Nov 14, 2024; Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA; Washington Commanders quarterback Jayden Daniels (5) and Philadelphia Eagles running back Saquon Barkley (26) meet on the field after the game at Lincoln Financial Field. Mandatory Credit: Eric Hartline-Imagn Images
The best Eagles coverage is always local, but it's helpful to get a national perspective as well.
Two years removed from a Super Bowl appearance and one year after a brutal collapse, the 2024 iteration of the Birds is once again an NFL juggernaut. Can they win their 11th straight game on Sunday against the Commanders?
Here's what they're saying about your Birds this week:
"This is a big game in terms of the postseason. The Eagles are riding a 10-game winning steak, while the Commanders have won their last two. The Eagles are coming off a tough, physical game with the Steelers, which can wear a team down. Washington needs this game more, and it will play out that way."
Happy 24th birthday, Jayden Daniels!
His stats this season:
• 14 games
• 70.5% completion rate
• 3,045 passing yards
• 17 pass TDs - 6 INTs
• 656 rushing yards, 6 rush TDs
• 101.2 passer rating#Commanders pic.twitter.com/lwq1laBfj4
— NFL Stats (@NFL_Stats) December 18, 2024
"The Eagles still have a shot at the No. 1 seed, and the defense has quietly allowed less than 20 points in five of its past six games. Saquon Barkley had 146 yards and two TDs in the last meeting with the Commanders, but he's dealing with some soreness after the Week 15 matchup against Pittsburgh. Will Nick Sirianni lighten that workload ahead of the postseason? This is a possible first-round preview, albeit on the road for Philadelphia."
As it stands right now in the NFC Playoff Picture pic.twitter.com/yegDDxq3e2
— JAKE ELLENBOGEN (@JKBOGEN) December 16, 2024
"With the Lions suffering the amount of injuries they have, the Eagles may have surpassed them as the best team in the NFL. They have virtually no holes on their roster and have handled strong competition all season long.
"Meanwhile, I still have some concerns about the Commanders' offense. They were a top-five unit in the first half of the season but are now just 13th in EPA per play and 10th in success rate since Week 11, including a disappointing performance against the Saints last week. The issues could be caused by a regressing Jayden Daniels, opposing teams figuring out a rookie quarterback, Kliff Kingsbury's historical regression in the second half of the season, or a mixture of all four factors.
"The Eagles' defense, specifically their secondary, is going to prove to be too much for the Washington offense to handle. They dominated the Commanders early in the season, gaining 2.0 more yards per play, and I expect this game's final score to be even more lopsided."
Vic Fangio took the Eagles from the 30th ranked defense under desai/patricia to the far and away best defense in the NFL pic.twitter.com/OAMsM2Czes
"The last matchup between these two sides was fairly one-sided, even if the score difference was only eight points. However, that was a game on a short week for a rookie quarterback coming off a tough loss against a physical team. This game will have a different feel, with the Eagles coming off a game against the hard-hitting Steelers defense.
"The line here makes sense because Philadelphia is the better team, and Washington’s home-field advantage has not proven all that important in recent weeks. The Commanders have the better numbers offensively on the season, but the Eagles have been better as the season has progressed. Philadelphia’s defense now ranks second in the league and has proven itself against tough competition.
"While Washington has been the feel-good story of the season, its strength of victory (.280) is the lowest of any team currently in a playoff spot. It has not beaten a team with a winning record this season, and it is hard to see it beating an Eagles team that is on the march for the top seed in the NFC. Take Philadelphia laying the points here."
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