Eagles Surge Past Commanders in Crucial NFC East Battle
Philadelphia Eagles (8-2)
The Eagles' season has been defined by the outstanding performances of Saquon Barkley and the unexpected dominance of Vic Fangio's defense. That trend continued in Thursday’s pivotal divisional victory over the Washington Commanders.
Jalen Hurts struggled to find his rhythm, but the defense rose to the occasion, shutting down rookie quarterback Jayden Daniels and delivering a game-changing fourth-quarter interception by safety Reed Blankenship. Entering the game, Philadelphia's defense ranked second in yards allowed and tied for fifth in points allowed, and their strong showing against Washington should keep those rankings intact.
Barkley delivered in the clutch, scoring two touchdowns in a 20-second span during the fourth quarter to turn a tight contest into a convincing win. The Eagles extended their winning streak to six games, and their chances of clinching the NFC East rose from 63% to 81%, according to ESPN Analytics. They’ll now enjoy a mini-bye before traveling to Los Angeles for a Week 12 matchup against the Rams, marking their final plane trip of the regular season.
Surprising Development:
Normally reliable kicker Jake Elliott had an off night, missing field goals from 44 and 51 yards in the first half and an extra point early in the fourth quarter. Elliott, who entered the game with one of the highest career field goal percentages among active kickers, has now missed five attempts this season.
Promising Trend:
Barkley continues to shine, recording his eighth 100-yard scrimmage game this season — the most in the NFL. He totaled 198 yards (146 rushing, 52 receiving on two catches) and has now logged four consecutive games with at least 100 scrimmage yards against Washington.
Washington Commanders (7-4)
The Commanders have shown marked improvement in Dan Quinn's first season, already surpassing last year's win total. However, Thursday’s loss to the Eagles highlighted the gap between Washington and NFC East supremacy, as they dropped their second straight game and fell 1.5 games behind Philadelphia.
Washington's defense contained A.J. Brown and DeVonta Smith for much of the night but had no answer for Barkley's versatility. Meanwhile, the offense struggled to keep up against one of the league's elite defenses. After averaging over 5.3 yards per play through their first nine games, Washington managed just 4.1 and 4.2 yards per play in their last two contests.
Pivotal Play:
Trailing 12-10 in the fourth quarter, the Commanders faced a critical fourth-and-2 at the Eagles’ 26-yard line. Opting to go for it instead of kicking a potential go-ahead field goal, rookie quarterback Jayden Daniels mishandled the shotgun snap, leading to a failed attempt. Philadelphia took over and scored touchdowns on their next two drives, sealing the game.
Troubling Trend:
For the second consecutive game, the Commanders’ offense failed to reach 300 total yards, struggling to convert on third downs (3-for-12). Daniels faced consistent pressure from the Eagles' defense and has been held to just 13 rushing yards over the past two games.
QB Breakdown:
Daniels had his toughest outing as a pro, completing just a handful of passes to his wide receivers (four catches for 28 yards combined) and throwing a costly interception. Teams have limited his mobility, forcing him to operate from the pocket, where he’s been less effective.
Despite the setback, the Commanders remain ahead of schedule in their rebuild but will need offensive adjustments to compete with top-tier teams like the Eagles.
