Official Game Thread - Week 18 - Commanders @ Eagles

[clskinsfan]

You mean the Eagles, who have had one of the best GMs in place for almost a decade have a more established, proven roster than the Commanders, who were run by the worst owner in the history of the sport; driven further into the ground by a Coach-GM that possibly has CTE, and have had just 2 years to begin to build the roster and recover from decades of neglect?

Get right out of town! This is a stunning, startling revelation, let me tell you.

We won 5 games this season man. And at one point lost 5 in a row by more than 21 points. This team wasnt just bad. It was historically bad. When you are setting records in futility there isnt a lot to be excited about. I know a lot of you guys are all in on Peters. I'm not. Because frankly this season weas just as bad as any in the past 35 years.

 

[Riggo44]

I don't see any purpose in arguing whether the Eagles third corner or third quarterback is really that reliable

McKee is their primary back up. If Hurts, who is also terrible, goes down, how much hope do they have? He got outplayed by Josh Johnson...

Kelee Ringo and Jackorian Bennett were both expected to be the top corner opposite Quinyon Mitchell, with Cooper deJean in the slot. They're both horrible. Ringo made an atrocious read on Johnson's TD run that was so bad, if I am an Eagles fan, I can only hope he was told to let them score. That matters.

Their offensive line depth is highly questionable too. They had a hard time keeping our 4th and 5th sting DEs from pressuring McKee (who really sucks). So, yes there is information to be gleaned from this game. The fact they've had the fewest game lost to starters this year, seeing these players on the field was less than impressive. So while the game itself doesn't matter, there is information gathered and I am less than impressed with the Eagles supposed depth.

 

[Bulldog]

OK, but more importantly are we impressed by the Washington players we are seeing?

The Eagles keep getting 10 or 11 wins or more even when their team is inconsistent, I don't find much value in evaluating them position by position.

Perhaps with a number of starters sitting the game out the rest of the team took a mental vacation and weren't sharp in their assignments against Washington whereas they might have been IF the game had been a playoffs or out type of game for them.

I am far more interested in Treylon Burks, Drake Jackson, Bill Merritt, Jordan Magee and the future of the YOUNGER players on this roster and seeing what WE do.

The promising part for me is that Peters did aggressively go out and sign Burks and Jackson during the season, knowing their contributions are likely to come in 2026.

That's a good sign we are looking ahead instead of simply staring at the dumpster fire that is and was 2025.

It also may be a sign we are now getting around to DEVELOPING players and giving a guy like Jackson reps as the depth DE rather than 31 or 32 year old guys we pick up on waivers or in the offseason who are mostly done in the NFL.

 

[Riggo44]

We won 5 games this season man. And at one point lost 5 in a row by more than 21 points. This team wasnt just bad. It was historically bad. When you are setting records in futility there isnt a lot to be excited about. I know a lot of you guys are all in on Peters. I'm not. Because frankly this season weas just as bad as any in the past 35 years.

No kidding. They also lead the league in games missed by starters--as well as more games by significant back ups. I know people just want to dismiss that and fire everyone and just say "oh we suck" but there's context to it. Likewise, after Quinn took over the playcalling on defense, we had one such loss to the Vikings, which was a horrible game all around. However, the Vikings also went on to win their final 5 games, including eliminating the Lions from the playoffs. So, again, context.

And I will continue to say that anything prior to July 2023 no longer applies to this team. It's irrelevant.

That said, Peters does have work to do--he absolutely dropped the ball in free agency last year. He need to go add a dynamic receiver, pass rusher, CB in free agency, at least. The options of DE/EDGE aren't great there, so if he goes out and improves CB, WE, maybe TE that would be significant. 2024 he did a very good job in FA.

 

[Bulldog]

All of that is true. But what is also true is that many of the players who are on IR and out for the season are 30 year old plus veterans that came to DC after being released by other clubs and who were working on low value deals.

We are not talking about losing guys on the DL, secondary or wide receiver that were pro bowl caliber performers for the most part.

The fact we entered the season giving carries to Ekeler from scrimmage given his age and injury history was a head scratcher.

 

[Faithful Fan]

You're seriously overrating the Eagles. Their starting defense is legit, but not without holes; their offense sucks. It sucks. Their depth isn't as great as one would think it is.

Tucker pointed out on the broadcast that they lost 23 (I think) man games to starters this year: lowest in the NFL. They were never really tested.

They are less likely to have the injuries we just did because their roster is built better but if they did, and it is possible, I believe they could lose the fragile chemistry they possess.
Two years ago they completely collapsed down the stretch and it had nothing to do with injuries.

The eagles are good and they have a well built roster but they dont have dynasty like chemistry, its fragile and inconsistent.

I hope you’re right. I’m so tired of them being good.

 

[Riggo44]

We are not talking about losing guys on the DL, secondary or wide receiver that were pro bowl caliber performers for the most part.

You can't possibly be serious with this statement. The pass rush win rates dropped off a cliff after Armstrong went out. He was having a pro-bowl year. Jayden Daniels finished three games. McLaurin is a pro bowler, missed half the season. Amos might not have been a pro bowler, but his loss was significant. Likewise, the loss of pass rush from Armstrong lead to Luvu being put in a EDGE pass rusher that's not his strong suit. LMC was leading the league in kick returns when he got hurt, and was starting to develop and serve as a nice deep threat. Layne was a dynamic punt returner, maybe not a pro-bowler, but still a significant contributor.

 

[Bulldog]

I hope you’re right. I’m so tired of them being good.

I recall in the 1980's Jimmy the Greek called Joe Gibbs and the Washington Redskins victory in Super Bowl 17 a fluke and predicted that Dallas would regain control of the NFC East in 1983 and moving forward.

There are always critics. But instead of their words, I look to see what the records show. Who wins the division? Who wins the Super Bowl? Who gets to the Super Bowl?

And as Joe Gibbs once said - DURABILITY is one of the 'abilities' he and the coaches looked for in players to bring to the team. If guys consistently ended up on IR they were gone.

 

[Riggo44]

I hope you’re right. I’m so tired of them being good.

Their future cap makes Dallas' look manageable. In 2029 Hurts has a $94m void year. The only way out of that is to either extend him or trade him. The way he is regressing, neither are palatable. He is locked in as their starter for the next 3 years. He isn't good.

 

[heisenberg]

We won 5 games this season man. And at one point lost 5 in a row by more than 21 points. This team wasnt just bad. It was historically bad. When you are setting records in futility there isnt a lot to be excited about. I know a lot of you guys are all in on Peters. I'm not. Because frankly this season weas just as bad as any in the past 35 years.

For me the jury is still out on peters, I just dont think he's had anywhere near enough time for a full judgement.
The early results are mixed for sure but you gotta give a first time gm a chance to grow into his position and that includes allowing for the possibility of some serious early mistakes.

On a slightly separate note I do find one thing at least a little ironic.
There are several people who like quinn and think last year bought him a pass on a terrible season like this one and a lot of those people also glow about Howie roseman who fired Doug Pederson after a 4 win season despite the 3 years before that all being playoff seasons and one being a superbowl championship.
It turns out they were right, pederson failed in Jacksonville and the eagles have been a perennial contender.
All that is to say I dont see any reason why it would be impulsive to sit down with your defensive minded head coach and demand a damned good plan to fix your atrocious defense or move in a different direction like eagles did with pederson because his offense sucked.

There's a fine line between impulsive and proactive but quinns lousy defense two years in a row warrants consideration to be proactive.

Just my opinion.

 

[Riggo44]

All that is to say I dont see any reason why it would be impulsive to sit down with your defensive minded head coach and demand a damned good plan to fix your atrocious defense

Yes, because they sat around and smelled their own farts, and made no changes to defense at all this year.

 

[Bulldog]

So, now back to the Commanders. How do we get younger and more dynamic outside at WR, get better speed and push at DE and acquire safeties that can cover and make tackles in the open field?

I like looking at other teams and I do make fun of Dallas when I run into Cowboys fans on account of Jerry Jones and his ridiculous antics, but really I am trying to focus on the 2026 Commanders.

Wise, Ekeler, Ertz, Brown, Lattimore, etc. These are all 30 plus year old guys that are in decline from their prime years and while ending up on IR decisions need to be made at these positions for 2026.

 

[Riggo44]

So, now back to the Commanders. How do we get younger and more dynamic outside at WR, get better speed and push at DE and acquire safeties that can cover and make tackles in the open field?

Take a look at the Draft and Free Agent threads. Lots of discussion there.

 

[SkinsNumberOne]

The fact we entered the season giving carries to Ekeler from scrimmage given his age and injury history was a head scratcher.

I think some of the blame on AP is at least potentially misdirected.

We don't know how assertive AP has been in terms of personnel decisions and direction, but there are plenty of early signs that he is highly collaborative. Depending on how that goes, it could be good and it could be bad. It depends on the people involves and the type/level of collaboration.

He may have gone to KK (and I think he did), and asked him to rank the positions where they needed to upgrade or he may have given him some different scenarios and asked for KK's input. Long story short, offensive and defensive personnel decisions and direction don't fall completely on AP - in fact, we don't know the breakdown on who should shoulder responsibility for some of the decisions.

The Ekeler thing is more understandable if scheme success had really good alternatives to him (ones we could be confident in working). I am not saying they did or didn't, but if they believed they had solid backup plans, then it arguably makes sense.

 

[Bulldog]

Take a look at the Draft and Free Agent threads. Lots of discussion there.

I still think a look at games from the perspective of the Commanders future and player roster is more fruitful than railing about the hoped for demise of the Eagles.

 

[Chris]

SkinsNumberOne I don’t necessarily buy that.

Getting input is aok. But, AP should have a vision for the franchise into the future. As the top dog the onus falls on him.

 

[Bulldog]

Agree. The GM is about the present AND future, the offensive coordinator is all about TODAY.

That's one reason you can depend upon Kingsbury even if he stays to protect Daniels and adapt his scheme.

He's going to do what's best for HIM in 2026 once the season comes.

If Quinn and Peters aren't smart enough to monitor that and take action where necessary that's on the organization.

 

[SkinsNumberOne]

SkinsNumberOne I don’t necessarily buy that.

Getting input is aok. But, AP should have a vision for the franchise into the future. As the top dog the onus falls on him.

I agree.

Whether he gets input or not, how he chooses to digest input is on him. It's his call.

I think he should be getting a much better read, himself, and have more of his own opinions at this point. I could see, early on (these first two years), leaning on the coordinators in particular for their reads on the players. At this point he should have a lot more of his own opinions built up though, and perhaps he will also as a result have a better idea on whether his coordinators are evaluating the players well or not (which would inform how much he heeds their personnel opinions).

As Conn has pointed out multiple times, it's a different skillset. Xs and Os (including to utilizing the players you have and maximizing their potential) vs personnel evaluation (factoring in injury likelihood, skill, and other factors), these are not the same things.

 

[Bulldog]

I think we will have a good read on Peters when we see what he does with Daron Payne.

This a polarizing player with a big contract and cap number for 2026. We can extend him (which I don't advise) or we can trade him or make him play out his contract.

This will be a defining moment for the GM. Outside of one contract season Payne has never produced the kind of numbers expected vis a vis the cap hit.

 

[Chris]

No one player alone is ever going to be a defining moment (outside of QB) for any GM.