction.
That’s not to say that we shouldn’t test the middle. We need to. Especially between C Cam Jurgens and RG Tyler Steen. We haven’t had much success running there this season. If opponents see us avoid trying to, it makes us easier to scheme against. There are no yardage goals here, but let’s get for at least four runs in that hole, to assess later.
2) Exploit the Loaded Box: The leading pass rusher for the Commanders is OLB Von Miller with 7 sacks. They like to play him on over the RT. He has no real coverage responsibilities and doesn’t make plays in that phase of the game. Quick completions outside to TE Dallas Goedertshould be easy.
In the event that the Commanders rock and roll their Safeties, that should put their one player in Single-high coverage and leave their RCB in one-on-one. If we see that early, we need to test that early. Otherwise, lean on the run, throw to Goedert when he’s open, and let the clock keep ticking.
3) Stay Fresh Up Front: You may not know it, but the #4 rushing attack in the league belongs to the Commanders. They don’t have one scary player, instead it’s a group effort. Mobile QB, fresh RB’s cycling in and out. (None of whom are great receivers.)
We need to counter that with staying fresh up front. Keep a close eye and when they sub, we sub. Their RB’s aren’t more talented than our defenders. So it makes no sense to allow them clutch plays, just because we got tired. Rotate our stock out there.
4) Force Longer Passes:If we play Cover Two and take away most of the quick underneath stuff, early in the game, it will also aid us in limiting yards off of QB scrambles. This places a lot of emphasis on making tackles at the catch point.
OLB Zack Baun punches the ball out for a turnover.
It also invites the possibility of the Commanders hitting on big plays, in front of their home crowd. So it comes with a little risk. That said, QB Marcus Mariota isn’t exactly known for accuracy, and even if their LT plays, his oblique injury will keep him from being anywhere close to 100%.
****
If the Eagles do these Four Things, then we’ll be virtually impossible to beat. That being said…
Players play for pride, and many Commanders players are at this point, auditioning for jobs next year. So winning matters to them. Commanders coaches on the other hand, may be itching to move as far up as possible in next years Draft, to start being able to build around QB Jayden Daniels.
While I don’t expect the Commanders to just roll over for us, we may not get their best effort, top to bottom. I don’t care. I just want to clinch this playoff berth. We’d do them a favor by winning, and they’d do us a favor by losing. So, let’s go pick up this “W”, and start officially working on our bid to get RT Lane Johnson and DE Brandon Graham, their third Super Bowl wins.
****
WARNING: I don’t have the faintest clue as to what a point spread is, and I know even less about how it works. I know FOOTBALL and that’s it. If you use Four Things as a gambling tool, then you are a fool trying to lose your money, and will deserve it when you do.
Check back in a couple of days for Four Things Reviewed, and we’ll discuss how this game went.
Note: Like lasts year’s article, this one is a weeks late. Unlike last year’s article, I still got it in before the season started. I was waiting to see how the holdouts of Commanders WR Terry McLaurin, and Cowboys LB Micah Parsons worked out, so I had an idea of how to stack those two teams. Well, I guess the Cowboys set us all straight on that one!
Strongest Offense: PHILADELPHIA – Aside from a lack of depth at TE, the Eagles are set across the board. They have possibly the best O-Line in football; one of the deepest WR rooms in the league; a generational talent at RB; and a QB who just keeps winning. Shove in an unstoppable short yardage play, and they are practically without weakness.
Weakest Offense: NEW YORK – Their starting QB is four losses away from being benched in favor of a rookie who had a nice preseason. Their RB room (long on effort, short on talent) has “high apple pie in the sky hopes”. The WR’s played in this system last year and were anything but dangerous. With a vet they might improve, but if a rookie gets out there… TE is a car crash, but worst of all is a the o-line, which is shaky everywhere but Center.
Strongest Defense: PHILADELPHIA – While some players were lost to free agency, the number two defense in the NFL was A) already starting from a position of strength (unlike their division rivals), and B) did a good job of restocking the cupboard. (Except at CB.)The Eagles are absolutely loaded up front, and the Safety problem is more about choosing a style, and not about a lack of talent. The Eagles wanted to have two stars at CB, but the second position is manned by good not great players.
Weakest Defense: DALLAS – Last year they had the 31st ranked defense in the NFL. Then they traded away Parsons, on the doorstep of the season, at at time when they can’t do anything to mitigate the loss. Now they have a bunch of well paid defensive backs, who will be playing behind less pressure up front. Unless the Cowboys have a huge surprise up their sleeve, this will again be one of the worst units in the sport.
Strongest Special Teams: DALLAS – Their Kicker has the strongest leg in the division, and he doesn’t have a history of being spotty. The Eagles have the best Punter, but taken as a pair, the legs in Dallas have the edge.
Weakest Special Teams: WASHINGTON – What put the Commanders here, is bringing an indoor Kicker to the outdoors, in the Mid-Atlantic region, during Fall/Winter weather. Did I mention that he struggles from 50+?
Projected Winner: PHILADELPHIA – By a country mile. The NFC East should have it’s first repeat winner since 2004, when the Eagles secured a fourth straight division crown.
Darkhorse Winner: WASHINGTON – Even with as bad as their defense is, they at least don’t appear to be trying to tank the 2025 season. If the Eagles stumble, the Commanders could have a puncher’s chance at keeping the “No Repeat” streak, alive.
Sisyphus- (Oops!) Washington, now that Dan Snyder is gone.
LOST NFC Championship Game, 12 – 5, 2nd place in NFC East, pspg 28.5 (5th) papg 23.0 (18th)
Washington was by far the surprise team of the 2024 season. Capitalizing on a last place schedule, and a rookie QB playing better than anyone could have anticipated; the Commanders made a deep run in the playoffs. They even out-dueled the #1 seeded Detroit, 45 – 31. A week later, the eventual Super Bowl Champions the Philadelphia Eagles, would annihilate Washington 55 – 23, and give them much to consider in the off-season.
Heading into the pre-season, this is how things look today:
QB: Jayden Daniels (331 – 480 – 69.0 – 3568 – 25 – 9) started all 17 games, while battling through broken ribs, suffered in Week 7. He ran for 891 yards and 6 scores, with a win/loss record of 12-5. But pump the brakes. That record could have just as easily been 8-9. His four game winning drives (Bears, giants, Eagles, and Cowboys) look good on paper, but the circumstances in each of those games will tell a very different story.
But that still leaves eight clear wins over the Bengals, Saints, Panthers, Titans, giants, Cardinals, Falcons, and Browns, right? Well, none of those teams made the playoffs. In fact, Daniels generally ceased to be a difference maker, whenever the opponent had a playoff caliber QB on the field. All early indications are positive, but demonstrated consistency is needed here.
Marcus Mariota returns as the back-up. The role looks to fit him well. He’s not asked to do too much when he’s asked to play, and he still has good mobility even at 31. Sam Hartman was an undrafted rookie, added to the roster last year; and for some reason, the well-traveled Josh Johnson was added to the roster, this year. (+)
RB: Brian Robinson (187 – 799 – 4.3 – 8) scares absolutely nobody. In three seasons he has never run for 800 yards in any one of them. He is not a game-breaker. He’s a big, “pound the ball between the Tackles” type. For explosive plays, the team is counting on Austin Ekeler (77 – 367 – 4.8 – 4 / 35 – 366 – 10.5 – 0). Surely, they’ll be looking to get him more than just 112 touches this season.
Providing depth is Jeremy McNichols (55 – 261 – 4.7 – 4) who is coming off a career year in 2024, having finally had his first career start after seven years, and four prior rosters. The Commanders also have third year man Chris Rodriguez (35 – 173 – 4.9 – 2). Putting together 354 – 1,600 – 4.5 – 18 between four guys, with their front line in a state of flux, may be the most slept-on story in the division. (+)
WR: Terry McLaurin (82 – 1096 – 13.4 – 13) saw a career-highs in both touchdown catches, and catch percentage (70.1). More importantly, he seems to have developed a real rapport with the guy throwing him the ball. So his current contract hold-out/hold-in/trade request isn’t too surprising. He’s currently still under contract, so I’m including him here.
WT Terry McLaurin being shown the money.
Meanwhile, when San Fran showed Deebo Samuel (51 – 670 – 13.1 – 3) the door, Washington couldn’t simp and give him a truckload of money fast enough. Even though his game is more suited to the slot, they want him to be a #2. Partly because overpaying a slot would be silly. Right Dallas?
Speaking of not showing up in the playoffs, Noah Brown (35 – 453 – 12.9 – 1) is back from the kidney injury that ended his 2024 campaign, in Week 13. Michael Gallup (no stats) is back from retirement. Further depth includes Luke McCaffery (18 – 168 – 9.3 – 0) and a handful of camp bodies and rookies, like 4th rounder Jaylin Lane.
There isn’t a legit #2 here, and the group is built as if the focus, is to capitalize on yards after the catch. That portends a lot of receivers taking big hits from Linebackers and Safeties. Which brings into question how healthy they’ll be, by the time we start with the Fall family gatherings. Once again, it’s basically McLaurin and then a big drop-off. (-)
TE:Zach Ertz(66 – 654 – 9.9 – 7) found the fountain of youth in 2024, while playing security blanket with his rookie passer. That said, with him being 34, the time to pivot to second year Ben Sinnott (5 – 28 – 5.6 – 1) should be this season. Nobody spends a 2nd round pick on a TE, without plans for him, and while John Bates is a tough sumbitch, he’s not a receiving threat. At the bottom of the barrel are Cole Turner and Tyree Jackson. (-)
OT: In order to keep the Broken Rib fairy away from their QB, Washington traded with Houston for LT Laremy Tunsil. He’s been a perennial Pro Bowler (for whatever that’s worth anymore), while dominating in the AFC South against the Colts, Jags, and Titans. All while playing in a dome. In a warm climate. The NFC East will offer him none of that.
Taking snaps (so far) at RT, is 1st rounder Josh Conerly. This makes for a brand new pair of starters on the ends. In 2024 it was RT Andrew Wylie, and (rookie) LT Brandon Coleman. Wylie took a pay cut in March, just to keep a job. Coleman is looking for an open seat anywhere on the line. Behind them, are a couple of career back-ups, and undrafted rookie Timothy McKay.
Nice bed. Be a shame if someone…
While the new starters may be talented, how they adapt to a new team, and system, are all question marks. Last year’s starters shit the bed hard enough to cause the team to wipe the slate and start all over. If the reserves have to step in, there can’t be a ton of confidence there. So until they prove otherwise… (-)
OG: Offensive line coach Bobby Johnson, may have as many as four new starters up front, going into this season. Last year it was LG Nick Allegretti and RG Sam Cosmi. This year Brandon Coleman is getting a look at LG, and Andrew Wylie seems to have been demoted to utility player.
Allegretti and Cosmi are still in the mix to start, but it’s a mix. Especially with Cosmi still rehabbing a blown ACL. Johnson completely re-tooling the line that he assembled last year, tells you how deeply disappointed he was. The real question here is, is this position any more talented than it was a year ago? The flat answer is, no. (-)
C: Tyler Biadasz is the anchor of this line, and he’s clearly the player that it’s being built around. He isn’t flashy, but he’s a consistent and stabilizing presence. He’s also the only player listed at this position. Michael Dieter is listed at G, but he’s got eight career starts in the pivot. So depth here is a mild concern. (+)
In A Nutshell: If the line doesn’t gel quickly, this offense is cooked.
DEFENSE
DE: Finally a starter (fifteen starts) Dorance Armstrong (39 – 5.0 – 0 – 0) was supposed to take a major leap forward. What happened is, he was less productive than when he was a back-up. Clellin Ferrell(26 – 3.5 – 0 – 0) also failed to be a game-changer despite his ten starts. Seeing low production from their starters (8.5 sacks), Washington decided to make a major move...
They gave a roster spot to what’s left of Von Miller. He’s collected 6 sacks in the last two years, as a situational player. Further depth looks like second year Jacob Martin (15 – 3.0 – 0 – 0); Javonte Jean-Baptiste (13 – 1.0 – 0 – 0); Andre Jones (1 tackle); and Viliami Fehoko, who was drafted in the 4th round in 2023, but has bounced around practice squads since then. (-)
DT: Jonathan Allen (Minnesota) was allowed to walk, breaking up the dynamic duo that was he and Daron Payne (42 – 4.0 – 0 – 0). Stepping up to be Payne’s new running mate, is Jer’Zhan Newton (44 – 2.0 – 0 – 1) who had eleven starts in 2024, due to Allen being injured. Newton was drafted last year to give Washington more interior pass rush and be a disruptor, but so far he’s “less of an asset” against the run.
Adding Javon Kinlaw (40 – 4.5 – 0 – 1) from the Jets, could be a good move, depending on which version of him shows up most of the time. NT Eddie Goldman came over from the Falcons, (probably as bulk vs the Brotherly Shove). He can anchor against the run, but no one is worried about his pass rush. Maybe that’s whyDeatrich Wise (20 – 5.0 – 0 – 0) was added from the Patriots? Lots of experience, but there’s a lot of high mileage, new parts to blend. (-)
I/MLB: In 2024, Bobby Wagner (132 – 2.0 – 0 – 2) recorded his lowest tackle total since 2015. That’s despite starting all seventeen games. Whether it was because it was his first year in the system, or because he was 34, is the question. Given the lack of clear depth behind him, that’s not a good question to have.
Right now, second year man Jordan Magee (9 tackles), would be the first man off the bench in case of injury to Wagner. However, he only saw 15 snaps in 2024. Further depth looks like possibly 6th rounder Kain Medrano, or undrafted rookies Kam Arnold and Ale Kaho. Nick Bellore is a Special Teamer who also plays FB. (-)
LB Frankie Luvu jumps offsides, trying to stop the Eagles Brotherly Shove play.
OLB: Frankie Luvu (99 – 8.0 – 1 – 2) had career-highs in sacks (8), and passes defensed (7). Despite Dante Fowler and his 10.5 sacks going back to Dallas, there doesn’t seem to be a hard set plan for re-stocking the other starting spot.
Instead, Washington is hoping that Dominique Hampton, a 5th roundtweener from last year’s Draft, can replace Jeremy Chinn (Las Vegas), who played a hybrid role, as a box FS/LB. You didn’t read that wrong. This is what’s happening. This is who they have, and they’re serious about rolling this out. (-)
S: Quan Martin (87 – 0.0 – 1 – 0 ) also added 3 forced fumbles last year, during his sixteen starts. They added free agent Will Harris from the Saints. With 3 career interceptions in six years, Harris isn’t exactly a ball-hawk or a game changer. He does however, bring a much needed veteran presence to a very inexperienced group.
Percy Butler (47 tackles) had five starts last year, but he had thirteen the year before. Instead of relying on him, Washingtonadded a veteran. Below Butler are undrafted Tyler Owens (who doesn’t believe in Space or other planets); undrafted college special teamer Ben Nikkel; and undrafted rookie Robert McDaniel. (-)
CB: Mike Sainristil (93 – 0.0 – 2 – 1) saw sixteen starts as a rookie last year. It started out rough, but he played through, and by season’s end, the improvement was apparent. Marshon Lattimore (4 tackles) came over in a midseason trade. He only played two games due to a hamstring injury, which he blamed for his poor performance. BUT! If we’re going to keep it 100, he’s been a shell of himself since 2022.
Noah Igbinoghene (55 tackles) having defected from Dallas last year, now has two years of this system under his belt. Jonathan Jones (Patriots) is very experienced, especially in the slot. Add a handful of young guys, which include two undrafted rookies, and you have the makings of… A mess. This is a mess. It’s one decent player, a guy who’s washed, an old slot guy, a bench warmer, and camp bodies. This is a mess. (-)
In A Nutshell : Aside from possibly Kinlaw, no clear move was made to improve this unit.
SPECIAL TEAMS
K: Free agent signee Matt Gay has no competition on the roster. The gig is obviously his, despite him being 11/22 from 50+ yards, over the last two seasons. Did I mention he played the last two seasons in Indianapolis? Yes, a place with a dome. In fact, 8 of those 11 misses were in a dome. However, he was 28/28 from 49 yards or less. So he’s solid, but not clutch. (+)
P: Tress Way only had to punt 50 times last season, which helped keep his leg fresh enough to raise his average punt to 46.9 from 46.0 the previous year. He won’t set the world on fire, but he’s solid. (+)
In a Nutshell: Washington is solidly going the Gay Way in 2025.
BOTTOM LINE: At the end of January, no one was expecting this team to shell out 60M$ to two WR’s, but by Week One, that is precisely what has to happen. (Right?) As a result, there wasn’t big money to spend on improving a defense which allowed 55 points in the last game they played in. Add to that, a harder schedule, and a season’s worth of tape on their QB. This team won’t sneak up on anyone this year.
Everywhere I turn, the national media has this team back in the NFC Championship game or beyond, but I just don’t see it. They just don’t have the firepower to make up for a poor defense. Let’s call it 9 – 8 and a Wild-card exit.
MOST sportswriters looked at the Eagles 2025 schedule, and ran to write their predictions. Mostly, using the exact same formula (wild guesses) as fans, to determine those outcomes. I on the other hand, am far more interested in telling you what the schedule means, than offering any sort of predictions.
Those comes in July.
From what I’ve been reading, almost everyone hates the schedule, and feels that the NFL has it in for us. To be honest, at first, I thought more or less the same thing. Then I did my deep look thing, and saw that this schedule isn’t nearly as bad as we think. Let’s weigh the cons, pros, and then we’ll see what’s under the soot.
CONS: Not only don’t we have any extended home stands, we don’t even have any back to back home games. We get short turnarounds on weeks 6, 11, and 13. Each of those leading us into a nationally televised game. Neither divisional game versus Washington has a set day and time. (But that might not be so bad. Keep reading.)
PROS: The week 9 Bye is in a good place. Midseason or later is where you want that. We get long rest periods going into weeks 2, 7, 10, and 14. Each of those games versus a 2024 playoff team. We go to Lambeau in early November, instead of later in the year. Then, after week 14, we have no games outside of our time zone.
DEEP DIVE: Week 6 is a short week, but we face a giants team also on a short week. (Sauce for the goose.) Week 12 has Dallas on a short turnaround. It however, is Washington that may just be our ticket to winning the East again. The best part is that Washington gets screwed by, and because of Christmas.
Washington’s last four games are against division rivals. Their first game against us, has to either be Thursday 12/18, (on a short week for both of us); or on Sunday 12/21. Since Washington has a game on Christmas Day versus Dallas, they can’t be put on Monday 12/22. That would only give them 3 days to recuperate. The NFL won’t do that.
So when we face Washington, we’re either on a short week, playing against a division rival on a short week. After they’d played a division game. Which are emotional, physical games. That would give us 9 days rest, before going to Buffalo on 12/28. Or we could play Washington on Sunday 12/21, and get normal rest before Buffalo. Either works for the Eagles.
Washington has to play a short week somewhere between 12/14 and 12/25. Can’t be avoided. They have to cram three games into eleven days, with us being one of those teams.
So the team that people think can unseat us, closes out the year with that eleven day run, followed by us, in the season finale. It’s almost not fair. Almost.
Sack Leader: OLB Nolan Smith (Sacks:1.0/ FF: 0/ Tackles: 4)
Special Teams Ace: RB Will Shipley KR: 3 – 87 – 29.3 – 0 (36L)) / KC: FF/ Rush: (4 – 77 – 19.2 – 1 – 0)
****
I hear you asking, “What about all the stuff that stats don’t reveal?” Well, that’s the reason for these Four Things articles. It’s to point out what we need to address BEFORE the game. Then AFTER the game, there’s a no-bullshit assessment of whether or not the Eagles did any of what they needed to do, to ensure the win.
So how much of what I mentioned in Four Things: COMMANDERS did the Eagles actually get around to doing? Well let’s see:
RB Saquon Barkley rips a 60 yard TD run on the Eagles first offensive play. LB’s Bobby Wagner and Frankie Luvu are reminded of why teams keep letting them walk.
1) Torment Single-high Coverage: We didn’t take advantage or refine many opportunities to do this at all. Many of our passes thrown, absolutely challenged one-on-one coverage of the outsides; but many of those were out-breaking routes that started from bunch formations.
We have to find ways to capitalize on loaded boxes, designed to slow down our run game. One of those would be to play with few WR bunches. The earlier Hurts can identify an open man, the faster he can get the ball out. (NOT DONE)
2) Limit the Scrambling: The Commanders QB finished the game with 48 rushing yards, but he only ran the ball 6 times in this game. In the prior two games he ran 16 and 13 times respectively. While he didn’t have a bunch of yards in any of the games, those runs help extend plays and mine opportunities for big plays.
We limited his chances to run and in that way made him play straight-up. The result was that he looked like a rookie who couldn’t match the pace of the game. (DONE)
3) Muddy the Coverage:We did an excellent job of this, especially in the first half. They got a single big passing play on a 36 yard catch and run, but most of what their QB Jayden Daniels (29/48 – 60.4 – 255 – 1 – 1) was forced into, was dumping off to his security blanket, TE Zach Ertz (16 – 11 – 104 – 9.4 – 0).
Just to illustrate how limited we kept Daniels, Ertz saw a full one-third of his QB’s attempts. Once we took away Daniels legs as an x-factor, it exposed how limited his supporting cast was, forced him to read more, and form there the hunt was on. (DONE)
4) Goedert As Hot Read:This one makes me grumble a bit, because instead of discussing general use of TE Dallas Goedert (8 – 7 – 85 – 12.4 – 0), I got hung up on discussing his third down use. While the Eagles put him to excellent use today, most of it was not as a receiver on third down. So we used him like an outlet, but not on the specific down that I wrote about. We did this, but it’s a technical: (NOT DONE)
++++
This week’s Four Things score was 2 of 4, but it we did enough to post a blowout.
Now we get a week’s rest, and then we travel down to the Big Easy, for a Super Bowl win that won’t be. Bring on the challenge. Our guys wouldn’t have it any other way.
****
LG Landon Dickerson started the game at C, but had to leave with a knee injury. But he kept rooting for his guys!
Game Hero: The Offensive Line– The hidden story of the day is 29 rushes for 229 yards (6.3ypc) and 7 rushing touchdowns. That’s not a typo. We ran for SEVEN MOTHERFUCKING TOUCHDOWNS, in one game. And we did it behind a line featuring two injured Centers, tag-teaming the spot.
Game goat: KJake Elliott (0/1 FG 7/7/XP) – I’m going to go with Elliott here, despite the fact that I didn’t care about the 54 yard field goal miss. Part of that has to do with the fact, that he’s been ass from 50+ this year; but I also wasn’t feeling the vibe in that moment. We’d unraveled on that drive, and were essentially hoping that a struggling guy might save us. So when he missed, it almost seemed like what needed to happen.
On The Whole: The 55 points that we put up in this game were the most point EVER put up in a Conference Championship Game, NFC or AFC. The Eagles own that record. Period. We scored 8 touchdowns in this game. All on Offense.
I made it clear in Four Things, that I wasn’t the least bit worried about Washington, and now you see why. We collected three Defensive turnovers, and one on Special Teams (by a RB who also ran for 77 yards and TD), along with ending two drives on unconverted fourth downs. One being a sack by Nolan Smith.
DT Jordan Davis makes his presence felt during a sack.
How bad was this blowout? If you doubled Washington’s score, and spotted them an extra touchdown and a two point conversion, they would have still lost by a point. So spare me all of that “Super Rookie” garbage. We just dragged his team’s face across stucco, in front of the nation, and he was helpless to stop it. Because what can one man do, against a superior team of superior men? The scoreboard is the answer.
ANOTHER successful home defense, and now we host the National Football Conference Championship Game. Whether you believe in RB Saquon Barkley, or openly and roundly criticize QB Jalen Hurts, they both continue to lift this Offense. Then there are the young guns on Defense, led by DT Jalen Carterand LB Zack Baun. This team is still heating up. It is still learning and improving.
This week we get a rubber match, against a team that won our last meeting, after we lost two key starters during that game. And even then, they just barely pulled it out. Oh, and did I mention that they were at home? Yeah. They were at home and needed that many stars to align, in order to beat us. This week the astrology is different. It’ll be them, vs our Eagles and 70,000 raving maniacs. All spelling the team name correctly.
I like our odds.
Win and we’re headed to New Orleans on our quest to win the Super Bowl.
Lose and it’s a short trip for the players to clean out their lockers.
Here’s to earning one more week of pain and sacrifice.
****
The point of Four Things isn’t to predict a winner, it’s to discuss which tactics would give our Eagles the best chance to win this game. Often I list fundamentals, as some of the four things. BUT NO MORE! Unless something specific is needed, fundamentals like Running the ball; playing lots of Man Press; and Tackling instead of going for the strip, will be automatically included. (Like the five consonants and a vowel that Wheel Of Fortune automatically spots you.) So here are the Four Things that we need to focus on this week versus: the Commanders.
QB Jalen Hurts throws a laser.
1) Torment Single-high Coverage:We haven’t done this to them this year, but we need to make it happen Sunday. They will be loading the box to stop Saquon. So we have to capitalize on the one-on-one match-ups they leave WR DeVonta Smith and WR A.J. Brown.
Hurts has to identify the coverages, and get the ball out ASAP this week. If they show any form of Cover Two, audible to a run, and get behind either LG Landon Dickerson, or RG Mekhi Becton. However, if they walk a S up into the box, mix in some play-action and take advantage of the Commander’s so-so secondary.
2) Limit the Scrambling: The edges must be contained here. Especially the one manned by OLB Nolan Smith. When their QB goes to run, he should find a fence there on his right, to his passing side. This means that the DT playing beside Carter, needs to win that “A” gap to flush the QB, and not let him set his feet to run or pass deep.
DT Jalen Carter brings down QB Jayden Daniels
3) Muddy the Coverage: Take away anything quick. Small cushions and Safeties who delay their drop will help crowd the box, and force their QB through his progressions. That helps us vs the short pass, the regular run and scrambles. Which gives our pass rush time to get to the QB, for sacks and causing errant passes.
They may get off a few deep shots; but I’ll trust CB Darius Slay and S C.J. Gardner-Johnsonany day, over the ability of the Commanders third rate receivers, to track down rushed passes.
4) Geodert As Hot Read: Their chief pass rushers are their OLB’s with 10.5 and 8.0 sacks this season. The next closest player has 5. Their rush comes off the edges, and this is easily exploitable with short passes in the Flat to TE Dallas Goedert. In our first meeting Goedert caught all 5 of his targets for 61 yards. He was on I.R. during our second meeting, which again, we lost.
On third downs, Goedert should run to OLB Dante Fowler, and line up outside of him. If Fowler rushes Hurts, then Goedert vs Zone, should find himself all alone. However, if the coverage is Man, well that should create time for Hurts to hold the ball, as the play unfolds. Look, he’s gonna do it. We might as well find a way to make it stop costing us.
****
If the Eagles do these Four Things, then we’ll be virtually impossible to beat. That being said…
RB Saquon Barkley makes a housecall.
Not to be cocky, but the Eagles are the more talented team. The healthier team. And playing at home. While every indicator says that we should win this game, we still have to go out and play the thing. No one is going to just hand the NFC trophy to the Eagles. It must be earned, and our guys not only understand that, they respect it. Besides, I doubt that Head Coach Nick Sirianni would have it any other way.
****
WARNING: I don’t have the faintest clue as to what a point spread is, and I know even less about how it works. I know FOOTBALL and that’s it. If you use Four Things as a gambling tool, then you are a fool trying to lose your money, and will deserve it when you do.
Check back in a couple of days for Four Things Reviewed, and we’ll discuss how this game went.
Special Teams Ace: K Jake Elliott 4/5 FG (50), 3/3 XP
****
I hear you asking, “What about all the stuff that stats don’t reveal?” Well, that’s the reason for these Four Things articles. It’s to point out what we need to address BEFORE the game. Then AFTER the game, there’s a no-bullshit assessment of whether or not the Eagles did any of what they needed to do, to ensure the win.
So how much of what I mentioned in Four Things: COMMANDERSdid the Eagles actually get around to doing? Well let’s see:
1) Gas Their Defensive Line: We started out doing this and it was working like a charm. Then we lost our starting QB, and our back-up proved to be no threat passing the ball. The Commanders simply loaded the box, and overwhelmed the running lanes.
QB Jalen Hurts lost to a concussion
I don’t want to say that we didn’t do this, when we were CLEARLY doing it at the start. However, I said in Four Things: “It’s not about how we start. It’s about how we finish.” Well, we didn’t manage to erode their front. (NOT DONE)
2) Don’t Miss Seven Points On Kicks: While Jake Elliott did miss three points on the one kick (from 56), he made 4 of 5, including his first from 50 this year. Despite it being a three point loss, this game can in no way be laid at his feet (foot?). The Defense allowed 36 points in this one. So leave Jake alone. (DONE)
3) Take Away Quick Reads: It seemed like when we did this, all we did was open up room for their QB to run. (He had 81 yards on 9 carries.) Our pass rush simply didn’t do a good enough job of containing him. Good to spot that weakness now, but not a good one to have. (NOT DONE)
4) Jump A Couple First Half Passes:We got all over this! CB Darius “Big Play” Slay(7 – 0.0 – 0 – 0) broke up 2 first half passes and S C.J. Gardner-Johnson (1 – 0.0 – 1 – 0) intercepted a pass in the second quarter. (DONE)
++++
This week’s Four Things score was 2 of 4. Next week we’re back home playing host the Dallas Cowboys.
****
RB Saquon Barkley rips a 68 yard TD run
Game Hero: RB Saquon Barkley – Helped put us up 21 – 7 by the end of the first quarter. Two of those scores came after starting QB Jalen Hurts(1/4 – 25.0% – 11 – 0 – 0 / 3 – 41 – 13.6 – 0 – 0), was knocked from the game with a concussion.
Game goat:Head Coach Nick Sirianni – For three quarters, all that the Offense could muster was 4 field goals. Once Washington realized that QB Kenny Pickett wasn’t a threat as a passer, they loaded the box to stall our one dimensional attack.
As an offensive coach, to not have his back-up QB prepared to play, is egregious. It’s egregious, salacious, it’s downright preposterous!
On The Whole:
Weird shit, like this 12 Men On The Field penalty, which became a free play TD, is the sort of fluke thing that keeps me from being worried about the Eagles.
You may recall that I said this in FT: “We should run the table here. BUT, if there is going to be a loss in any of these next three division games, let it be this one.
Think back to the Monday night game on 11/14/22. We lost 21 – 32 to an inferior Commanders team, and at first, we were a little pissed about it. But the(n)we thought about it, talked about it, and as fans we came to call it “a good loss” because we felt it humbled us, and taught us valuable lessons. Turns out we were right, and we rode those lessons to a Super Bowl appearance.
I don’t think we need any lessons, but this is the only game in the next three, that has any form of possible lesson embedded in it.”
Hey! What can I say? This loss doesn’t have me panicked. Quite the opposite in fact! In a couple of months, we just might be thanking Washington for the wake-up call.
ONCE again we had a very strong outing, vs a playoff caliber team. Offensively, we showed the world, that we can hurt a team any way we choose. In our Week 11 meeting, RB Saquon Barkley posted 146 and two house calls. With that, I expect the Eagles to choose running over the Commander’s 25th ranked run defense.
A win raises us to 13 – 2, and sees us clinch the 2024 NFC East division crown.
A loss stalls us at 12 – 3, and just about ends any chance of us earning the One Seed in the playoffs.
****
The point of Four Things isn’t to predict a winner, it’s to discuss which tactics would give our Eagles the best chance to win this game. Often I list fundamentals, as some of the four things. BUT NO MORE! Unless something specific is needed, fundamentals like Running the ball; playing lots of Man Press; andTackling instead of going for the strip, will be automatically included. (Like the five consonants and a vowel that Wheel Of Fortune automatically spots you.) So here are the Four Things that we need to focus on this week versus: the Commanders
RB Saquon Barkley making a 23 yard house call.
1) Gas Their Defensive Line: The 2024 Commanders haven’t been very stout up front, against the run. They had trouble with us during our Week 11 match-up, as we ran 40 times for 228 yards, and three scores. Now it’s later in the year. Now it’s colder. Now is the time to get sadistic vs a smallish front four.
Their head coach favors a 4-3 defense, even though he doesn’t have the players or depth to run it correctly. We need to lean heavy on the run, early. Even if it seems to not be working! It’s not about how we start. It’s about how we finish. The idea is to erode their undersized line that was assembled more for pass rushing.
2) Don’t Miss Seven Points On Kicks: Last time, K Jake Elliott missed two field goals before we managed to get on the board, with a field goal. It would be foolish to think we’ll get that lucky twice in one season, vs the same team. Let’s get our shit together and not leave a trail of breadcrumbs, for a lesser opponent to find their way to a lead at any point. This isn’t one of the Four Things; but this week would REALLY be a great time, to finally see Elliott stroke one from 50 yards or better.
3) Take Away Quick Reads: Last week, commentator and Super Bowl LIIvictim, Tom Bradydescribed our underneath coverage against the Steelers as “muddy”. That is precisely the thing we want the opposing QB to think, as he watches our coverage start unfolding. The Commander’s QB is completing 70.5 percentage of his passes, despite a stint where he played through broken ribs. A lot of that is based on TE Zach Ertz, and RB Austin Ekeler,getting open quickly underneath and acting as security blankets.
Ekeler is on I.R. after a Week 12 concussion, and Ertz is questionable this week, despite suffering a concussion on Sunday. So there may be no security blankets. We need to force their QB to read and hold the ball longer, giving our players like OLB Nolan Smith, enough time to pile up sacks.
4) Jump A Couple First Half Passes: As I said before, their QB likes to get rid of the ball quickly. We however, want him to hold the ball longer. So how do we influence that? By jumping a couple of first half pass routes. Bat downs, interception attempts… Just need a big play or two, to help slay this rival.
S Reed Blankenship with a pivotal pick in one of last year’s games
If we get hands on the football early, later on (to avoid turnovers) their QB will hold it longer, while searching for more ideal openings. This increases our chances of getting sacks. (And hey, maybe one or two could be a sack/fumble! Dream big right, DE Josh Sweat?) So, yeah. Let’s jump some pass routes.
****
If the Eagles do these Four Things, then we’ll be virtually impossible to beat. That being said…
It’s a question of hunger. We played a playoff team last week, and this week we’re playing a team that is hanging on for it’s very playoff hopes. We’re playing for seeding. They’re playing for their season.
WHO. WANTS. IT. MORE.
That’s the question that has to be asked and answered on Sunday. Let me say this in advance. We should run the table here. BUT, if there is going to be a loss in any of these next three division games, let it be this one.
Think back to the Monday night game on 11/14/22. We lost 21 – 32 to an inferior Commanders team, and at first, we were a little pissed about it. But the we thought about it, talked about it, and as fans we came to call it “a good loss” because we felt it humbled us, and taught us valuable lessons. Turns out we were right, and we rode those lessons to a Super Bowl appearance.
I don’t think we need any lessons, but this is the only game in the next three, that has any form of possible lesson embedded in it. Specifically, I’m talking about hunger. This is a playoff game for the Commanders. So that in itself, makes it one for us.
WHO. WANTS. IT. MORE.
****
WARNING: I don’t have the faintest clue as to what a point spread is, and I know even less about how it works. I know FOOTBALL and that’s it. If you use Four Things as a gambling tool, then you are a fool trying to lose your money, and will deserve it when you do.
Check back in a couple of days for Four Things Reviewed, and we’ll discuss how this game went.
Drive Killer: S Reed Blankenship (TD: 0/Int: 1/ FR: 0/ 4th down stops: 0/ FF: 0)
Sack Leader: DE Brandon Graham (3way tie) (Sacks:1.0/ FF: 0/ Tackles: 3)
Special Teams Ace: TE Dallas Goedert (5 – 5 – 61 – 12.2 – 0) Onside kick recovery
****
I hear you asking, “What about all the stuff that stats don’t reveal?” Well, that’s the reason for these Four Things articles. It’s to point out what we need to address BEFORE the game. Then AFTER the game, there’s a no-bullshit assessment of whether or not the Eagles did any of what they needed to do, to ensure the win.
So how much of what I mentioned in Four Things: COMMANDERS did the Eagles actually get around to doing? Well let’s see:
1) Run ‘Em Down:I said lean on the run. We did it. We ran the ball 40 times and threw it 28. I said do it, even if it’s not working early. We did it. And eventually the Commanders ran out of gas and were gashed for a 23 yard TD, followed by a 39 yard TD run. Those two scores are what won us the game.
C Cam “Beef” Jurgens throws a dude “out the club”, during RB Saquon Barkley’s 39 yard touchdown run, right through the heart of the Washington defense.
I called for 30 non-QB runs in this one, and we hit that number exactly on the head. I said Barkley needs to go over his typical 22 carries and he logged 26. We stuck to our guns in this one, and were rewarded for it in the end. (DONE)
2) Torment Single-high Coverage:We really didn’t get anywhere close to this one. While Washington didn’t give us a lot of Single-high looks, when they did, the routes seemed to shy away from exploiting it. Which is what helped make things more difficult for Saquon early on. (NOT DONE)
3) Hit Their Quarterback: You know what’s hard to heal while playing football, every week? Broken ribs. Especially on a frame without much padding. I had my suspicions that QB Jayden Daniels (22/32 – 68.8% – 191 – 1 – 1) would still look labored while playing and this game absolutely confirmed what I thought.
MLB Zack Baun and S Reed Blankenship force QB Jayden Daniels out of bounds on 4th down, short of the first down.
We sacked him three times, and hit him a bunch more. When he ran the ball, instead of being a weapon, he was almost a liability (7 – 18 – 2.57 – 0 – 0). He also threw a number of passes that hit the ground short of their target. (DONE)
4) Jump A Couple of Short Passes: Oh yeah! LB Zack Baun (14 – 0.0 – 0 – 0) had a nice pass breakup of a crossing route over the middle with a diving swat. And while it wasn’t exactly a “short” route, Reed Blankenship’s interception out of Robber Coverage, was a TEXTBOOK example of jumping a route.
A few more picks like that, and more opposing QB’s will start holding the ball longer, simply because they don’t trust their eyes. This game helped to set a beautiful precedent. (DONE)
++++
This week’s Four Things score was 3 of 4things. If not for the sluggish start, this game could have been a runaway. Regardless, we got the ‘W’. Now we get a little extra rest, and prepare for the Rams not tomorrow, but the following Sunday night. That’s right, kiddies! It’s a prime time game. So those of us with a gray hair or two, may want to get a nap around 2:00. Wake up around 6 and have some chili. Damn. I have a plan now.
****
Game Hero: RB Saquon Barkley – The team kept hammering him into the defense. Not like the slashing blade, but like the pommel of a sword. Beating, and badgering forward, stubbornly. We made it a war of attrition, and we just kept hitting Washington in the ribs.
We worked the body until the head came down, and once it was exposed, Saquon JFK’ed them. Twice. He scored on a 23 yard run off the right side; and a 39 yarder directly through their heart. If I hadn’t already turned off my conscience, I would have felt bad for the poor Redsk- oops! Commanders.
Game goat: K Jake Elliott – (2/4 FG, 2/3 XP) That’s seven points that he LEFT on the field. Three kicks that went wide left of the uprights. Three in a row! It wasn’t particularly windy. His LS and Holder were the same as always. He just was off. And stayed off for too long.
On The Whole: Believe it or not, unlike most, I have not spent the season harping on the team’s slow starts. However….
Look, this is a problem that needs to be solved. We are seven games away from the playoffs. That caliber of team will not just let us up for air, if we find ourselves drowning 3 – 10, in the third quarter. We have got to get better at hurting opponents early.
That said, let’s get to enjoying being in first place.
CRUSHING Dallas to move into first place. Was there ever a more joyful sentence? On a short week, we get to face the team that was in first place, before we took the spot. Defensive Coordinator Vic Fangio, gets to sink his teeth into a 7 – 3 Commanders offense, led by a rookie QB. Meanwhile, RB Saquon Barkley gets to square off against the 28th ranked rushing defense in the league.
Winning moves us to 8 – 2, and expands our division lead over Washington. It would also maintain our position as the number two team in the conference, currently behind Detroit (8 – 1).
If we were to lose, we’d be 7 – 3, and back in second place in the division.
****
The point of Four Things isn’t to predict a winner, it’s to discuss which tactics would give our Eagles the best chance to win this game. Often I list fundamentals, as some of the four things. BUT NO MORE! Unless something specific is needed, fundamentals like Running the ball; playing lots ofMan Press; and Tackling instead of going for the strip, will be automatically included. (Like the five consonants and a vowel that Wheel Of Fortune automatically spots you.) So here are the Four Things that we need to focus on this week versus: The Commanders
1) Run ‘Em Down:This isn’t my typical “Run the ball” request. This is a game, where we should lean heavy on the run. Even if it’s not working early. The Commanders are awful against the run. On Sunday, they gave up 140 rushing yards, as the Steelers wore them down and wore them out, with their physical, downhill style.
The Commanders have not yet had time to physically recover, and with DT Jonathan Allen on Injured Reserve, they are no match for an Eagles line which will get back LTJordan Mailata. There should be a game that sees 30 non-QB rushing attempts, with Saquon seeing more than 22.
2) Torment Single-high Coverage:The Commanders awful run defense, will frequently borrow a Safety to help load the box against our run game. When that happens, there will only be one Safety back deep to help with coverage, and he can’t help double both WR A.J. Brown and DeVonta Smith. One of them will have a one-on-one match-up.
When that happens, even if it’s third and one, there needs to be an audible called, and whomever the Safety doesn’t help cover, gets the football. We need to keep the box open, so that Saquon has room to operate.
3) Hit Their Quarterback: Even if we don’t get sacks, just hit him as early, and as often as possible. He’s a slender rookie, playing through a rib injury. Since sustaining that rib injury, his accuracy has declined sharply. Prior to the injury, the team was averaging 29.6 points per game. In his three games since, they haven’t seen 29 points.
QB Carson Wentz no longer plays for Washington, but in the path of DT Jordan Davis, this is what QB Jayden Daniels needs to look like
Hitting him isn’t about scaring him. It’s about scaring his coaches. To prevent them from calling certain things. That organization has been looking for a franchise QB since 1993. Now that they may have him, they’ll want to guard against RG3-ing him. If we can get his coaches to be his first obstacle, the entire game is much easier.
4) Jump A Couple of Short Passes: With the underneath coverage that we’ve been playing recently, it’s time to take it to the next step. The Commanders like to throw to their RB’s. Awesome! Those are great routes to jump. Or jumping a crossing route! Both excellent examples of routes to jump.
****
If the Eagles do these Four Things, then we’ll be virtually impossible to beat. That being said…
Win or lose, it sets up an awesome Week 16 re-match. It could even get flexed to prime time, given the current status of both the 3 – 7 Cowboys, and the 4 – 6 Buccaneers. For now, they are scheduled for the 8:15 slot, while our game is at 1:00. Again, for now.
****
WARNING: I don’t have the faintest clue as to what a point spread is, and I know even less about how it works. I know FOOTBALL and that’s it. If you use Four Things as a gambling tool, then you are a fool trying to lose your money, and will deserve it when you do.
Check back in a couple of days for Four Things Reviewed, and we’ll discuss how this game went.
EAGLEMANIACAL.com 