The Eagles wanted that form of efficiency as quarterback Jalen Hurts and the passing recreation had been unable to essentially discover a rhythm at any level within the recreation.
Listed here are 4 different takeaways from Thursday’s recreation.
Eagles defensive turnaround continues
The Eagles are formally on a roll, and one of many greatest elements of their climb again to the highest of the NFC East has been the outstanding one-year turnaround of their protection.
After ending thirtieth within the NFL a 12 months in the past and enjoying a major position of their second half meltdown, the Eagles entered play on Thursday night time with the No. 5 protection within the league this season. They performed prefer it in opposition to Washington, utterly shutting down what had been one of many prime offenses within the NFL.
Probably the most spectacular a part of their efficiency was the best way they utterly took away and eradicated star broad receiver Terry McLaurin, limiting him to only one catch for 10 yards on solely two targets.
Ultimately they held the Commanders offense to only 264 complete yards, solely 18 first downs and simply 18 factors.
Going into their Week 10 recreation the Commanders had been averaging 29 factors and over 392 yards per recreation. Over the previous two video games they averaged lower than 250 yards and scored simply 43 complete factors.
Jayden Daniels doesn’t look proper
The competitors has develop into considerably harder for Daniels the previous two weeks, and he has performed like a rookie in these video games.
After finishing simply 17-of-34 passes for under 202 yards every week in the past in a 28-27 loss to the Pittsburgh Steelers, Daniels was even worse this week in opposition to the Eagles.
He completed the sport 22-for-32 for under 191 yards, together with his solely landing coming with lower than 30 seconds to play when Washington was already trailing by 16 factors.
It was additionally the second week in a row the place he was an entire non-factor within the operating recreation.
Is it the actual fact he performed back-to-back excellent defenses? The rib harm from a number of weeks in the past nonetheless bothering him? A mix of each elements? Regardless of the case, Daniels has not regarded like the identical quarterback he was earlier within the season, and till he will get again to that stage the Commanders are going to battle to get again to their profitable methods.
Eagles might need a kicking downside
The one damaging for the Eagles on Thursday night time was the poor displaying from kicker Jake Elliott. The often dependable Elliott has missed extra kicks than the Eagles are accustomed to seeing from him, and he had a dreadful night time on Thursday lacking two area targets, an additional level and barely sneaking one other additional level contained in the purpose posts.
That’s seven factors that he left on the sphere. It didn’t harm the Eagles on this recreation, however in a more in-depth recreation that might have been a pricey displaying.
Commanders are nonetheless studying find out how to win
The Commanders are one of many greatest surprises within the NFL this season, and that continues to be the case even after back-to-back losses. However what these two losses have proven us is that this staff continues to be younger, nonetheless rebuilding and nonetheless studying find out how to win constantly within the NFL. Particularly when the competitors will get higher.
They’d a 10-point second half lead in opposition to Pittsburgh every week in the past and couldn’t shut it out. They had been seemingly accountable for Thursday’s recreation within the first half and had an opportunity to take a 13-12 lead halfway by the fourth quarter if that they had kicked a 45-yard area purpose. As a substitute of taking these three factors, they tried to go for it on fourth-and-two and had been stuffed partially on account of a mishandled snap.
From that time on the Eagles utterly took over and scored 14 consecutive factors. These are video games championship groups must win. The Commanders are actually staff. Possibly even an excellent. They nonetheless have some room to develop.
