Philadelphia Eagles and Washington Commanders Preview: Can the Reserves Take Down the Frustrated DC Squad?
The Philadelphia Eagles will close out their regular season with a reserve-heavy lineup, hoping to find some momentum heading into the playoffs. Meanwhile, the Washington Commanders are already looking ahead to next year, as their underwhelming season comes to an end.
For the Eagles, quarterback Tanner McKee will be tasked with leading the reserves against a Commanders team that's already on life support. The Commanders' offense is struggling mightily, ranking 27th in points per game and averaging just 20.8 points per contest. Meanwhile, their defense has been slightly better, allowing an average of 27.1 points per game.
The key matchup to watch for the Eagles will be against Josh Johnson, who's expected to start at quarterback for Washington. Johnson has struggled with accuracy all season, throwing for only 62.5% completion rate and averaging just 7.5 yards per attempt.
On offense, the Eagles' reserves are facing a tough test against Washington's defense. The Commanders' pass rush is solid, with four takeaways this season, which could keep McKee and his receivers on their toes. However, the Eagles have an advantage when it comes to rushing yards, averaging 192.3 yards per game compared to the Commanders' 187.4.
One player who could make a difference for Washington is running back Jacory Croskey-Merritt, who's seen significant playing time in recent weeks and has averaged 4.8 yards per carry.
The two teams have a long history of competition against each other, with the Eagles leading the series 89-87-6. However, Washington's struggles this season mean that the Commanders won't be bringing much confidence to their matchup against the Eagles' reserves.
Ultimately, it's unclear what we can learn from this game, as both teams are giving most of their starters a rest and playing with reserve lineups. Still, for the Eagles, there may be some opportunities to build momentum heading into the playoffs, particularly if McKee and his receivers can get going early in the game.
Here's the key numbers breakdown between these two teams:
Offense
- Washington Commanders: 20.8 points per game (ranked 27th), 321.6 total yards per game (ranked 30th)
- Philadelphia Eagles: 22.6 points per game, 311.5 total yards per game (ranked 29th)
Defense
- Washington Commanders: 27.1 points per game allowed (ranked 24th), 388.8 total yards per game allowed (ranked 31st)
- Philadelphia Eagles: 18.8 points per game allowed, 316.7 total yards per game allowed
The Philadelphia Eagles will close out their regular season with a reserve-heavy lineup, hoping to find some momentum heading into the playoffs. Meanwhile, the Washington Commanders are already looking ahead to next year, as their underwhelming season comes to an end.
For the Eagles, quarterback Tanner McKee will be tasked with leading the reserves against a Commanders team that's already on life support. The Commanders' offense is struggling mightily, ranking 27th in points per game and averaging just 20.8 points per contest. Meanwhile, their defense has been slightly better, allowing an average of 27.1 points per game.
The key matchup to watch for the Eagles will be against Josh Johnson, who's expected to start at quarterback for Washington. Johnson has struggled with accuracy all season, throwing for only 62.5% completion rate and averaging just 7.5 yards per attempt.
On offense, the Eagles' reserves are facing a tough test against Washington's defense. The Commanders' pass rush is solid, with four takeaways this season, which could keep McKee and his receivers on their toes. However, the Eagles have an advantage when it comes to rushing yards, averaging 192.3 yards per game compared to the Commanders' 187.4.
One player who could make a difference for Washington is running back Jacory Croskey-Merritt, who's seen significant playing time in recent weeks and has averaged 4.8 yards per carry.
The two teams have a long history of competition against each other, with the Eagles leading the series 89-87-6. However, Washington's struggles this season mean that the Commanders won't be bringing much confidence to their matchup against the Eagles' reserves.
Ultimately, it's unclear what we can learn from this game, as both teams are giving most of their starters a rest and playing with reserve lineups. Still, for the Eagles, there may be some opportunities to build momentum heading into the playoffs, particularly if McKee and his receivers can get going early in the game.
Here's the key numbers breakdown between these two teams:
Offense
- Washington Commanders: 20.8 points per game (ranked 27th), 321.6 total yards per game (ranked 30th)
- Philadelphia Eagles: 22.6 points per game, 311.5 total yards per game (ranked 29th)
Defense
- Washington Commanders: 27.1 points per game allowed (ranked 24th), 388.8 total yards per game allowed (ranked 31st)
- Philadelphia Eagles: 18.8 points per game allowed, 316.7 total yards per game allowed