The Washington Commanders host the Philadelphia Eagles in a divisional matchup at Northwest Stadium in Landover, Maryland on Sunday. It will be a tough test for the Commanders, who really need to win to keep the playoffs within reach.
Winning won’t be easy, though, as the Eagles have soared behind Saquon Barkley and haven’t lost since Week 4. They sit solidly atop the NFC East and already defeated the Commanders once this year.
For their part, the Commanders have won their last two games, barely squeaking by the New Orleans Saints in Week 15. The team has plateaued in recent weeks, and if something doesn’t change, their season will be shorter than they’d like.
Still, the Commanders have plenty of talent and opportunities to keep their season going. There are three reasons for optimism heading into Week 16.
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It’s a home game
It may not seem like much, but playing in front of your home crowd after getting to sleep in your own bed makes a huge difference. No, Philly isn’t that far away, but those guys will still have to travel and sleep in a hotel. The Commanders had to travel right after their bye week, which likely played a role in allowing the Saints to come back last week. But they’re back home now and ready to defend their territory from a division rival and keep their playoff hopes alive while doing it.
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There’s a lot of fight in this team
One thing you can say about the Commanders this season is that even when they are down, you never see them give up. They continue to fight and push and do whatever they can to move the ball or stop the other team, depending on which side of the ball they’re on. No one gives up; no one stops playing—effort matters, especially in a division game with playoff implications. Look for the Commanders to buckle down and hold their ground on Sunday. Whether they are effective remains to be seen, but if they put forth 100% effort and keep fighting until the end, they’ll make Philadelphia’s life so much harder.
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The defense is healthy
It might not seem like much, but the defense has struggled all season, so having everyone healthy (save the guys on IR) is huge. Yes, Jeremy Chinn is in concussion protocol, but everyone else is good to go as of right now. When you’re talking about defending Jalen Hurts, A.J. Brown, and Saquon Barkley, having your defense healthy is a big deal. The Eagles have a dynamic offense capable of doing many different things, but the Commanders have plenty of personnel to pull from this week, which will make their efforts more successful.