Official Game Thread - Week 11 - TNF Edition - Commanders @ Eagles

[Voice_of_Reason]

worth noting - terry was MIA the whole game.

That’s not what elite receivers do.

The question is, how much was him, and how much was the Eagles.

Maybe some of both.

Daniels was not sharp tonight, was throwing off his back foot, and feeling the pressure.

 

[CobraCommander]

I’m not going to blame receivers until I watch the breakdowns. Jayden needs to get the ball out. If the receiver isn’t open throw it over their heads and out of bounds. Holding onto the ball for more than 3 seconds doesn’t work in this league.

 

[Voice_of_Reason]

I'm secure in believing Daniels will be a QB that is consistently good in the future.

Would not be surprised if we finish with nine wins to end the season though. Eventually, this trash D is going to underperform, injuries rack up, Daniels not being used to an extra month of football and being injured, cold weather. All of these factors will slow this team down moving forward.

Reminds me of 2008, 6-2 and the 2-6.

I don't think this defense is trash at all. I think there are a bunch of really good pieces, and it's exceptionally well coached.

I also think the cavalry is on the way. If Lattimore can play against Dallas, it changes the entire defense. He takes one side, they leave Mikey on the other, Iggy in the slot. It could be a force multiplier.

Defense is playing lights out. They played really, really well tonight. I think they're going to improve.

 

[Wunderhill]

I seen Terry open on a few plays, at least give him a chance...hard to be elite if you never have an opportunity.

 

[Voice_of_Reason]

I’m not going to blame receivers until I watch the breakdowns. Jayden needs to get the ball out. If the receiver isn’t open throw it over their heads and out of bounds. Holding onto the ball for more than 3 seconds doesn’t work in this league.

He was SO good getting the ball out early in the season, I'm not sure what's going on now.

I kidnof think what's going on now is the Eagles and Steelers are fantastic defenses and what was previously open is no longer open. Which, he hasn't seen before.

I think a lot of folks (not saying you) forget the guy is a rookie. He's WAY ahead of schedule. But he's a rookie. And he's seeing all this stuff for the first time.

It really isn't all that embarrassing to get thrown off your game by 2 of the best franchises in the NFL who have had solid defenses for decades.

 

[tshile]

The question is, how much was him, and how much was the Eagles.

Maybe some of both.

Daniels was not sharp tonight, was throwing off his back foot, and feeling the pressure.

not when it comes to being a elite wide receiver. Elite doesn’t go MIA cause the other team is good.

I like terry. I think he’s good. I’m glad he’s in our team.

But this is why he’s not elite.

 

[Voice_of_Reason]

Between 9 mins left and 5 it went from 12-10 to 26-10 when it could have at least been 13-12 for a minute.

I did not love the decision to go for it there, but I understand it. They weren't going to win 13-12. They were going to need to score a TD at some point, they should have been able to pick up a yard.

Short yardage has turned into a problem. Interestingly, it wasn't a problem earlier in the season. I think part of that, maybe a big part of that, is the OL is very banged up, and so is Robinson.

 

[Chris]

The defense played it’s ass off until the end. The offense was mostly pathetic and didn’t help them at all by staying on the field.

 

[Voice_of_Reason]

not when it comes to being a elite wide receiver. Elite doesn’t go MIA cause the other team is good.

I like terry. I think he’s good. I’m glad he’s in our team.

But this is why he’s not elite.

I don't disagree. I think he's in the VERY GOOD category. And I think he's a #1. But he's not one of the top 10 WRs in the NFL. But he's probably somewhere between 10-20, and that's not bad.

 

[SirClintonPortis]

I don't think this defense is trash at all. I think there are a bunch of really good pieces, and it's exceptionally well coached.

I also think the cavalry is on the way. If Lattimore can play against Dallas, it changes the entire defense. He takes one side, they leave Mikey on the other, Iggy in the slot. It could be a force multiplier.

Defense is playing lights out. They played really, really well tonight. I think they're going to improve.

Sometimes, it's a matter of allowing plays that truly shouldn't be happening. This D has been excellent in allowing "That one big play" even if they have improved their points against. We won against the Bears, but it really should have been a shutout or no TDs for the Bears. That run given up to Swift is an exploit that has existed for years. We let Russ hit bombs. Nothing different from the past years. This game, Saquon ate us, as he usually has. Even the anemic Giants actually have turned out some of their best offensive performances against us, and they are one of the worst Os in the league.

Technically, if not for the kicker, Elliot, having the yips, the D allowed a potential 30+ points tonight. Going over 30 points is irrefutably bad for a D regardless of the circumstances or excuses.

 

[IdahoFan]

I'm secure in believing Daniels will be a QB that is consistently good in the future.

Would not be surprised if we finish with nine wins to end the season though. Eventually, this trash D is going to underperform, injuries rack up, Daniels not being used to an extra month of football and being injured, cold weather. All of these factors will slow this team down moving forward.

Reminds me of 2008, 6-2 and the 2-6.

I’m secure in believing we will easily win more than nine games. lol. Steelers and Eagles are two very good teams. Nothing like the 2008 team.

 

[Voice_of_Reason]

The defense played it’s ass off until the end. The offense was mostly pathetic and didn’t help them at all by staying on the field.

1-9 on third down is not going to cut it.

Bigger dissapointment for me: I think they failed on 2nd and short 5 times I can remember.

You can't fail on second and short 5 times and then get 3rd and short 5 times and then go 1-9.

The run game has dissapeared. 28 runs for 93 yards. That's a pretty pathetic 3.3 yards per carry. I think against the Steelers it was 2.something.

It's not all on Robinson, I think what made the run game go early in the season was scheme, OL playing lights out, and Daniels as a run threat + Robinson crushing people.

Now, OL is hurt, Daniels is hurt, Robinson is hurt, and the scheme can't make up for it.

They need a break. Hopefully they can come back healthier and execute better.

Kliff is trying to stick with the run, but damn it's hard when you just can't get it going at all.

But back to the original point: they HAVE to figure out something better to do on 2nd and short. Because what they are doing is not working. And I'm sure it's driving Kliff crazy.

 

[Kel Varnsen]

I have a lot of thoughts about this game, but I'll start with what made me the most angry. It's the decision not to kick the FG with 8 minutes to go in the game. There is zero reason to go for it in that situation, but the events leading up to that decision make it even more perplexing.

They finally started rolling Daniels out and getting him away from pressure and as a result, they are moving the ball. Despite Daniels not playing well most of the night, they look like they have something going finally. Then the throw to Bates gets 11 yds. Except they mark it 1 yd short of the first down. They only give him 9 yds. It's deja vu all over again. Quinn could challenge and get the first down, but he doesn't. They never showed a replay of that play, but I rewound and saw he was a full yard past the first down marker when he went out of bounds. Maybe they had an angle showing him out of bounds short of the first down, but otherwise, why not challenge the spot and get the first down to keep the drive going?

Then you run for a loss of half a yard. Then run for a loss of a yard on 3rd down. It's now 4th and 2. After those two plays, why would any coach think going for it is a good decision? Just an awful, awful job by Quinn in that situation.

I don't know if if has any bearing on the outcome of the game, but you retake the lead and put the Eagles in a different position. Maybe Barkley still runs all over them down the stretch, but it's also possible they throw the ball more and Hurts wasn't his normal self tonight either. So maybe it's different, who knows. What I do know is that was a terrible coaching sequence by Quinn.

 

[Voice_of_Reason]

Sometimes, it's a matter of allowing plays that truly shouldn't be happening. This D has been excellent in allowing "That one big play" even if they have improved their points against. We won against the Bears, but it really should have been a shutout or no TDs for the Bears. That run given up to Swift is an exploit that has existed for years. We let Russ hit bombs. Nothing different from the past years. This game, Saquon ate us, as he usually has. Even the anemic Giants actually have turned out some of their best offensive performances against us, and they are one of the worst Os in the league.

Technically, if not for the kicker, Elliot, having the yips, the D allowed a potential 30+ points tonight. Going over 30 points is irrefutably bad for a D regardless of the circumstances or excuses.

Eh. They forced the Eagles into a bunch of figgies, and yeah, it got away from them at the end. But the game was out of hand for the last TD.

I don't put this on the defense. They did their part. The offense could have gone up 2 possessions a number of times, and just didn't. Shrug.

I think they've been getting better and better. I also think Lattimore is going to be very helpful to the cause.

But we'll see.

 

[tshile]

I’ve been very critical of the defense this year. I still think they’re not good enough for us to go anywhere meaningful this year.

In fact - I find it baffling it took until the 4th quarter for the eagles to figure out they should run the ball. Well, except I think the only coach dumber than Siriani is Eberflues. So it actually tracks perfectly.

But the defense showed up tonight.

You can’t be putrid on offense then blame the defense for falling apart in the fourth quarter. This game was lost by the offense and the coaching staff. The defense did their job the best they could, with no help from the offense. This one isn’t on the defense.

 

[HOF44]

I agree and never thought I’d say that this year. O and D have switched positions.

 

[Gooseneck]

I am cautiously optimistic. Our defense really stepped up. I am thinking it is more likely to pick up a good cornerback and edge in free agency which would lead us to Offensive tackle and Wide receiver in the draft. Offensive tackles usually not available in FA. A stud offensive tackle moves Whiley to back up RT and guard if we decide to keep him. (I don't think we have the salary cap hit next year on him as we did this year.) In year one of the rebuild, I think we get to the playoffs. (Not sure what the right spelling is for that from Extreme; something like palyoffs or now). We are playing on house money this year and not doing badly at all. Mike Sainristil looks great and if Lattimore returns to form we are looking good.

 

[tshile]

Technically, if not for the kicker, Elliot, having the yips, the D allowed a potential 30+ points tonight. Going over 30 points is irrefutably bad for a D regardless of the circumstances or excuses.

Ok. This is a good point I forgot about. Maybe I’m a bit over the top on praising the defense tonight. The eagles kicker was our best player tonight.

But yes I’ve been saying it all year - we give up 30+ points to any offense that’s worth a crap. By definition that’s a bad defense.

 

[HOF28]

Thought the defense played well. Almost got a turnover too might have changed the game. Still need pieces but everyone knew that heading into the season.

Offensively not sure what to make but they’ve carried the team all year. I think JD hasn’t been the same since the injury however
tonight was especially bad. He looked like a rookie which was inevitable I guess but still disappointing. KK has the rep of underperforming after week 10 looking like that might be a thing.

I hate losing but team is still way ahead of what I thought they’d be. I’d like to see the offense back on track and finish the year out strong and come away with a franchise QB.

 

[SkinsNumberOne]

He was SO good getting the ball out early in the season, I'm not sure what's going on now.

I kidnof think what's going on now is the Eagles and Steelers are fantastic defenses and what was previously open is no longer open. Which, he hasn't seen before.

I think a lot of folks (not saying you) forget the guy is a rookie. He's WAY ahead of schedule. But he's a rookie. And he's seeing all this stuff for the first time.

It really isn't all that embarrassing to get thrown off your game by 2 of the best franchises in the NFL who have had solid defenses for decades.

Jayden is not playing at the same level - probably wear and tear as the season has worn on. He has felt the hits.

On the other side, too - the playcalling is honestly not helping him. They are not calling enough runs.

At one point today:
BRob: 16 rushes, 3.9ypc
Barkley: 24 rushes, 4.2ypc

This is the SAME thing that happened with the Steelers. They were having success running the ball. Not tons, but enough. By no means should they have been so pass-heavy in either of these games. Jayden's best games, and Commanders' best wins have been in games with a lot of balance.

Honestly these past two games are pretty much what I expected from Kliff all year. When they were winning, the playcalls had the flow, running and passing were so intermixed, defense didn't know what to expect. In my opinion, from what I can see here - he is not calling the same level of game he had been.