Birds want to ‘handle business’
Upcoming trade deadline underscoring rematch
LANDOVER, Md. — The trade deadline is Tuesday, and there are a ton of rumors swirling around the Eagles and the Washington Commanders, who play Sunday at FedEx Field (1 p.m., Fox TV, WIP-94.1-FM).
The Eagles are supposedly hot on the trail of cornerback Patrick Surtain II of the Denver Broncos. Several teams have inquired about Commanders pass rusher Chase Young, who has 5.0 sacks.
That unrest adds intrigue to a game the Eagles are expected to win, particularly after the Commanders lost two more starters to injury in a horrific 14-7 loss last week to the formerly freefalling New York Giants.
The Eagles (6-1) obviously don’t see it that way, as they dodged a bullet a few weeks ago when they needed overtime to defeat the Commanders (3-4), who had a chance to win late in regulation but kicked the extra point and went to overtime instead of going for two points and the win.
“It’s a division game,” Eagles veteran cornerback James Bradberry said. “I think that’s motivation within itself for us to go out there and perform. We know it’s a big game. It means a lot to the record but also to us as Philadelphia Eagles. We want to go out there and handle business. And I expect [the Commanders] any time they play a division opponent to bring their A game. It’s going to be a big game.”
In a nutshell, the Commanders have a tough time protecting quarterback Sam Howell while the Eagles have ramped up their pass rush with Josh Sweat and Haason Reddick, who with 5.5 sacks each are on pace for 13 sack seasons. Commanders receivers Terry McLaurin, Jahan Datson and Curtis Samuel were unable to get involved last week due to the pass rush.
At the same time Eagles quarterback Jalen Hurts is coming off a solid performance in a convincing win over the Miami Dolphins except for two turnovers. Hurts threw for two touchdowns and rushed for another. With 11 giveaways this season, including eight interceptions, Hurts has more turnovers than any quarterback except Desmond Ridder of Atlanta (also 11).
The Eagles are minus-2 in turnover differential.
The Commanders have one more takeaway than the Eagles, who have had just one in the last 17 quarters, and are minus-1 in turnover ratio.
“They’re well coached and they have an amazing front seven,” Hurts said. “That D-line group is the best of the best. We’ve just got to go out there, and execute, eliminate negative plays, and go out there and play clean football. You talk about what it takes, it just takes great execution, and it takes everybody communicating and being on the same page, and that’s a continued process. It’s always going to be a continued process.”
The Commanders will be without the services of left guard Saahdiq Charles and middle linebacker Cody Barton, which softens them in the middle. Offensive coordinator Eric Bienemy, who used a Chiefs game plan in the first meeting with the Eagles, will be hardpressed to attack them that way now, with injuries taking their toll.
At least one of the Commanders may have doubts about his future. With 5.0 sacks, Young would be an attractive pickup.
Given the the buzz surrounding an Eagles blockbuster deal for Surtain, considered by some players to be the best cornerback in the league, there could be a ripple effect on the defense. It’s probably going to take two first-round picks for a successful team likely picking low in the draft to get Surtain.
Either way, head coach Nick Siriani is 4-1 versus the Commanders and 11-3 against the NFC East. Only the Dallas Cowboys are in the way of Sirianni becoming the first head coach since Andy Reid to win consecutive divisional pennants. Reid guided the Eagles to four in a row from 2001-04. Right now the Commanders are in the way.
“They believe that they can get it done, too, because of what happened last game,” Eagles veteran Brandon Graham said. “But it could go either way. We’ve just got to make sure we leave the last game with the last game. It’s hard to play teams twice on their part and our part, so it’s about who carries out the game plan at the end of the day.”