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PHILADELPHIA — The Philadelphia Eagles took command of the NFC East with a 26-18 victory over the Washington Commanders on Thursday evening, and the sport wasn’t as shut because the rating indicated. The Eagles outgained the Commanders 434-264 and averaged 6.2 yards per play to the Commanders’ 4.2.
Philadelphia (8-2) has a two-game lead within the loss column over Washington (7-4) with the victory, because the Eagles have received six in a row. Washington has dropped two straight after a 7-2 begin, shedding two video games on Philadelphia within the divisional standings in 5 days.
Is the NFC East race over? Are the Commanders discovered? Which overreactions are really overreactions from Thursday’s showdown and that are actuality?
Eagles wrapped up NFC East with win
Overreaction or actuality: Overreaction
Whereas the Eagles victory over the Commanders was spectacular, this is not a sport that decided the NFC East winner. It is truthful to say this was a “must-win” sport for the Eagles with a purpose to take management of the division, one which they’ve a two-game lead within the loss column with seven video games to play.
The Eagles did have a commanding lead within the NFC East after Week 11 final season earlier than they collapsed, however this staff is considerably completely different. This is not about what the Eagles will or will not do within the last seven video games. The Commanders have a reasonably simple schedule earlier than they face the Eagles once more in Week 16.
Washington faces Dallas and Tennessee at house earlier than its bye week. A street sport at New Orleans follows on the schedule earlier than the rematch in opposition to Philadelphia in Week 16. Washington then finishes with a house date in opposition to Atlanta and a street sport in opposition to Dallas. 4 of the following 5 video games are at house, and the following three video games are in opposition to groups with shedding data.
Philadelphia has street dates at Los Angeles and Baltimore, earlier than house video games in opposition to Carolina and Pittsburgh forward of the Week 16 showdown at Washington. Due to the Commanders’ schedule, the NFC East is much from over.
Jayden Daniels, Commanders offense has been discovered
Overreaction or actuality: Actuality
Over the past two video games, the Commanders have confronted two top-10 defenses within the Steelers and Eagles. The outcomes haven’t been good for offensive coordinator Kliff Kingsbury’s unit. Washington has averaged solely 253 yards in these two video games on simply 4.1 yards per play whereas changing 30.8% of their third downs. The most important indicator of their struggles is the dashing yards quarterback Jayden Daniels has totaled during the last two video games — solely 23.
With Daniels restricted operating the soccer, that takes away the most important energy of his sport. In that two-game stretch, Daniels has accomplished 59.1% of his passes for 393 yards with one landing to 1 interception and a 73.9 passer ranking — and that one landing was within the last minute Thursday with the sport already determined. The Commanders misplaced each video games.
Daniels and the Commanders will doubtless get issues again on monitor in opposition to the underneath .500 groups they are going to be dealing with over the following few weeks, however they nonetheless need to show themselves in opposition to the superb defenses. That is the following step for Kingsbury and Daniels going ahead.
Saquon Barkley ought to be a front-runner for MVP
Overreaction or actuality: Overreaction
Lamar Jackson does exist, which makes any case for MVP not as sturdy as in years previous. But there is not any denying what Barkley has delivered to this Eagles offense.
Barkley had 26 carries for 146 yards and two touchdowns (5.2 yards per carry) and two catches for 52 yards — giving him 198 yards from scrimmage on the evening. Thursday was Barkley’s fourth sport this season with 140-plus yards, which is probably the most for any operating again by way of 10 video games since Shawn Alexander in 2005 (when Alexander received MVP). Barkley leads the NFL in dashing yards (1,137) and scrimmage yards (1,347) this season, whereas having 738 of these dashing yards and averaging 7.2 yards per carry within the second half of video games. He leads the league in each classes.
The Eagles offense, even when inconsistent, retains transferring the soccer due to Barkley. They’re ending video games due to Barkley as nicely. If it wasn’t for Barkley, the Eagles would not be one of many elite groups within the NFL.
Jackson is the entrance runner for MVP, however Barkley has a a lot better case than most assume. He is not a entrance runner but, however he is getting there.