The Washington Commanders have a perfect opportunity in front of them in Week 8.
Not only is the team playing the Philadelphia Eagles, who have lost five games in a row, but they’re also getting to do so coming off a bye week. IF the Commanders are going to start collecting some wins, this is the perfect time to do so.
The Eagles did beat the Commanders less than two months ago, but the team looks much different now. Jalen Hurts is out for the season, Cam Jurgens and Lane Johnson are no longer on the team, and there are several notable injuries on both sides of the ball.
However, the NFC East is notoriously unpredictable, and the Commanders can’t afford to overlook any opponent. Now, let’s go over the four keys to a Commanders’ victory in Week
8.
Don't let Saquon Barkley, run game take over
Even before Jalen Hurts went down, the Eagles were struggling on offense. Heading into Week 8, the team is 27th in rushing yards per game, 26th in passing yards per game, and 29th in points per game.
Tanner McKee hasn’t thrown for more than 215 yards in either start, and Dontayvion Wicks and DeVonta Smith are both out. As a result, the Commanders don’t have to worry about the passing attack. Instead, the team just needs to make sure Saquon Barkley and Dameon Pierce don’t take over.
Establish the ground game
The Eagles have traditionally been very good at stopping the run, but as we mentioned above, this team is different. The Eagles are 27th in run defense this season, and they just allowed the Cowboys to rush for over 200 yards last weekend.
Even without Jacory Croskey-Merritt, the Commanders should be able to establish the ground game. The Commanders’ running game has been very hit-or-miss, but this is a favorable matchup.
Keep Jayden Daniels upright
Another thing the Eagles have usually been good at is collecting sacks. Once again, that’s not been the case this year. Last weekend, the Eagles didn’t record a single quarterback hit on Dak Prescott.
Due to injuries and plain old underperformance, the Eagles’ pass rush isn’t great right now. Even the banged-up Commanders’ line should be able to hold up. If it can’t, though, the Commanders might be in trouble.
Win the turnover battle
This is another aspect of the game that should suit the Commanders well. The Commanders have one of the best turnover differentials in the league, and they’re playing against a team with one of the worst, who’s also starting an inexperienced quarterback.
You don’t want to be too confident, but this should be a game that will make the Commanders' defense feel good. They should be able to wreak havoc on McKee, and one turnover could be enough to make a big difference.
This article originally appeared on Commanders Wire: 4 keys to a Commanders' Week 8 victory over Eagles
