Philadelphia Eagles (12-2) will square off against the Washington Commanders (9-5) on Sunday at 1 p.m. EST, with the game being broadcasted on Fox. The betting odds from BetMGM show the Eagles favored by 3.5 points. When it comes to the spread, the Eagles have a record of 9-5 while the Commanders stand at 8-6. Historically, Washington has a slight edge in their rivalry with an all-time series record of 89-85-5. In their last encounter on November 14, the Eagles triumphed over the Commanders with a score of 26-18.
In their most recent games, the Eagles overcame the Steelers 27-13, while the Commanders narrowly defeated the Saints 20-19. Analyzing team stats, the Eagles rank 6th in overall offense, leading the league in rushing, yet struggling in passing at 28th place. They are 9th in scoring offense. On defense, Philadelphia shines as the number one team overall, with 7th against the run and also ranked first in pass defense and scoring defense. Meanwhile, the Commanders’ offense is rated 5th overall, 3rd in rushing, 16th in passing, and 6th in scoring. Their defense holds an 11th place ranking overall, but falls to 25th against the rush and is 4th in pass defense.
Key players to keep an eye on for the Eagles include wide receivers A.J. Brown and DeVonta Smith, who together recorded 19 receptions for 219 yards and two touchdowns last week against Pittsburgh. The Commanders’ cornerback Marshon Lattimore will be tasked with covering one of them, while the other will face either Benjamin St-Juste or rookie Mike Sainristil, presenting a tough matchup for Washington.
On the Commanders’ side, quarterback Jayden Daniels has made impressive strides, completing nearly 82% of his passes over the past two games, rising from the 61% completion rate from earlier in the season as he recovers from a rib injury. Although he was sacked eight times against the Saints, Daniels remains a dual-threat.
A critical matchup to watch will be Commanders’ running back Brian Robinson Jr., who faces a stout Eagles rushing defense. Last week, Philadelphia held the Steelers’ Najee Harris and Jaylen Warren to just 26 yards on ten carries. If Robinson can find his rhythm, it could help open up the offense for Daniels.
In terms of injuries, the Eagles have running back Saquon Barkley dealing with a knee issue and a shoulder injury sustained during last week’s game. Defensive end Bryce Huff is back from injured reserve after a wrist surgery, and safety Sydney Brown is in concussion protocol. The Commanders are managing the concussions of tight end Zach Ertz and safety Jeremy Chinn, while center Tyler Biadasz is expected to return after missing last week’s game due to illness.
With possible playoff implications on the line, Philadelphia aims to secure the NFC East title with a victory, having already secured a playoff spot. The Eagles are riding a franchise-record 10-game winning streak and haven’t lost since September 29. Washington also has a chance for a playoff berth with a win, contingent on other teams’ outcomes. Historically, the Eagles have been successful in recent matchups against Washington, winning their last three games played at their rival’s home.
Diving into individual stats, quarterback Jalen Hurts sits just one rushing touchdown away from tying the record for the most rushing touchdowns in a season by a quarterback. Barkley currently leads the league both in rushing yards and total yards from scrimmage. Brown and Commanders’ receiver Terry McLaurin are amongst the few players to have achieved over five games of 100 yards receiving this season, while Smith had a standout game with a career-high 11 catches against the Steelers.
For fantasy enthusiasts, Robinson is poised to have an increased role, particularly in red-zone opportunities. Coach Dan Quinn’s strategy aims to enhance their rushing efficiency into the end zone, while offensive coordinator Kliff Kingsbury continues to emphasize a balanced offensive attack throughout the season.
