What must the Washington Commanders do to pull an upset win over the Philadelphia Eagles in Week 4? If any team has the formula to upset the Eagles, it’s Washington.
Last season, the Commanders traveled to Philadelphia in Week 10 to face the then-8-0 Eagles. Meanwhile, Washington hoped to keep its season alive at 4-5.
Buy Commanders TicketsThe Commanders dominated time of possession, forced multiple turnovers and played an almost perfect game to pull off a 32-21 upset win over the Eagles.
Can the Commanders repeat that recent history?
If so, we’ve identified four keys to victory for Washington at Philadelphia in Week 4.
Sell out to stop the run
If Washington is going to win this game, the defense must slow down Philly’s ground game. The Eagles are second in the NFL, averaging 185.7 rushing yards per game. D’Andre Swift has been outstanding the last two weeks, but everyone knows Philadelphia’s dominance begins up front. The Eagles have the NFL’s best offensive line, and quarterback Jalen Hurts is arguably the NFC’s top rushing quarterback.
In turn, the Commanders have a terrific front four. The linebackers are essential in this game. Cody Barton and Jamin Davis need to play outstanding games to slow down Philly’s ground game, specifically Hurts. If they can do that, Washington can win this game. The Commanders should sell out to stop the running game and force Hurts to beat you through the air. He can, but it’s a better strategy than just allowing Philadelphia to run it down your throats. Washington needs its cornerbacks to win one on one.
Catch the football on defense
When the Commanders pulled off the upset last season, they took advantage of all turnover opportunities. Through three games this season, Washington has dropped multiple interceptions. That can’t happen if you want to beat an elite team. The Commanders must take advantage of any and all potential turnover opportunities. If a defender gets his hands on the ball, he needs to finish. These things change games, and Washington can’t lose the turnover battle again this week.
Run the ball
Easier said than done. The Eagles are dominant against the run, holding opponents to a paltry 48 rushing yards per game. It’s difficult to run against Philadelphia’s front seven. However, in last season’s upset win, the Commanders rushed for 152 yards —on 49 attempts. That’s an average of 3.1 yards per attempt. That’s not great, but it was effective. The Commanders ran 78 offense plays to just 46 for the Eagles. That’s the blueprint for Sunday.
Things are different this time around. The Commanders have a new offensive coordinator, Eric Bieniemy, who has shown a propensity to throw more, even when the running game is working. That can’t happen against a team like the Eagles. You still need to pass the ball, but it can’t be a two-to-one pass-to-run ratio vs. Philadelphia, or the Eagles will hold the ball for 40 minutes and win by 28 points or more. Brian Robinson Jr. should come out of Sunday’s game with at least 25 touches and sprinkle in some carries for Antonio Gibson, too.
If Washington averages over three yards per attempt Sunday, it can keep the team in third-and-manageable situations. That makes life easier for QB Sam Howell.
Make life easier for Sam Howell
Yes, Howell sometimes holds the ball too long, leading to sacks. It’s going to happen with a young quarterback. But let’s not pretend everything is Howell’s fault. The line, as a whole, hasn’t been good. Bieniemy hasn’t done enough to help his young quarterback, either with max protection or the running game. Bieniemy should do things to help Howell, such as plenty of pre-snap motion, play action and giving right tackle Andrew Wylie some extra help.
Lots of little things can go a long way in helping Howell. He can make plays if he has time. Wide receiver Terry McLaurin has had plenty of success against the Eagles. These two could hook up for a big play or two if Howell has time in the pocket.
