Breaking news: The Game Between Commanders and Philadelphia Eagles Has Been Officially Postponed…
After the two clubs parted ways this season, the Philadelphia Eagles will play the Washington Commanders in a rubber match in the NFC Championship Game. When the Eagles have the ball, keep an eye out for these five things.
Saquon Barkley burst for seven carries for 109 yards and two touchdowns in the first quarter of the Eagles vs. Commanders game in Week 16. He had 22 carries for 41 yards the rest of the way. The Eagles got one more long run out of Barkley after Hurts was sidelined by a concussion during that game, but the Commanders would soon get used to the switch from Hurts to Kenny Pickett.
We played a lengthy thread of Pickett’s day in Washington shortly after the Eagles’ defeat by the Commanders.
Let’s examine Kenny Pickett’s performance against the Commanders last Sunday, now that we know there’s a good chance Jalen Hurts won’t play against the Cowboys on Sunday. In chronological order, this will be an extremely lengthy thread.
The fact that the Commanders’ defense recognized Pickett’s lack of threat to keep the ball on zone read plays was one of the game’s (and the thread above) recurring themes. Consequently, the commanders disregarded him and only assaulted Barkley, which resulted in numerous tackles for loss or other negligible gains. The Eagles had trouble moving the ball without a strong rushing assault, and their final nine drives of the game resulted in just 12 points.
Hurts had a lengthy trip to the blue medical tent after being tackled awkwardly during the Eagles’ Divisional Round victory against the Rams.
He never missed a play and would come out of the tent in time for the Eagles’ next offensive series, but he also didn’t appear to be feeling well after that.
The Eagles can run their rushing assault at a high level when Hurts is healthy and able to run. Expect the commanders to focus only on Barkley and overlook Hurts’ running danger if he is not nearly at full capacity.
Barkley has 51 carries for 324 yards (6.4 YPC) and two touchdowns in the Eagles’ two playoff games after taking a break in Week 18.
The Commanders held Barkley in check for the majority of the first Eagles vs. Commanders game, and then, hey, two touchdowns in less than 30 seconds. TD run number one