The Eagles improve to 3-0 after back to back defensive shut downs against opponents. Last weekend against the Vikings they had three interceptions (Darius Slay with two) and two sacks winning that game 24-7 at the end of the first half, since neither team scored in the second half. This week against the Commanders they didn’t have an interception, but the team combined for nine total sacks! The pressure was too much for the Commanders offense hitting Wentz seventeen times and forcing two fumbles one of which was recovered by the Eagles.
Brandon Graham led the team in sacks with 2.5 and forced a fumble on one of them that Javon Hargrave recovered. This led to an 8 play Eagles drive that went 64 yards down the field and put the Eagles up 3-0 with a successful 32 yard Jake Elliott field goal. At the end of the first half the Eagles were leading 24-0, Wentz completed 3 of 10 passes for 24 yards being sacked six times with a net total of minus-16 yards passing.
Although the Eagles offense didn’t score in the second half for the second straight week in a row, they didn’t need to. The Commanders scored 8 points in the fourth quarter with a safety at the beginning of the fourth quarter and a touchdown with 3:10 left in the game. Washington only had five first downs through three quarters which and some of that had to do with receivers for Washington not being able to make a catch.
The open field tackling was also fantastic, it seemed like anytime a receiver would make a catch they were wrapped up immediately after by Philadelphia’s secondary. Overall the defensive performance was phenomenal and we hope to see more of this throughout the season. Offensively, the Eagles only rushed for 72 yards this game, but Jalen Hurts threw for 340 passing yards and three touchdowns. DeVonta Smith had a career high performance of 8 catches on 12 targets for 169 yards and a touchdown.
Washington had an extra day to prepare for the Eagles, but was still unable to stop them in the Eagles most impressive win yet this season. Jalen Hurts odds of winning MVP have now gone up to +700 behind Josh Allen +300, Lamar Jackson +550 and Patrick Mahomes +600. Philadelphia is sitting below the Bills +500 and Chiefs +800 with the third best chance to win the Super Bowl at +850. Despite the Eagles not scoring at all in the second half the past two weeks they won’t need to as long as their defense keeps playing the way it has the past two games.
What’s Next?
Philadelphia will face the red hot Jacksonville Jaguars at home Sunday, Oct. 2 at 1 p.m. in Doug Pederson’s first return back to Philadelphia coaching a different team. Pederson was the head coach of the Eagles when they won it back in 2018. The Jaguars blew out the Chargers last weekend 38-10 and we should be in for a good one at Lincoln Financial Field only on CBS.
