Game Preview, Week 11: Washington at Philadelphia Eagles
November 14, 2024
by Steve Thomas
Washington suffered a tough loss against the Steelers last week, whereas the Eagles demolished the sad-sack Dallas Cowboys by a score of 34 – 6, but both of those games are pretty irrelevant at the moment. That’s because this game happens to be a battle for control of the NFC East. Under the prior regime, Washington on the road in Philadelphia on Thursday night could and usually did lead to some laughably bad results. However, this team is different, and I’m expecting an epic battle between two outstanding participants. Philadelphia started the season on a low note, with a 2 – 2 record in the first quarter, but since then has won 5 games in a row. Certainly, the odds are against Washington in this matchup, but at a minimum, I think that this will be a competitive matchup. Can they actually win? Yes, maybe, and that’s something I’d usually say under these circumstances. Either way, it’ll be a great time. Out game preview starts below.
Game time & location: Thursday, November 14, 2024, 8:15 p.m. ET, Financial Field, Philadelphia, PA; Gates open 5:45 a.m. ET (earlier access to premium seating and facilities); parking lots open 3:15 p.m.
Television: Amazon
Television announcers: Al Michaels, Kirk Herbstreit, Kaylee Hartung
TV broadcast map: Click here
DC-area radio: BIG-100 (WBIG FM)
Washington radio network: Click here
Eagles radio network: Click here
Satellite radio: Sirius: 83 (Wash. broad.); SiriusXM: 227 (Wash. broad.); internet: 831
Washington roster: Click here
Washington depth chart: Click here
Eagles roster: Click here
Eagles depth chart: Click here
All-time head-to-head record vs Eagles: 88 – 85 – 6 (last 10: 3 – 7)
Last meeting: L, October 29, 2024, 31 – 38
Eagles record: 7 – 2, 1st place / home 3 – 1 / NFC 4 – 2 / NFC East 2 – 0
Early odds: Eagles, -3.5
3 KEYS TO THE GAME
Make every effort to contain Saquon Barkley
Philadelphia has run the ball more than any other team in the NFL, even though they’ve already had their bye week. Simultaneously, they have the least number of pass attempts. Barkley is second in the NFL in yardage, with 998 yards, and third in carries, with 171. He’s also averaging 5.8 yards per carry, which is 4th in the league. He made an eye-popping backwards leap over a defender last week, which was fun to watch if nothing else. The point is that Barkley is the engine that makes the Eagles go, while Washington has been mostly bad against the run this year. Washington needs to focus their efforts on this aspect of Philadelphia’s game. My advice to Washington’s defensive coaching staff is to let anyone else beat you but Barkley. If he gets going, there may be no stopping the Eagles.
Extend drives through run game and short passes
Philadelphia is a fairly high scoring offense – 233 points, ranked 10th – but more importantly, they are have a very high time of possession, with 32:28 per game, ranked 4th in the NFL. This makes sense given the strength of their ground game. Furthermore, while they’ve achieved outstanding results in pass defense, with opposing quarterbacks achieving an average quarterback rating of just 78.6, ranked 4th, they have been in the middle of the pack against the run. Therefore, Washington needs to hope that Brian Robinson can come back this week. They need his ability to run inside the interior gaps. This game is a classic case of creating a chance to win by keeping the opposing offense off the field. I realize that the 2024 version of the Washington team has become fairly well known for its no-huddle offense. I’m not necessarily telling them to stop that, because it’s a part of who they are at this point, but they do really need to slow things down and move the ball on the ground and via short, safe passes this week.
Eliminate the mistakes
It wouldn’t be totally wrong to suggest that Washington’s mistakes cost them the game against the Steelers last week. Things like dropping passes that hit receivers in directly in the hands, penalties at terrible times, badly blown coverages, and turnovers will make this game in Philadelphia impossible. The truth is that Washington hasn’t played a relatively clean game in a few weeks, and that needs to end now. A key to this game is for Washington to not do things like give away drives, extend Philadelphia drives, and hand over outstanding field position on turnovers. This might be the biggest key to Washington getting the victory in this game.
3 KEY MATCHUPS
Benjamin St-Juste vs A.J. Brown
Umm…yeah. Washington would be much better off with Marshon Lattimore taking this matchup, but he’s going to be out for at least one more week. Brown, of course, is a 3x Pro Bowler and 2x Second-Team All-Pro. He’s the Eagles’ most dangerous weapon in the air by far; he already has 553 receiving yards on 28 receptions on 41 targets, which is 19.8 yards per catch. DeVonta Smith actually has more targets and receptions, with 50 and 37, respectively, but Brown is more dangerous by far. St-Juste has had a few quality moments this year, but overall hasn’t played well. He could have a role as a #2 corner behind Lattimore, but right now, he probably has the lead keep Brown in check.
Terry McLaurin vs Darius Slay Jr.
I think I’ve highlighted this matchup in every Washington – Eagles game preview since McLaurin arrived in Washington in 2019. This is a case of elite player versus elite player, and it’s almost certainly the highest-profile battle in the game. McLaurin has obviously been on a tear this year, especially recently, but Slay has gotten the better of McLaurin at times in the past. I expect the television broadcast crew to highlight these two players. This one will be fun to watch.
Jer’Zhan Newton and Daron Payne vs Landon Dickerson, Cam Jurgens, and Landon Dickerson
Newton made a bad mistake against the Steelers last Sunday that cost Washington the opportunity to get the ball back near the end of the game, so all eyes will be on him in Philadelphia. More importantly, though, Newton’s performance will be critical to Washington’s ability to stop, or at least limit, Saquon Barkley. Since Newton is the starter now in place of the injured Jonathan Allen, he and Payne are the keys to Washington’s effort to control the interior of the Eagles’ offensive line. That’s going to be important in Washington’s efforts to keep Barkley in check.
OFFICIAL INJURY REPORT (active roster only)
LP – limited practice FP – full practice DNP – did not practice
NIR – not injury related Q – questionable O – out
D – doubtful
| Washington | Eagles |
| LB N. Bellore, knee; Mon: DNP; Tues: DNP; Wed: DNP; game: O | LB N. Dean, groin; Mon: DNP; Tues: LP; Wed: FP |
| CB M. Lattimore, hamstring; Mon: DNP; Tues: DNP; Wed: DNP; game: O | TE D. Goedert, ankle; Mon: DNP; Tues: LP; Wed: FP |
| K A. Seibert, right hip; Mon: DNP; Tues: DNP; Wed: DNP; game: O | CB D. Slay, ankle; Mon: DNP; Tues: LP; Wed: FP |
| C T. Biadasz, ribs/thumb/foot; Mon: LP; Tues: LP; Wed: FP | WR D. Smith, hamstring; Mon: DNP; Tues: LP; Wed: LP |
| T B. Coleman, shoulder; Mon: LP; Tues: LP; Wed: LP game: Q | DE B. Huff, wrist; Mon: FP; Tues: FP; Wed: FP |
| DE C. Ferrell, knee; Mon: LP; Tues: LP; Wed: DNP | T J. Mailata, hamstring; Mon: FP; Tues: FP; Wed: FP |
| T C. Lucas, ankle; Mon: LP; Tues: LP; Wed: LP game: Q | |
| RB B. Robinson Jr., hamstring; Mon: LP; Tues: LP; Wed: FP | |
| T A. Wylie, shoulder; Mon: LP; Tues: LP; Wed: LP game: Q | |
| OLB D. Fowler Jr., groin; Mon: FP; Tues: FP; Wed: FP | |
| CB N. Igbinoghene, thumb; Mon: FP; Tues: FP; Wed: FP | |
| LB J. Magee, elbow; Mon: FP; Tues: FP; Wed: FP |
Steve’s Prediction
Washington will fight hard, because they have done so in every game so far this season, but the Eagles in Philadelphia on national television are a bit too much. The Eagles win 34 – 27.