Four things to watch for in Commanders-Eagles on Prime Video, NFL+

• WHERE: Lincoln financial field (Philadelphia)
• WHEN: 8:15 PM ET | Prime Video, NFL+

First place is on the line when the Philadelphia Eagles host the Washington Commanders at Lincoln Financial Field on Thursday night, the biggest game for both teams this season.

After Sunday’s win in Dallas, the 7-2 Eagles jumped back into first place in the NFC East for the first time since their Week 1 win. The Commanders had led the division after every week since Week 2 through Sunday, when they lost to the Steelers at home.

Both Washington and Philadelphia enter the game with seven wins and 2-0 records in the NFC East entering Week 11. This is the first meeting of these teams with both entering the game over .500 since week 12 of the 1996 season.

The Eagles have dominated the recent series between the rivals, beating the Commanders five of the past six meetings. But this is a different Washington team than we’ve seen in a while. With a win on Thursday, the team would have as many wins this season as in any year since 2012 and would be one step closer to their first playoff spot since entering the postseason with a 7-9 record in 2020.

This is also the first meeting between Jayden Daniels and Jalen Hurts, who each rank in the top three in QB rush yards and have posted similar numbers in 2024. Daniels is the overwhelming favorite to win Offensive Rookie of the Year, and Hurts has steadily improved his MVP candidacy with a bounce-back season.

Here are four things to watch for when the Commanders visit the Eagles Thursday night on Prime Video and NFL+:

1) The commander’s attack looks for a rebound. Sunday’s 28-27 loss to the Steelers came down to a final minute decision, but Washington’s offensive performance in the game was subpar compared to the gaudy numbers this group has produced. They had just one turnover on Sunday (and have only four on the season), but were held to 242 yards. Jayden Daniels was held in check as a runner (three rushes, 5 yards) and thrower, with a season-low 50% completion percentage. Teams that have had more success against the Commanders tend to stop their run game better, and RB Brian Robinson Jr. has missed the past two games. There is also the question of whether the league could adjust to offensive coordinator Kliff Kingsbury’s system after their hot start. History seems to show that Kingsbury’s offenses – whether he’s head coach or OC – tend to decline in production as the seasons go by. In weeks 1 through 9, his offenses averaged 26.6 points, 377.9 yards, and 0.8 turnovers per game. Through Week 10 and beyond in his career, Kingsbury’s offenses have dropped to 21.2 points, 331.6 yards and 1.5 turnovers per game.

2) Hurts, Barkley can be a tough guy. Much has been made of Washington’s passport coverage issues, but lest we overlook their flight stoppage issues. They have allowed 506 rush yards over the past three games and rank 29th in the NFL in yards per rush allowed (4.85). The Eagles control the ball better than any of the past three Commanders opponents and perhaps better than any team Dan Quinn’s defense has faced. Saquon Barkley enters this meet nine yards shy of 1,000 for the season, and he’s on pace for over 1,700. Before a tepid game in the blowout of Dallas, Barkley was in tears; he has averaged 6.5 yards per carry over the past four games. In that same time frame, Jalen Hurts has eight rushing TDs and an average of 4.9 yards per carry. The Commanders did a respectable job with Lamar Jackson earlier this season, but other mobile QBs (Daniel Jones and Caleb Williams) had some success against them. If they don’t do their job well and don’t bring the people to the ball, it could be a long night for Washington.

3) Commanders need better rear security. The Commanders made a trade deadline deal to land CB Marshon Lattimore, but he missed Sunday’s loss and is out for Thursday’s game while still working his way back from a hamstring injury. Washington could certainly use him. CBs Benjamin St.-Juste and Mike Sainristil think they have their hands full with Eagles duo AJ Brown and DeVonta Smith, who remain two of the very best at what they do even though Smith has had some quiet games and Brown is three consecutive games held out of the end zone. Top receivers like Ja’Marr Chase, Zay Flowers, Malik Nabers and Chris Godwin have had big games against the Commanders this season. Washington’s pass rush, led by Dante Fowler Jr.’s 8.5 sacks, has helped the defense hold nine of 10 opponents under 253 passing yards. But Sunday’s loss to the Steelers was accompanied by several major failures by the Commanders’ secondary.

4) Eagle killer Terry McLaurin will test the secondary. They don’t call him ‘Scary Terry’ for nothing. McLaurin was often a lone wolf in the Commanders’ offense, but he consistently gave the Eagles problems when he faced them, totaling 58 catches for 847 yards and four touchdowns in 10 career meetings. Over his past four games against the Eagles, McLaurin has averaged 94.5 receiving yards. But the Eagles have changed defensively, with a new coordinator (Vic Fangio) and new DBs (Quinyon Mitchell and Cooper DeJean). Fangio will have his hands full trying to slow down Jayden Daniels as a runner and passer and compete with McLaurin, Zach Ertz and Noah Brown. But Fangio has traditionally done a good job of limiting big plays with two-high safety looks, lighter defensive personnel and occasionally using spies versus athletic QBs. Still, the Eagles’ DBs will be tested at some point. Mitchell and Cooper have been upgrades over their predecessors, James Bradberry and Avonte Maddox, and the entire secondary has held up, well equipped with the likes of Darius Slay, CJ Gardner-Johnson, Reed Blankenship and the rookies.