Game Preview, Week 8: Philadelphia at Washington
October 28, 2023
by Steve Thomas
It’s certainly a low point in the season for Washington, which is coming off of a terrible and uninspiring loss to the New York Giants. Fortunately, the home team has an opportunity to right the ship this week . . . okay, I can’t even write that with a straight face. The truth is that Washington has an incredibly tough battle this week, as one of the NFL’s Super Bowl contenders, the Philadelphia Eagles, comes to town. Conventional wisdom is certain that Washington is going to get beaten like a drum. We’ll see. Weirdly, I think there’s a chance here, as (1) Washington barely lost to the Eagles in overtime back in week 4, and (2) they’ve had an on – off – on history this year, in that Washington has consistently rotated their good and bad games each week. Certainly, this game is a long shot, but Washington does have a chance here.
Game time & location: Sunday, October 29, 2023, 1:00 p.m. ET, Fed Ex Field, Raljon, Maryland; Gates open 11:00 a.m. ET; Red Zone parking lots open 8:00 a.m.; all other parking lots 9:00 a.m.
Television: FOX
Television announcers: Chris Myers, Mark Schlereth, Kristina Pink
TV broadcast map: click here
DC-area radio: BIG-100 (WBIG FM)
Washington radio network: click here
Eagles radio network: click here
Satellite radio: SiriusXM: 233 (Wash. broad.); internet: 831
Washington roster: click here
Washington depth chart: click here
Eagles roster: click here
Eagles depth chart: click here
Records: Washington 3 – 4 (home 1 – 2); Philadelphia 6 – 1 (away 3 – 1)
All-time head-to-head record vs Philadelphia: 88 – 84 – 6 (last 10: 3 – 7; streak: 0 –1)
Last meeting: L, October 1, 2023, 31 – 34
Early odds: Eagles, – 6.5
3 KEYS TO THE GAME
Pass protection for Sam Howell
Wash, rinse, repeat. I say the same thing every week, in some form or another: protect the quarterback. Washington is currently last in the NFL with 40 sacks given up this season. Particularly since they are facing the Eagles this week, Washington needs to somehow do more to keep Howell upright, particularly if Washington’s coaching staff is going to insist on maintaining their current “pass all the time” offense. Watch out for how many sacks Philadelphia racks up in this game.
Establish a running game and move the pocket
Two easy ways to protect the quarterback are to establish a solid running game and run more screen plays. Washington needs to do both this week, as the Eagles’ pass rush is going to be deadly. Further, Washington needs to do something to burn some clock and keep the Eagles’ offense off the field. Running and screen plays are the two best ways to do this. Honestly, I don’t have a ton of faith that Eric Bieniemy will actually do this, mind you, but he should, because that is the way to have a shot at winning.
Stop A.J. Brown
Brown demolished Washington’s secondary in week 4, with 9 receptions for 175 yards and 2 touchdowns. In fact, he’s put up huge numbers in 5 of 7 games this season. It is imperative that Washington figure out how to keep Brown in check. That’s probably going to mean rolling coverage his way, because Washington doesn’t have a corner who can successfully take Brown on for an entire game. Washington’s defense simply can’t allow this again if they expect to win the game.
3 KEY MATCHUPS
Terry McLaurin vs. Darius Slay
This is the most high-profile matchup of the day: First Team All-Pro versus Pro Bowler. Slay has at times had success against McLaurin over the years. That having been said, McLaurin had 8 receptions for 86 yards against Philadelphia in week 4. That’s not great, but it’s a pretty decent day. Keep an eye out for how much free space McLaurin is able to create when matched up against Slay.
This is the big-time matchup in the trenches. Payne has had a couple of quiet games in a row, so hopefully he’s due. Kelce, of course, is one of the best centers in the game, so it won’t be an easy time for Payne this week. This one will be a tough game for Payne, but Washington needs him to have success in probably his most difficult battle of the season.
This matchup may seem like a bit off the beaten path, but Sweat, who is one of the Eagles’ ends, is leading his team in quarterback hits with 14 and is tied for first in sacks with 5.5. Washington therefore needs Leno to have a good game and take some heat off the edge off of Sam Howell in order for Washington’s offense to establish some consistency this week.
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 NL – not listed
| Washington | Eagles |
| LB C. Barton, ankle; Wed: DNP; Thurs: DNP | CB B. Roby, shoulder; Wed: DNP; Thurs: DNP |
| G S. Charles, calf; Wed: DNP; Thurs: DNP | CB J. Bradberry, ankle; Wed: NL; Thurs: LP |
| WR C. Samuel, foot; Wed: DNP; Thurs: LP | LB Z. Cunningham, ankle; Wed: NL; Thurs: LP |
| CB B. St-Juste, thigh; Wed: NL; Thurs: LP | DT J. Davis, hamstring; Wed: NL; Thurs: LP |
| DT J. Allen, knee; Wed: FP; Thurs: FP | DT M. Williams, heel; Wed: LP; Thurs: LP |
| G. S. Cosmi, hip; Wed: LP; Thurs: FP | S R. Blankenship; ribs; Wed: FP; Thurs: FP |
| DT P. Mathis, calf; Wed: FP; Thurs: FP | |
| DE M. Sweat, finger; Wed: FO; Thurs: FP | |
| TE C. Turner, ankle; Wed: LP’ Thurs: FP |
Steve’s Prediction
Washington might make a game of this, but I don’t think they’ll be able to overcome the Eagles. Philadelphia wins 32 – 20.