1 week Ago By Ryan McCafferty
Week 11 of the 2024 NFL season begins with a high-stakes Thursday Night Football matchup between two teams fighting for divisional top dog status: the Washington Commanders and Philadelphia Eagles. The Eagles, largely by virtue of being the home team, are four-point favorites . Washington can't be counted out, though, and here's how the Commanders can pull off the upset.
Washington's road to victory must start with winning the battle in the trenches defensively. The Eagles' offense runs through their rushing attack, particularly with their offseason acquisition of RB Saquon Barkley. Barkley has rushed for 991 yards this season in only nine games, while furthermore, his presence opens up the offense for QB Jalen Hurts both as a runner and a passer.
The more attention defenses have to give to Barkley, the easier Hurts' job becomes. Limiting Philadelphia's rushing attack is easier said than done, though. The Eagles are rated as one of the strongest offensive lines in the NFL, even after the retirement of Jason Kelce last offseason.
Pro Bowlers Lane Johnson and Landon Dickerson remain to highlight the unit. That being said, this is a formula the Commanders have used before. In fact, two years ago to the exact day , they marched into Philadelphia on Monday night and beat the previously unbeaten Eagles 32-21.
They did so by winning the battle on the ground, outgaining the opposition 152 rushing yards to 94. If Washington is going to have a chance to snap the Eagles' five-game winning streak, it may need to rely on that same blueprint..
