Sunday, 3 pm, at the Linc, it will be Eagles vs Commanders with a trip to the Super Bowl on the line. One is a team that has been arguably the best team in the league since October 1st, and the other is a team that has hit its stride recently behind the rookie phenom Jayden Daniels.

Eagles are -6 favorites as I write this article. The Line opened at -4.5, so it is moving in their direction. On paper, the Eagles are the better team. They have the better defense, the better O-Line, the better Wrs, the better TE, and by far the better RB. Jayden Daniels is the only argument to be had, and while he is playing great, Hurts has the advantage in experience.

Related: Eagles vs Commanders Breakdown: Comparing The 2 Rosters

(Photo by Sarah Stier/Getty Images)

But games aren’t won on paper. If they were, the Eagles would be playing the Lions and not the Commanders. The Commanders heard all of this last week, and they went to Detroit and beat the group many crowned as the most talented team in the NFL. They say any given Sunday for a reason. The inferior team can go in and win any game.

If the Eagles are going to go to the Super Bowl, they will need to take care of their business first. This Commanders team is tough and has a great young QB leading their way. They didn’t get here by accident, and they won’t roll over just because they are the underdogs.

What does taking care of business mean? They are going to need some key players to step up. Can they contain Jayden Daniels? Can they slow down Scary Terry? Can they prevent Frankie Luvu from blowing up their game plan? And can Saquon Barkley continue to impose his will on this Washington defense?

Here Are The 6 Most Important Players For The Eagles In This Game

• Josh Sweat And Nolan Smith

  Last week we highlighted how interior pressure was the most important thing vs the Rams. Interior pressure is never not important. But this week, with Jayden Daniels’ ability to take off, the highlight will be on the Edge Rushers. Not just to beat their man and to get pressure, but to have the discipline to keep contain and not let Daniels get loose.

  It is a tough task. Daniels ended up with 81 yards in the last game they played, and a good chunk of that was him taking advantage of an open lane, and not just a designed run.

  But you also can’t just let him have the time in the pocket to throw, because he is doing that very well too. They need to ride that fine line between getting after him, but not giving him the lane to run.

  It is not easy, and at some point he is going to get loose and pick up a long first down. But can they keep him from doing that consistently all game, and still put pressure on him? If they figure that out, it is the first step to shutting down the Commanders offense.

  PFF on X (formerly Twitter): "The Philadelphia Bulldogs duo this postseason🦅 Jalen Carter - 12 pressures (T-1st)🦅 Nolan Smith - 11 pressures (3rd) pic.twitter.com/kLDs6h0LoK / X"

  The Philadelphia Bulldogs duo this postseason🦅 Jalen Carter - 12 pressures (T-1st)🦅 Nolan Smith - 11 pressures (3rd) pic.twitter.com/kLDs6h0LoK

• Jalen Hurts

  There has been so much talk about how Jalen Hurts needs to get more passing yards. That part I do not agree with. They can win this game with him having 160 or so passing yards. But he does need to keep doing the thing he has been doing, protect the ball.

  The Eagles can’t give the Commanders extra possessions, or good field position. That is partially what killed them in that second game they won. The defense was on the field so often and eventually, as great as this defense was, the dam broke.

  Protect the ball, make the throw you have to, and let Saquon do what he does. Against the Chiefs or Bills, maybe he will have to put up some numbers if they get there. It depends on how those games go. But this matchup does not demand big passing numbers. The weakness of the Commanders is topping the run.

  Hurts just needs to do enough to keep them honest. In that second game, with Pickett on the field, the Commanders sold out to stop the run, and Pickett couldn’t make them pay. If Hurts makes the simple throws and converts on 3rd down, he does not need to light the world on fire for the Eagles to win. He just needs to keep the defense honest, and not make mistakes.

  Philadelphia Eagles on X (formerly Twitter): "It's gonna take EVERYONE 🫡@JalenHurts | #FlyEaglesFly pic.twitter.com/QbfFcLq25O / X"

  It's gonna take EVERYONE 🫡@JalenHurts | #FlyEaglesFly pic.twitter.com/QbfFcLq25O

• Saquon Barkley

  Speaking of Saquon, he may have to lead the way again this week. The good news is, as mentioned, this Washington-run defense is very vulnerable. Nearly the worst in the league vulnerable. They give up over 4.9 yards per attempt to RBs, with only 1 team giving up more.

  Saquon has nearly 300 yards and 4 TDs over 2 games vs the Commanders this year. They shut him down in the second half because Kenny Pickett provided no threat in the passing game. But not before Saquon already racked up big numbers. If he faces a normal box all game long, he could match some of what he did last week vs the Rams.

  If Saquon does what Saquon does, the Eagles offense should have no issue putting up points.

  Philadelphia Eagles on X (formerly Twitter): "Saquon Barkley runs against the Washington Commanders... but they keep getting longer 😏 pic.twitter.com/viBZSbRBmL / X"

  Saquon Barkley runs against the Washington Commanders... but they keep getting longer 😏 pic.twitter.com/viBZSbRBmL

   

• Quinyon Mitchell

  The first time Mitchell and Terry McLaurin met up Mitchell had him locked down tighter than Fort Knox. The last time they met McLaurin got his though with a 32-yard TD. He allowed just 2 catches for 15 yards the rest of the game, but that one mistake was a big difference-maker. It is the tough part of being a cornerback. You can play great on 99% of the snaps, but one mistake and all of a sudden it is all anyone wants to talk about.

  How the matchup goes this time could be a huge factor on Sunday. If you make a mistake, you have to keep him out of the End Zone. A 15-yard catch for a 1st down sucks, but it does not kill you. Getting beat deep could though. It is an incredibly tough task to stop Scary Terry. But we saw Mitchell do it.

  He is a bit beat up, but if he can hold Terry under 50 yards, and keep him out of the End Zone, Washington won’t be able to do much on offense. You saw in that first game that when Mitchell had McLaurin shut down, Daniels did not know what else to do, because outside having Ertz as the safety blanket, McLaurin is the majority of their passing game.

  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

• Dallas Goedert And Anyone Else Asked To Pick Up A Blitzer

  The Commanders love to blitz. Only 4 teams blitz more than them, and they are very effective at it. Linebackers Frankie Luvu and Bobby Wagner are two of their most dangerous pass rushers. Luvu in particular has given the Eagles trouble.

  In that second game, the Commanders picked on backup TE Grant Calcaterra, who leaves a ton to be desired as a blocker. But Goedert is back. He missed a couple of days of practice but returned to the field on Friday. On top of giving them something in the passing game, he, Kenny Gainwell, Saquon, and whoever else they may ask to pick up blitzes, needs to be on their game.

  They are going to send Luvu after Hurts early and often. We know the O-Line is capable, but when the Commanders send 6, they can’t block everyone. It falls on everyone else to get that chip, or that extra block, to give Hurts time to deliver the ball.

  It also falls on Kellen Moore to call more blitz beaters and not have Hurts take 5-step drops when the other team is blitzing all day long. And of course, it falls on Hurts to get the ball out quickly.

  John Clark on X (formerly Twitter): "Dallas Goedert is good to go for Sunday and he knew all along he would play in the NFC title game pic.twitter.com/W6f1auLmCl / X"

  Dallas Goedert is good to go for Sunday and he knew all along he would play in the NFC title game pic.twitter.com/W6f1auLmCl

   

• AJ Brown

  Brown manhandled Marshon Lattimore last time. More accurately, he forced Lattimore to try and manhandle him. Lattimore could not keep up with Brown and had to foul Brown often. He got away with 1 in the End Zone too.

  Brown has not done much so far in the playoffs. He had chances vs the Rams, but two key drops kept his stats low again. But this is a matchup he should dominate, even with a busted-up knee. Impose your will on Lattimore, and help pick your QB up. If they decide to stack the box to stop Barkley, make them pay for thinking they could trust Lattimore to cover you 1 on 1.

  Yahoo Fantasy Sports on X (formerly Twitter): "In 6 career games against the Commanders, A.J. Brown is averaging:🦅 6 catches🦅 93.2 yards🦅 TD🦅 18.32 fantasy points pic.twitter.com/Y99VFat13w / X"

  In 6 career games against the Commanders, A.J. Brown is averaging:🦅 6 catches🦅 93.2 yards🦅 TD🦅 18.32 fantasy points pic.twitter.com/Y99VFat13w

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