The Philadelphia Eagles don't have to look far for a reason to be optimistic in Sunday's matchup, but the Washington Commanders' defensive numbers only matter if Philadelphia can turn them into an advantage. The Commanders
have struggled to finish possessions and maintain their defensive performance for a full game, creating opportunities for an Eagles offense that has too often made life harder than necessary.The bigger question is whether Philadelphia can adjust its approach to the personnel available. Injuries have left the running game in flux, and Tanner McKee faces a different challenge than Jalen Hurts did in the team's first meeting. The Eagles need to be deliberate about how they attack rather than assume Washington's weaknesses will
solve their problems. Here are four ways the Eagles can frustrate the Commanders' defense.
1. Philadelphia must provide better QB protection than it allowed last time
The Commanders have recorded 11 sacks this season, with K’Lavon Chaisson accounting for 2.5. Philadelphia needs to prevent the pass rusher from becoming a disruptive force, particularly with McKee at quarterback. Washington sacked Jalen Hurts three times in the teams’ Week 1 meeting, and McKee is a more stationary target who offers less ability to escape pressure when protection breaks down.
The Eagles must account for Chaisson's alignment and give their tackles the help they need when the matchup calls for it. Quick throws can reduce the time Washington's rushers have to reach McKee, but protection cannot depend entirely on getting the ball out early. The offensive line still has to hold up long enough for routes to develop and prevent the Commanders from dictating the terms of the game.
Philadelphia should make Washington prove its other pass rushers can win consistently rather than letting Chaisson take over. Keeping McKee upright would give the offense a better chance to work through its progressions and sustain drives.
2. Eagles must attack Mike Sainristil
The cornerback has struggled, and the coverage numbers provided by Pro Football Focus help explain why Philadelphia should be willing to test him. Sainristil has been targeted 18 times, allowing 12 receptions for 212 yards and five touchdowns.
Washington has already had its bye week, making those figures a useful snapshot of his performance through the team's available sample. The Eagles should look for opportunities to isolate Sainristil and challenge him with their receivers rather than automatically directing every pass away from his coverage.
That does not mean forcing throws into tight windows simply because of his statistics. McKee still needs to read the coverage and take the best available option, but Sainristil's results give Philadelphia a matchup worth testing.
Making Washington defend the entire field could open up opportunities elsewhere, too. If Sainristil struggles to hold up in coverage, the Eagles can turn that weakness into consistent gains instead of relying on a single explosive play.
3. Trust the underneath throws and be happy with long, sustained drives
Philadelphia may not be able to count on its running game to keep Washington honest, which makes patience through the air especially important. The Commanders can turn aggressive when they know a passing situation is coming, and repeatedly asking McKee to push the ball downfield could allow their pass rush to dictate the afternoon.
Short completions, quick decisions, and manageable third downs offer a more sustainable alternative. Washington has struggled to get off the field, allowing opponents to convert 41.3% of third-down attempts. The Eagles should make that weakness central to their approach by accepting underneath completions and forcing the defense to string together stops across an entire possession.
A five-yard gain might not excite the crowd, but several can move the chains and create opportunities to finish drives in the red zone, where Washington has struggled all season. Long possessions can also help Philadelphia control the game's rhythm and keep its own defense rested. The Eagles do not need every drive to feature a highlight play; they need to avoid wasting possessions and make Washington earn every opportunity to get off the field.
4. Continue Washington's second-half struggles
The Commanders have struggled to maintain their defensive performance after halftime, allowing 98 second-half points through six games, tied for the most in the NFL entering Week 8. That trend gives Philadelphia another reason to stay patient if the offense takes time to find its rhythm early.
Rather than abandoning its approach when the first few possessions fail to produce touchdowns, Philadelphia needs to keep making sound decisions and force Washington to defend full drives. Sustaining possessions, limiting negative plays, and avoiding turnovers could become increasingly important as the game progresses and the Commanders are asked to keep executing under pressure.
Washington cannot afford to give the Eagles extra opportunities to capitalize on its second-half problems. If Philadelphia remains disciplined and makes the defense work for four quarters, it could find more favorable openings late in the game.
This article originally appeared on Eagles Wire: 4 ways Eagles can exploit Commanders' struggling defense in Week 8
