For three quarters, the Commanders played the red hot Eagles as well as can be expected but gave up 20 points in the fourth eventually losing 26-18. It was the Commanders second loss in a row and the Eagles 6th win a row. Washington is now 7-4, 2 games back of the Eagles, with 6 games to play including 4 of the next 5 at home.
🚨 🚨Commanders fall to 7-4 after TNF🏈letdown vs Eagles. Another sobering performance from the offense leads to more questions than answers heading into mini-bye week.🚨🚨
Frankie Luvu📈
Jeremey Chinn 📈
Mike Sainristill 📈
Austin Ekler 📈
Brian Robinson 📈
Jayden Daniels 📉… pic.twitter.com/mYpyHitAx7— Lynnell Willingham (@Nell_BTP) November 15, 2024
Nell’s Super Six-Pack:
•Jayden Daniels had his shortest amount of time to get ready for a pro game and it showed
Players hate playing on Thursdays for all the obvious reasons. The top reason: the human body is not meant to play two football games over a four-day stretch. Jayden Daniels could have used more rest after a subpar performance against a very physical Steelers defense Sunday. His ribs are probably not fully healed and he has a cut on his throwing hand. Not good when you’re facing a defense the caliber of Philly. Daniels has not looked like himself the last couple of weeks. His pinpoint accuracy is off and his running has been almost non existent. He’ll have 10 days to not get hit by opponents until the next game vs Dallas on Nov. 24
•Defense punched above weight class
For three quarters, the Commanders defense held their own against the Eagles. Then All-Pro running back Saquon Barkley took over. The NFL’s leading rusher finished with 146 yards and 2 TDs. Ultimately, the Commanders gave up 26 points (20 in the fourth quarter) but they played hard and well for most of the game. New addition Rashon Lattimore will be a very welcome addition when he’s physically ready to play.
•Negative plays stymie offense
Washington struggled Thursday to get anything going offensively, in large part because of their inability to stay on schedule. The team was 3-12 on 3rd down and faced some 3rd and long situations. Negative plays by way of penalties, sacks and failed run plays snatched the rhythm of the offense.
•Aggressive decisions have their consequences, good and bad
Going into Thursday night’s game, the Commanders were one of the best 4th down teams in the NFL. With 8:01 remaining in the 4th, on 4th and 2 at the Eagles 26 and trailing by 2, head coach Dan Quinn eschewed the potential field goal to take the lead and went for it. It didn’t turn out well. Daniels scrambles and was tackled short of the first. Second guessers had a field day. Would a field goal there made a difference? Maybe not but when go you go for it and doesn’t work and you lose, criticism is part of the deal.
•Offensive line was offensive
The offensive line, one of the team’s pleasant surprises the first half of the season did not have their best game, being manhandled at times by the stout Eagles’ defense. Maybe they are banged up. Maybe they are tired. Maybe both. Bottom line, they have to step it up for final 6-game stretch,
•Game balls
Frankie Luvu
Mike Sainristill
Brian Robinson
