The one area the Commanders are actually really good

They’re not superb at many issues. They’re superb at one.

The Washington Commanders are twenty seventh in move protection, twentieth in passing offense, twenty fifth working the ball, twenty sixth in turnover margin, twenty sixth in scoring.

However that defensive position is legit.

“They’re most likely the very best (we’ve confronted up to now),” Jason Kelce stated. “Their two inside guys (Daron Payne and Jonathan Allen) have been good for a very long time on this league, they’re bodily and so they’re athletic and so they’re sensible, that’s often a great mixture for a FB participant.

“(Edge) Montez Sweat might be taking part in higher than he’s performed ever. They’ve bought some actually, actually good gamers, little question about it.”

The Commanders have gained three of their final 4 video games after a 1-4 begin, however even throughout this four-game stretch they’re solely averaging 17.3 factors per recreation.

Taylor Heinicke has given the Commanders a carry since changing injured Carson Wentz, however when Washington wins, it’s usually due to its defensive entrance.

The Commanders total are ranked ninth by Professional Soccer Focus in pressuring the quarterback, and so they’re tenth in dashing yards allowed per recreation.

Washington is certainly one of solely two groups within the NFL – each within the NFC East – that has 5 gamers with a minimum of 3.0 sacks. The opposite is the Cowboys.

Payne (5.5 sacks) and Allen (4.5) are Washington’s sack leaders, and Sweat and linebackers Jamin Davis and Efe Obada have 3.0 every.

And that’s all with out Chase Younger, the second participant taken within the 2020 draft.

Younger hasn’t performed in a yr after struggling a torn ACL towards the Bucs final Nov. 14, however resumed training final week and will make his 2022 debut Monday evening towards the Eagles.

Younger had 7.5 sacks in 2020, most by any NFL rookie, and was named Defensive Rookie of the 12 months. He had 1.5 sacks towards the Eagles on opening day in his first NFL recreation and one other within the season finale towards the Eagles.

“We’re simply going to arrange like he is taking part in and simply hold watching the tape, see how he performs,” Jordan Mailata stated. 

“It is sort of exhausting as a result of he hasn’t performed in a very long time, however we respect the hell out of him. He’s a hell of a participant, very expert and so we have got to return and watch the movie, from the 2020 season and 2021 as effectively, earlier than he bought damage.”

Add Younger to Washington’s already imposing group of rushers, and also you see why the matchup between Washington’s defensive entrance and the Eagles’ offensive line goes to attract a lot consideration Monday evening.

The Eagles’ O-line is ranked fourth in move blocking by PFF, however largely due to the best way Jalen Hurts performs, they’ve allowed 22 sacks – ninth-most within the league.

Washington doesn’t have quite a lot of other ways of controlling a recreation. However once they win the matchup between their defensive entrance and the opposing offensive entrance, they’ll play with anybody.

“They’re actually good,” Eagles offensive coordinator Shane Steichen stated. “It begins with Allen, Payne, Sweat, after which clearly if Chase Younger comes again, it is a actually good group. They’re very highly effective inside. You have got good play energy up entrance. They’re good towards the run and so they can rush the passer. 

“I believe with any soccer workforce it begins up entrance with offensive and defensive traces, and that is how they set the tone defensively with their defensive position. And the great factor is we’ve an important offensive line to counter that that we be ok with, too. 

“We all know it will be a heck of a problem each week, particularly if you end up taking part in a division opponent. You get to play them twice a yr, in order that they learn about us, we learn about them, but it surely’s a problem that we’re wanting ahead to.”

Davis had two sacks and Obada one within the Eagles’ 24-8 win over Washington at FedEx Area again in Week 3.

In all, the Commanders had six QB hits, seven move knockdowns and 7 tackles for loss in that recreation, however Hurts was nonetheless superb, throwing for 340 yards with touchdowns to A.J. Brown, Dallas Goedert and DeVonta Smith.

“You’re all the time attempting to enhance,” Kelce stated. “We performed them, what, third week? In order that they’re persevering with to evolve and get higher as a workforce, as are we.

“There’s going to be familiarity as a result of we play them twice yearly and so they have some acquainted faces over there, however each workforce’s altering all through the season. So there’s going to be little nuances which are going to be completely different and also you’ve bought to be able to adapt.”

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