If you had any doubt about the Eagles going into the Steelers game, they should be gone after watching them win. That is a very good team they faced, and they made them look pedestrian. More importantly, the passing game won them a game, which was a major question after Saquon Barkley and the O-Line had carried the offense for most of the season.

Related: Eagles Silence Their Critics In Impressive Win Over Steelers

They keep getting tested. Starting with the first Commanders game, though going on the road to the Rams and the Ravens, and most recently hosting the Steelers. Those are 4 playoff teams, and they dominated all 4 of them.

(Photo by Mitchell Leff/Getty Images)

Those tests continue this week though. They already handled the Commanders in Philly, but now they need to go down to them. A team that is fighting for its life in a tight battle for that final Wild Card Spot.

Meanwhile, the Eagles are fighting for their own spot. They are guaranteed a spot in the playoffs, but that number 1 seed is up for grabs. The Eagles are going to need to win out to take it though in all likelihood. Starting this week with the Commanders.

The last time they faced them, we still had some questions about the Eagles. They had mostly beaten up on bad teams before that, the week 1 over the Packers aside. The Commanders though provided a real test, and at that point, it seemed like it could be a close battle for the NFC East. Now the Eagles need just 1 more win to clinch the division.

Can they get it? Will they sweep the Commanders and their young QB? Who needs to step up to make sure that happens? Let’s dive into some of the most important matchups.

Here Are 6 Eagles Players Who Need To Dominate Against The Commanders:

• Quinyon Mitchell

  Going into the first game, we talked about how big a matchup it was for Mitchell vs Terry McLaurin. Mitchell shut him down. McLaurin had a single catch, and it wasn’t even against Mitchell. Since then, the Commanders have moved him around a bit more, but he still spends most of his time on that left. Which means it will be Mitchell vs McLaurin again. Mitchell ruined the Commander’s offense last time by shutting down their only great option in the passing game. Jayden Daniels couldn’t do anything because he could not get the ball to McLaurin. If Mitchell does that again, the path to the Commanders winning is very slim. 

  Next Gen Stats on X (formerly Twitter): "Quinyon Mitchell aligned across from Terry McLaurin on 20 of 25 routes (80%), including 19 of 20 aligned wide (95%).Mitchell was not targeted on any of his coverage snaps against McLaurin and was targeted just once all night (0 receptions allowed).#WASvsPHI | #FlyEaglesFly pic.twitter.com/ivlaRKu6rx / X"

  Quinyon Mitchell aligned across from Terry McLaurin on 20 of 25 routes (80%), including 19 of 20 aligned wide (95%).Mitchell was not targeted on any of his coverage snaps against McLaurin and was targeted just once all night (0 receptions allowed).#WASvsPHI | #FlyEaglesFly pic.twitter.com/ivlaRKu6rx

• AJ Brown and Devonta Smith

  In the first game, the Commanders had already traded for Marcus Lattimore, but he was not available to play due to injury. But they did see him in week 2, where he did well in his snaps vs Devonta Smith, but there was no AJ Brown. They also saw him in 2022 where he had a great game with Gardner Minshew under center for the Eagles. This time they will play him with Hurts, Brown, and Smith all available.

  Even if he is great though, he is just 1 man. He can’t cover both guys. And the rest of the Commander’s secondary leaves a lot to be desired, especially with Jeremy Chinn likely out. Whoever is not covered by Lattimore, should have a chance to put up big numbers. Not to say they can’t put up big numbers when covered by him, but 1 of them will always have a matchup they can exploit. Expect the Eagles to move those guys around, and take advantage of players not named Lattimore. They did it last week to guys not named Joey Porter, why not do it again?

  John Clark on X (formerly Twitter): "Both AJ Brown and Devonta Smith are over 90 receiving yards each pic.twitter.com/emq1rXnmwW / X"

  Both AJ Brown and Devonta Smith are over 90 receiving yards each pic.twitter.com/emq1rXnmwW

• Nolan Smith

  Smith is coming off of his best game. But in that great game, he made 1 mistake. He tried to leap over his blocker, and lost contain. The leap was impressive, but it actually hurt his team because it meant the RB could get to the edge. This week keeping contain will be vital though. Jayden Daniels has been great with his arm, but also with his legs in his rookie season. It might fall on Nolan Smith to keep him from getting to the edge this week.

  The Eagles did a great job of that last time. But now Daniels ribs have healed, and the Eagles are thinner at Edge Rusher. Smith played most of the snaps in the last two weeks. It will fall on him to not just keep getting pressure the way he has been since Brandon Graham went down but to also make sure Daniels can’t break loose.

  Philadelphia Eagles on X (formerly Twitter): "ROLL THE DICE, NOLAN 🎲@SmithNoland2 | #ProBowlVote pic.twitter.com/aKj8C6PZS2 / X"

  ROLL THE DICE, NOLAN 🎲@SmithNoland2 | #ProBowlVote pic.twitter.com/aKj8C6PZS2

• Everyone Who Pass Blocks

  There are 2 pass rushers you really have to worry about with the Commanders. They have a decent cast of guys, and Jonathan Allen might be back too, but there are 2 names who have really racked up sacks for them this season.

  Dante Fowler is their best player at getting to the QB with 9 sacks. But he will be matching up with either Lane Johnson or Jordan Mailata, and you trust them to win those matchups. The other guy is trickier to stop though. Frankie Luvu has 8 sacks as an Inside Linebacker. They send him after the QB from multiple different areas. He came away with 2 sacks the last time these two teams met, one on an inside blitz, and one off the Edge.

  Fowler is great, but you know where he is coming from. Luvu presents a different kind of challenge. The O-Line, and all the other blockers including the Tight Ends and RBs, are going to have to be ready for him to Blitz. That also falls on Hurts, Jurgens, and whoever else has Blitz Pickup responsibilities.

  NFL on X (formerly Twitter): "Frankie Luvu gets to Hurts for a big 3rd down stop!#WASvsPHI on Prime VideoAlso streaming on #NFLPlus pic.twitter.com/XiShNsS5Ha / X"

  Frankie Luvu gets to Hurts for a big 3rd down stop!#WASvsPHI on Prime VideoAlso streaming on #NFLPlus pic.twitter.com/XiShNsS5Ha

• Zack Baun and Nakobe Dean

  It is impossible to overstate how great Baun and Dean have been this year. After having the worst linebacker play in the league last year, the Eagles now arguably have the best. It feels like one of them is always involved in every play. Especially vs the run, they have been elite, and are currently number 1 and number 2 in run stops among LBs.

  Brian Robinson is the Commanders 2nd most dangerous weapon after McLaurin. Stopping him will be key to shutting down the Commanders. Obviously that also falls on the guys on the D-Line, like Carter and Davis, who have also been fantastic vs the run. But it also falls on Dean and Baun. If they keep doing what they do, and Mitchell shuts down McLaurin again, the Commanders won’t be able to do much at all this Sunday.

  PFF PHI Eagles on X (formerly Twitter): "Most run stops this season:1. Nakobe Dean - 35T-2. Zack Baun - 33 pic.twitter.com/re74toai9v / X"

  Most run stops this season:1. Nakobe Dean - 35T-2. Zack Baun - 33 pic.twitter.com/re74toai9v

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