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Daily Slop – 24 Jan 25 – Long tunnel, bright light for Commanders players and fans

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The Players Tribune

Long F***ing Tunnel, Bright F***ing Light

written by Jeremy Reaves, S Washington Commanders

You know how sometimes something happens in life, and you’re fully in that moment, and then, out of nowhere, a big realization just hits you, clear as day?

That happened to me this past October.

Northwest Stadium. Our place. Against the Bears.

I’m sitting on the bench. Dejected. A few seconds left in the game. Down 3, with the ball, but on the wrong side of the field. And I’m pissed off. Our special teams unit hadn’t played up to our standard. So I’m sitting there replaying a bunch of moments in my head, fuming. Just lost in thought about all the things we’d messed up.

I didn’t even see the final play.

Didn’t see Jayden scramble around for what seemed like forever, didn’t see the ball in the air, or the ricochet. Nothing.

I just heard the crowd. The roar. Probably the loudest sound I’ve ever heard in my life.

Next thing I know, everyone’s running onto the field. So, without even really knowing what went down, I run out there, too.

We won? What? Howwww? Jayden did what? We’re 6–2?

Part of me didn’t even believe it. Like: Did this just really happen?

But then, after that, no lie, my mind immediately went to….

This changes everything.

And after being around this organization for seven years, I knew exactly how special it was, the meaning of it all. It was something people who love this team have been waiting for, dreaming of, for a very long time.

It felt important.

I remember I was the last person to leave the locker room that night. Last man out. Because I wanted to fully savor what had just gone down. Appreciate it.

It felt like Christmas morning.

We know the whole world doubted us in these playoffs, and that they still doubt us now. We’re fine with that. I mean, shoot … I’ve been doubted my entire life. So odds don’t bother me. I’m comfortable being doubted. We all are at this point. We know all about what it takes to prove people wrong.

Playing for you guys, after all that we’ve been through together, I can’t even tell you what an honor it is. I’m honestly happier right now for all of our fans than I am for myself. I mean, I’ve only been through a small portion of what some of you guys have been through. So many people have spent their entire lives cheering for this team, and have experienced more than their fair share of heartbreak. So when I run out there on the field, I’m not just playing for myself. I’m playing for all of our fans who have backed this team for 20-plus years, 50 years, even longer in some cases. We’re truly in it together, those of us who just kept on believing that there’s always a light at the end of the tunnel. Now, as we know all too well, sometimes that tunnel can be a very long f***ing tunnel. It might have lots of twists and turns, or steep inclines or whatever it may be. But there’s ultimately light at the end.

And the cool thing is, with this team, that light? Let’s just say it is shining very, very bright right now.

The Athletic (paywall)

Terry McLaurin, the Commanders’ ‘Transformer’ who’s deeply respected throughout Washington

While touchdown connections with rookie sensation Jayden Daniels have helped lift this moribund franchise out of the depths of football hell, McLaurin finds his high by creating deep personal relationships with teammates.

“I believe one part of the reason I’m on this earth is to make an impact on other people’s lives,” the wide receiver said at the latest Washington-area event organized by his charitable foundation.

This wasn’t said by a famous athlete looking for good-guy attention. McLaurin grew up in Indianapolis and was raised by parents who valued helping others through volunteer work and hosting annual Christmas parties for family, friends and community members.

“You can’t save everybody. Even if you can only save a few, you can change the world,” Terry McLaurin Sr. said. “You can make the world a better place. He has a platform that can touch a lot of people. Saying the right words to them — sometimes all a person needs is a few minutes.”

The Commanders’ fan base needed more than a sincere “hang in there” or an hour of therapy after over two decades of football embarrassment. McLaurin’s play on the field and humanity off it became the light those fans in the dark or teammates in need gravitated toward in recent years.

McLaurin tries to present an “open-door environment with all of my teammates.” This is not a one-size-fits-all dialogue.

Commanders.com

Practice notes | Kingsbury has high praise for Jalen Carter: ‘one of the most dominant players in the league’

Jalen Carter has been a terror for offenses this season, earning his first-round status from last season by putting up 42 tackles with 4.5 sacks, 16 quarterback hits and two forced fumbles. You’ll find other defensive tackles with more impressive stats, but the former Georgia Bulldog’s impact is about more than packing the box score. According to Pro Football Focus, he’s the fourth-best pass-rusher for his position and brought the third-most pressures on quarterbacks this season. The two players ahead of him: Zach Allen and Chris Jones.

Carter was a problem for the Washington Commanders in both their matchups with the Eagles in the regular season, and the team knows that will be the case in the NFC Championship as well. Offensive coordinator Kliff Kingsbury had high praise and respect for Carter, who had 10 combined tackles in Weeks 11 and 16.

The Commanders are still figuring out who will be charged with blocking Carter this weekend. Sam Cosmi’s ACL injury he sustained against the Detroit Lions means the right guard position is in flux. Trent Scott replaced Cosmi in the Commanders’ 45-31 win over the Eagles and played well in the matchup, allowing zero total pressures and recording the best pass-blocking grade among all the Commanders’ offensive linemen.

But the Commanders have other options to consider. Michael Deiter has played center for most of his time in Washington but also has experience at guard. They could also bump Andrew Wylie down to guard and put Cornelius Lucas at right tackle.

Whatever player the Commanders choose will have a tough challenge against Carter, but it won’t be on one person to account for the second-year pro. It will take all five of Washington’s offensive line to account for him.

Washington Post (paywall)

Commanders vs. Eagles analysis: Here’s what Washington must do to win

The NFC championship game in Philadelphia could come down to which team can better scheme its stars to make big plays.

The Eagles may have the more talented roster outside of quarterback, and they will have a significant advantage by playing at home, in one of the league’s more hostile environments.

But something has been off with the Eagles’ passing game for weeks, and to have a chance to beat a Washington team that put up 45 points in Detroit, Philadelphia needs to fix it, stat. Jalen Hurts had only 65 net passing yards and took seven sacks for a loss of 63 yards in the Eagles’ divisional-round win over the Los Angeles Rams last weekend. His top receiver, A.J. Brown, has caught only three of 10 targets in the postseason, with none going more than 10 yards.

Hurts’s health — he injured his knee against the Rams — could determine the effectiveness of the Eagles’ passing game.

Officials

Remember the clock debacle in New Orleans in Week 15? During the Saints’ final drive, the clock stopped at nine seconds when it should have kept running. The error gave the Saints an extra four seconds or so to spike the ball and get a touchdown before time expired, setting up a chance for them to win it.

Referee Shawn Hochuli said in a pool report after that game “the covering official mistakenly stopped the clock at nine seconds, and it is not reviewable.” But had Hochuli actually noticed the clock error, he could have corrected it. (His father, former referee Ed Hochuli, did so during a New York Jets-New England Patriots game in 2010 and explained thoroughly on the field.)

This is a long-winded way of saying Shawn Hochuli will be officiating Sunday’s game in Philadelphia. Buckle up.

NFL.com

Commanders DC Joe Whitt: If Jalen Hurts runs, ‘we’re going to treat him like a running back’

Commanders defensive coordinator Joe Whitt told reporters on Thursday that his players plan to treat the Philadelphia Eagles QB like a running back when he uses his legs.

“We’ve had a number of these guys that we’ve had to prepare for,” Whitt said. “The one thing is, is if he’s going to run the ball, and if the coordinator makes the decision for him to run the ball, we’re going to treat him like a running back, and we’re going to hit him that way. So that’s their decision if they want to get him hit the way he gets hit. If they don’t, they’ll keep him in the pocket.”

Hurts rushed 10 times for 39 yards and a TD in the Eagles’ Week 11 win over Washington — 18-of-28 passing for 221 yards. In the Week 16 matchup, Hurts suffered a concussion on a scramble and did not return.

The QB was updgraded to a full participant on Thursday after he was listed as limited on Wednesday during a walkthrough practice.

Yardbarker

‘You have to be a little bit crazy to be here’: Commanders believe they’re hunters, not prey

Quinn’s temperament tends to soften when he talks to his Generation Z players. The old-school yelling by coaches in the past has been replaced by encouragement. Still, “To Tell The Truth” film sessions on Mondays set the standards for brutal midweek practices with honesty.

The intense demeanor hasn’t been radically altered just because the winner of this game will advance to the Super Bowl.

“I personally don’t feel a difference,” quarterback Jayden Daniels said. “[Coaches] been doing a real good job and I think just as players and vets that been in this position, stuff like that, you kind of just lean on them to ask questions and everybody says, you know, keep the main thing the main thing. Obviously it’s the final four, you should say. And you know, there’s gonna be a lot more eyes on on these teams, so you could get outta whack, you could listen to the media, stuff like that. But, if you keep your same routine, stay consistent, it will work out.”

After all, the Commanders know they’re no longer underdogs despite the betting line. In their hearts, they’re hunters, not prey.

ESPN

Commanders lock in on Eagles’ Barkley ahead of NFC championship

In two games versus Washington, Barkley ran for a combined 296 yards and four touchdowns. But there was a wide disparity in his runs: Of his 55 runs, 26 gained 2 yards or fewer. But he also added three carries for 130 yards and three touchdowns.

After Washington held him to 70 yards on 20 carries entering the fourth quarter, Barkley gained 90 yards on 11 carries in the fourth — two of which resulted in touchdowns. In the second meeting, Barkley rushed for 123 yards and two touchdowns in the first half, with one score from 68 yards. But the Commanders held him to 27 yards on 16 carries in the second half.

“It’s the explosive plays that he can create,” Quinn said. “He’s also got rare change of direction. He has this quickness of a smaller back and the size of a big back. It’s an unusual combination, but it’s not the size alone of this guy that is so powerful. It’s both.”

Barkley rushed for 2,005 yards during the regular season and was in MVP consideration all year. Then, in a 28-22 win over the Los Angeles Rams in the divisional round of the playoffs, Barkley rushed 26 times for 205 yards and two touchdowns.


If Hurts struggles because of his knee injury sustained against the Rams, it could help Washington focus more on Barkley. However, the Commanders are counting on facing an effective Hurts and receivers such as DeVonta Smith and A.J. Brown. All of this behind a line considered by many to be the NFL’s best.

Commanders.com

Jayden Daniels named finalist for OROY; Dan Quinn named finalist for COY

Washington Commanders quarterback Jayden Daniels and head coach Dan Quinn were named as finalists for the Associated Press Offensive Rookie of the Year and Coach of the Year.

Daniels, the No. 2 overall pick in the 2024 NFL Draft, has put together a rookie season unlike any other in NFL history by leading his team to a 12-5 regular season finish. He has the Commanders in their first NFC Championship since 1991. He’s already earned multiple accolades this season, including the Offensive Rookie of the Year award from the Pro Football Writers of America.

Quinn, hired by the Commanders last February, turned a Commanders team that was 4-13 in 2023 into a championship contender in his first season. In one of the most drastic turnarounds in recent memory, the Commanders are 14-5, including the playoff wins against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and Detroit Lions, and one game away from competing in their first Super Bowl in over three decades.

Quinn has injected a culture built on competition, brotherhood, teamwork and accountability. Players hold each other accountable and strive to improve each day. He brought in veterans like Bobby Wagner, Zach Ertz and Austin Ekeler to lead a young, talented team. While there is still work to be done on the roster, the players’ belief in each other propelled the Burgundy & Gold to its first winning season in almost a decade. The Commanders also notched double-digit wins for the first time since 2012.

The Athletic (paywall)

Commanders (and 76ers) owner Josh Harris knows what awaits him in Philadelphia

“Look, I think it’s going to be hard. Philly fans are passionate about their team,” Harris said from a hotel room in Toronto, where his businesses had taken him earlier this week.

“For me, or anyone else, playing in Philly in the NFC Championship Game and seeing their passion for their team, is tremendous,” he continued. “They make it hard on the opposing teams, and they make it hard on everyone. Yes, I have an extra special place in that.

“But I think no matter who you are, if you come in and you’re playing in Philly, and you’re playing the Eagles, and you’re playing against that team, with those fans, they’re going to make it hard on you. So we’re all going in knowing that. But listen, when I went to Detroit, you couldn’t even hear. It was so loud. … I was thinking, ‘How does Jayden (Daniels), how is the offense going to function?’ And they just powered through it.

“Our team seems to be able to handle these situations. We play well on the road. … I just have faith that we’re going to go in and do what we have to do. That’s what I’m expecting and hoping for, and I fully expect Philly to unleash on all of us.”

Front Office Sports

Commanders Aren’t Helping Josh Harris’s Image in Philly

“Philly fans are parochial and they’re loyal and they feel that if you own a team here that that should be your priority and that should be your focus,” said Kevin Kinkead, editor of the Philly-based “Crossing Broad” sports blog. “You’re talking about an Eagles rival in the NFC championship game. The stakes don’t get any higher.”

Harris’s estimated net worth (more than $11 billion) is more than the net worths of Eagles owner Jeffrey Lurie and Phillies owner John Middleton combined. But Harris hasn’t secured the brotherly love that area fans hold for Lurie and Middleton.

“He is easily the most unpopular owner,” said Eliot Shorr-Parks, the Eagles beat reporter for Philly’s SportsRadio 94WIP. “I think it’s a combination of the Sixers’ perceived lack of success and him not being super charismatic when he talks.”

Harris will be at Lincoln Financial Field on Sunday, and he’s likely to be as visible on the field as he was in the Commanders’ road playoff wins in Tampa Bay and Detroit.

“I think he’ll get booed heavily on Sunday and probably at the next Sixers game,” Shorr-Parks said.

Upcoming opponent

Bleeding Green Nation

Fortune favors the Bold

If we break the season, including playoffs, into quarters (excluding the final week which was meaningless for the Eagles), we see that Quinn hasn’t been shy lately, while Sirianni has gotten conservative.


Field goals are not going to beat the Commanders. They didn’t in December with Kenny Pickett at QB, and if Jalen Hurts can’t run there isn’t much of a difference between the two QBs.

On the one hand, if Hurts isn’t full go with his knee or finger, that could easily push Sirianni to stay conservative. But on the other hand, Jake Elliott’s struggles might be a benefit here and force Sirianni to get aggressive. And any struggles by Hurts would also be a reason to go for it. In December, the Eagles had a 4th and 5 from the Commanders’ 6 yard line, up 21-14. Sirianni should have kept his offense on the field, but he kicked a FG instead.

The Eagles have several advantages over the Commanders. None of them may matter if one coach is a cowardly disadvantage and the other is an aggressive advantage.

Hogs Haven

NFC Championship Edition: Five Questions with Bleeding Green Nation

Things don’t get any easier as Washington faces the NFL’s top defense one week after facing the NFL’s top offense in another win-or-go-home game

What offenses and defenses have had success against the Eagles since their bye and how did they do it?

OFFENSES: Well, certainly the Commanders in Week 16 since they had 368 yards and 36 points. Washington was more aggressive than other teams have been in terms of taking downfield shots against the Eagles. The Rams also just had some success in this regard in the Divisional Round. The Eagles’ cornerbacks didn’t even have bad coverage in those situations … but they did lose battles at the catch point. I expect Daniels to take more deep shots this weekend. The Panthers also had a ball-control approach working for them by consistently staying ahead of schedule with runs to set up manageable third downs.

DEFENSES: The Eagles’ passing game just hasn’t been great this season … and especially not lately. And that’s a big reason they ride Saquon Barkley so much. The Commanders did a good job of keeping Barkley in check after Hurts suffered a concussion in Week 16. They were able to really focus on the running back and win their battles in the trenches. It could be similar approach for them this weekend with the Commanders potentially not needing to respect Hurts’ mobility. Still, slowing down Barkley is easier said than done. And it’s not as simple as loading the box because that can leave you vulnerable to him breaking through for long touchdown runs, like did against the Rams. The teams that have been more successful stopping Barkley since the bye have also been more susceptible to allowing more Eagles passing success (such as the Pittsburgh Steelers in Week 15).

Athlon Sports

What’s Wrong With Jalen Hurts and the Eagles’ Passing Game?

Jalen Hurts may find himself in a shootout in the NFC Championship Game. Why has the Eagles’ passing game regressed to the point where that’s a real problem?

[There is a] lack of complexity you see in the Eagles’ passing game, when you do see it. There’s not a ton of pre-snap motion (that’s in part because head coach Nick Sirianni has never been a fan), and when there is, it’s not the kind of stuff that will have defenses on their heels from the snap. The route concepts are more rudimentary than advanced, and overall, you don’t see a lot of stuff that advances designed openings.

In Philadelphia’s 28-22 wild-card win over the Los Angeles Rams, Hurts was sacked seven times, and with his 129 passing yards, that added up (or subtracted down) to 65 net passing yards.

[Offensive coordinator Kellen Moore said,] “I thought we protected the football. We made some plays in some situational football when we needed to and gave ourselves a chance to win.”

When Moore talks about protecting the football, and there are that many sacks and pressures, it may imply that Hurts has been told to avoid throwing anything he doesn’t see clearly, and in which he’s not completely confident.

Hurts has taken 47 sacks this season, the seventh-highest total in the NFL. Which is a bit odd given the Eagles’ outstanding offensive line. When you look at the tape, the schism is easily solved. Hurts is a slow processor through his reads, and that compresses his time in the pocket, because there are wasted milliseconds in which Hurts is working through to his second, third, and fourth receivers

Coming into this game, Hurts is dealing with the knee injury he suffered in the Rams game, and that could obviously limit his mobility. So, there’s a scenario playing out where the Eagles have to rely on Hurts the passer to advance. That would seem to require Hurts to get back on the same page with his receivers, excel in the timing and structure of the play, and avoid getting in a deep freeze when things aren’t looking the way they’re supposed to look.

That’s a pretty tall order right now.

Podcasts & videos

Commanders vs. Eagles Crossover: NFC Championship Game Storylines, Key Matchups, and Injury Impacts

No Brotherly Love for Philly in NFC Playoff Matchup | Command Center | Washington Commanders | NFL

Charles Mann On Jayden Daniels: “We May Be Watching The Next Michael Jordan” | Grant & Danny