The Eagles get their toughest test in a while with the Commanders coming to town this week. They have done what they are supposed to do and beat up teams with losing records the past 5 weeks. But in the Commanders, they get a 7-3 team, who have been making noise this season behind the performance of Rookie QB Jayden Daniels.

Now to say they have only beaten bad teams is a bit misleading. The Bengals record is bad, but they have one of the best offenses in the league, have played 2 very close games with the Ravens, and kept it close with the Chiefs too. The Eagles blew them out and held Joe Burrow to only 17 points. Also, the Giants and Browns both ranked highly in team defense at the time the Eagles played them

There are always things you can take away from a win over a poor opponent. Just because their record is bad does not mean that team doesn’t do anything well. They did better against those bad teams than any other team who has played them. Also beating up on teams with bad records is not something they did at any point last year.

Related: 6 Promising Numbers From Eagles Blowout Win In Dallas

Commanders Offer A Real Test For The Eagles

(Photo by Mitchell Leff/Getty Images)

But in the Commanders, they get a real test. Well, at least the defense will. The Commanders are tied for 3rd in points per game and are 4th in yards per game. It will be hard to still deny this defense is legit if they slow this team down.

But on the other hand, the Commanders defense is vulnerable. They are near the middle of the pack in both yards and points allowed per game, and as we will get into, there are matchups the Eagles can easily exploit there.

This is easily the most important game they have played so far. Not just because it is a chance to prove themselves on the National Stage, but because it will have huge implications for who wins the NFC East. If they beat the Commanders, they are up 1.5 games and have a win over them. If they lose, they are back .5 a game, and the Commanders have that edge on the tiebreaker. It won’t seal it either way, but whoever wins this game will have a massive advantage the rest of the way.

But who needs to step up in order to go into Friday with the win? What matchups can the Eagles exploit?

Here Are 6 Eagles Who Need To Have Big Games

• Josh Sweat

  When Sweat has gotten a chance to go up against backup LTs this year, he has feasted. He faced the Jags backup LT after they traded away their starter, and he racked up 2 sacks and 5 pressures. He got a sack when he faced the Giants’ backup LT. Now the Commanders’ LT Cornelius Lucas has missed 2 straight games and is questionable for Thursday Night.

  Jayden Daniels is a hard man to sack. Not just because he moves well, but for a rookie he gets rid of the ball remarkably quick. Even if they don’t get sacks, they need to force the rookie to make quick decisions. Young player, a huge National Stage, this could be a fallback to Earth game. The Eagles only sacked Trevor Lawrence a couple of times, but they got pressure on him 17 times, and those pressures kept him from ever getting into a rhythm. They need to do the same thing to Daniels. Get quick pressure, and don’t let him get comfortable. As we have seen when he is comfortable, he can put up big numbers.

  Philadelphia Eagles on X (formerly Twitter): "JOSH SWEAT SACK YESSIRRR!@SweatyJ_9 | #FlyEaglesFly pic.twitter.com/P0Qr2UYUP9 / X"

  JOSH SWEAT SACK YESSIRRR!@SweatyJ_9 | #FlyEaglesFly pic.twitter.com/P0Qr2UYUP9

• Quinyon Mitchell

  If Defensive Rookie Of The Year was not a stats-based award, Mitchell would run away with it. But it is a stats-based award. To win it as a corner, you need to get picks. The problem for Mitchell is teams don’t even target him anymore. He shuts down his side of the field. He has not given up more than 23 yards in any game over the past 5 weeks. That is while facing some pretty good WRs like Ja’Marr Chase, Malik Nabers, Amari Cooper, Cee Dee Lamb, and Brian Thomas Jr.

  This week he gets Terry McLaurin. Unlike with the other 5 games, he will probably get him for most of the game. The Commanders don’t move their WRs around much. He has taken nearly 400 snaps from that Left WR spot, and just barely over 100 everywhere else. Mitchell is going to be going head-to-head with McLaurin all game long, who already has 711 yards and 6 TDs this year. If Mitchell continues to shut down his part of the field, it is tough to see the Commanders scoring enough points to keep up with the Eagles.

  NFL Network on X (formerly Twitter): "Quinyon Mitchell is putting himself into the DROY conversation with his recent performance 🙌 @PSchrags @GMFB pic.twitter.com/DBAfHNasZl / X"

  Quinyon Mitchell is putting himself into the DROY conversation with his recent performance 🙌 @PSchrags @GMFB pic.twitter.com/DBAfHNasZl

• Zack Baun and Nakobe Dean

  The Eagles LBs have been one of their best units this season. Zack Baun and Nakobe Dean have turned a unit that was perhaps the worst in the league last year, to a truly elite one so far this year. But this week they will get a wrinkle they haven’t had to deal with so far this season, a mobile QB.

  A lot has been made about how good Jayden Daniels is throwing the ball. The guy has only 2 picks so far, and none in the last month. But he is also a dangerous weapon with his legs, already racking up 464 yards and 4 TDS. The Commanders’ RBs have not been too dangerous. They are a pass-first offense, and Daniels himself is their leading rusher. Baun and Dean are going to need to be more disciplined than ever to keep Daniels from hurting them.

  Philadelphia Eagles on X (formerly Twitter): "🗣️ BIG BANG BAUN IS YOUR NFC DEFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE WEEK!@zackbizzaun | #FlyEaglesFly pic.twitter.com/ufQuokHi4X / X"

  🗣️ BIG BANG BAUN IS YOUR NFC DEFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE WEEK!@zackbizzaun | #FlyEaglesFly pic.twitter.com/ufQuokHi4X

• Nolan Smith, Bryce Huff, Or Whoever Rushes From That Right Side

  Andrew Wylie’s name might sound familiar. Going into the Super Bowl vs the Chiefs, he was the guy people thought the Eagles dangerous pass rush could take advantage of. It turned out he gave up no sacks, with help from the terrible field in that game. Well, now he is the Commanders RT. He is a bit banged up but is expected to play in Thursday Night’s game.

  He has actually turned into a solid tackle, but he can be beaten. In 9 games she has allowed 14 pressures according to PFF. Nolan Smith is now starting on that side, but Bryce Huff also gets mixed in, and Jalyx Hunt has seen his snaps go up, getting chances on both sides of the line. Whoever it is, needs to make some noise from that side, for the same reasons we talked about with Josh Sweat. We know Jalen Carter will win inside. But pressure from one area is not enough when you are playing someone as elusive as Daniels. They need it off the Edge too, ideally from both sides.

  Philadelphia Eagles on X (formerly Twitter): "Meet Nolan Smith@SmithNoland2 | #FlyEaglesFly pic.twitter.com/MPEERuiqeD / X"

  Meet Nolan Smith@SmithNoland2 | #FlyEaglesFly pic.twitter.com/MPEERuiqeD

   

• AJ Brown and Devonta Smith

  The Commanders traded for Marshon Lattimore because the Cornerbacks they have are not very good. They have given up 7.4 yards per attempt, the 11th worst number in the league, and have given up 17 Passing TDs, the 8th most in the league. The problem is Lattimore is battling a hamstring injury. He missed his first game with them Sunday and has yet to practice this week. It is highly doubtful they have him vs the Eagles. AJ Brown and Devonta Smith should feast.

  AJ killed this team last year. The secondary is a bit different, Forbes is no longer a starter for one, but it is still a weakness he can exploit.

  NFL on X (formerly Twitter): "AJ BROWN CONTINUES TO AMAZE.📺: #PHIvsWAS on FOX📱: Stream on #NFLPlus https://t.co/Quwvdzpx7G pic.twitter.com/sBds7uLXan / X"

  AJ BROWN CONTINUES TO AMAZE.📺: #PHIvsWAS on FOX📱: Stream on #NFLPlus https://t.co/Quwvdzpx7G pic.twitter.com/sBds7uLXan

  Also of note, it can be a revenge game for Jahan Dotson, who was cast out by this team. He has not really made his mark yet this season but has gotten a bit more involved, with big plays in each of the last two weeks. Sirianni is the type of coach to give people their chance at revenge. So maybe look for him to get even more involved this week.

• Saquon Barkley

  Saquon needed a shoutout too. Not only because he has been the team MVP to this point, but because the Commanders are just as bad against the run as they are against the pass. They are giving up 4.9 yards per rush, the 4th worst number in the league. They have given up the 9th most rushing TDS in the league, while the Eagles have the 2nd most rushing TDs, behind only the Commanders.

  

  The plan every week should be to use Saquon Barkley. But he will have a chance to really make noise this week. Especially coming off of what is by his standards a down game vs the Cowboys. Run it, run down the clock, then use the play action to help Brown and Smith beat their 1 on 1 matchups vs the Commanders’ weak corners. There is no reason they should not put up big points vs the Commanders. The question will be can the Eagles’ great defense continue to be great this week vs a very good offense?

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