The Philadelphia Eagles and Washington Commanders are set to face off on Monday, October 16, 2023 in an NFC East divisional matchup. Both teams come into the game with 4-1 records and are looking to take control of the division. The Eagles are currently favored by most experts and oddsmakers to win the game.
Eagles Strong Start
The Eagles have jumped out to a great start this season under second-year head coach Nick Sirianni. They have a high-powered offense led by quarterback Jalen Hurts, who has taken a big step forward this year. Hurts has thrown for 1,514 yards with 6 touchdowns and 2 interceptions, while also rushing for 293 yards and 6 touchdowns. The Eagles have a deep group of running backs led by Miles Sanders, who has rushed for 414 yards and 3 touchdowns. Their passing attack features receivers A.J. Brown, DeVonta Smith, and tight end Dallas Goedert.
Defensively, the Eagles have held opponents to just 14.6 points per game, the second-best scoring defense in the NFL. They have playmakers at all three levels of their defense including defensive tackle Javon Hargrave, linebackers T.J. Edwards and Haason Reddick, and cornerback Darius Slay. This unit has done a great job creating turnovers with 8 interceptions and 5 fumble recoveries already on the year.
Commanders Exceeding Expectations
The Commanders were expected to struggle this season after trading for quarterback Carson Wentz in the offseason. However, Wentz and the Commanders have played pretty well together. Wentz has thrown for 1,390 yards with 10 touchdowns and 6 interceptions. He has developed a rapport with receivers Terry McLaurin, Curtis Samuel and Jahan Dotson. On the ground, Antonio Gibson leads the team with 328 rushing yards and 3 touchdowns.
Defensively, the Commanders have been solid this season allowing 19.4 points per game. They have a fearsome pass rush led by defensive ends Chase Young and Montez Sweat. Young just returned last week from a torn ACL and is still working his way back. The Commanders secondary is led by safety Kam Curl and cornerback Kendall Fuller. This unit will have their hands full trying to slow down the Eagles explosive offense.
Key Matchups
Eagles Passing Offense vs. Commanders Pass Defense
This figures to be the biggest matchup of the game. The Eagles passing offense is ranked 8th in the NFL averaging 261.8 yards per game. Jalen Hurts has made big strides as a passer in his second season. However, the Commanders pass defense has been stingy allowing just 195.6 passing yards per game, 6th best in the NFL. Cornerback Kendall Fuller will likely draw the assignment of shadowing Eagles WR A.J. Brown. The Commanders pass rush led by Young and Sweat will try to make Hurts uncomfortable. If the Eagles can protect Hurts, he has the talent to pick apart the Commanders secondary. But if Washington’s pass rush dominates, it could be a long day for the Eagles offense.
Commanders Running Game vs. Eagles Run Defense
With Carson Wentz struggling with turnovers at times this season, the Commanders may try to lean on their running game in this matchup. Antonio Gibson, JD McKissic and Jonathan Williams provide a solid trio of backs. But the Eagles have been stellar against the run allowing just 105 rushing yards per game. Their defensive tackles Javon Hargrave and Fletcher Cox are great at clogging running lanes and allowing their speedy linebackers to chase down backs. If the Commanders can’t get anything going on the ground, it will put a lot of pressure on Wentz to carry the offense through the air.
Special Teams
Special teams could be a key factor in determining the outcome of this matchup. The Eagles have one of the better kicking duos in Jake Elliott and punter Arryn Siposs. Elliott has been automatic this year, making all 11 field goal attempts. The Commanders kicking game has been inconsistent with Joey Slye handling field goals and Tress Way punting. In the return game, the Commanders have more big play potential with WR Dax Milne handling punts and RB Gibson returning kicks. A big return or a key kicking mistake could swing the momentum in this game.
Betting Odds and Prediction
According to FanDuel Sportsbook, the Eagles are currently 4-point favorites on the road against the Commanders. The over/under point total is set at 48.5 points. Both teams are getting respect from oddsmakers with evenly matched spreads throughout the season. The Eagles were 3-point favorites last week on the road against the Cardinals and covered easily with a 20-17 win. The Commanders were slim 1-point home favorites last week and delivered a 12-7 win over the Chicago Bears.
Prediction
This game is difficult to predict with both teams evenly matched and playing well so far this season. The Eagles have the advantage at quarterback with Jalen Hurts but the Commanders have a better pass defense. If the Commanders can slow down the Eagles passing attack and force some Jalen Hurts turnovers, they could pull off the upset, especially at home. However, picking against the Eagles and Hurts has been a losing bet this season. Look for the Eagles to do just enough offensively while their defense comes up with a key late stop.
Pick: Eagles 24, Commanders 20
Conclusion
The Eagles are favored for good reason heading into this matchup against the Commanders. Their offense led by Jalen Hurts and their stout defense have them looking like one of the better teams in the NFC early on. However, the Commanders are much improved from last season and have the talent to give the Eagles a tough test, particularly at home. This game will likely come down to the key matchups like the Eagles passing game against the Commanders pass defense. In the end, the Eagles have more playmakers on both sides of the ball and find a way to win a close game over a scrappy Commanders team. Eagles get to 5-1 while the Commanders fall to 4-2 in a competitive NFC East race.
