The 9-5 Commanders host the 12-2 Eagles this week. The Birds can clinch the NFC East with a victory.
Here's what our On Pattison staffers believe will happen Sunday afternoon:
Tim Kelly
Score: Eagles 27 - Commanders 23
Game MVP: A.J. Brown
Eventually, the Eagles will probably lose a game again. And the 9-5 Commanders probably need this one more than the Eagles, who will be in the playoffs regardless of their seed.
But picking against the Eagles hasn’t worked out well for me this season. I also believe Jalen Hurts did a much better job a week ago getting the ball into the hands of A.J. Brown and DeVonta Smith, which is something that needed to happen.
This will be a close game, but I’m leaning Eagles.
Landon Dickerson's pregame speeches have us ready to RUN THROUGH WALLS 🔥@Landon_2012 | #ProBowlVote pic.twitter.com/DhddXt0Qno
Anthony SanFilippo
Score: Eagles 24, Commanders 19
Game MVP: Quinyon Mitchell
Washington has a lot to play for, so they will keep it close, but the Eagles might have more to play for - namely, a shot at a No. 1 seed. To make that a reality, they have to take away Jayden Daniels’ top target - Terry McLaurin. And the guy who will do that - Quinyon Mitchell.
I expect a return to a Saquon Barkley-centric offense after the “look, everything’s fine between Jalen Hurts and A.J. Brown” love-fest last week, so I don’t see a shoot-out. But this is the last nailbiter of the season for the Birds.
Lane speaks on Jalen Carter’s impact on the Eagles defense this season 🦅 pic.twitter.com/9JKS9amLUf
John Foley
Score: Eagles 30 - Commanders 20
Game MVP: Saquon Barkley
The best arguments to pick the Commanders this week are all cliches. "It's a division rivalry, throw out everything you know about these teams." "Eagles have to lose sooner or later." "The Commanders need it more." "Any given Sunday."
And while there's some truth to all of those lines, I'll just go with the better team.
The Eagles are a juggernaut right now and it's going to take something special to knock them off course. The Commanders are a good team, a playoff team. But they're not special enough to do what the Ravens and Steelers couldn't.
Washington's run defense allows 132 yards per game, and Saquon Barkley gashed them for 146 yards and two touchdowns earlier this season. Expect more of the same this time.
Saquon Barkley needs 312 rushing yards to reach 2,000 for the season. His remaining games:
▪️ WAS (a)
▪️ DAL (h)
▪️ NYG (h)
Will he do it? pic.twitter.com/GC7ct7YTtZ
Austin Krell
Score: Eagles 28 - Commanders 17
Game MVP: DeVonta Smith
I’m just eager to see who brings us the sideline report and are they wearing a fur coat?
LEGENDARY: #Eagles QB Jalen Hurts can become the 2nd quarterback in #NFL history with a passing touchdown and a rushing touchdown in 10 games in a season.
🤯
Hurts will join Josh Allen as the only player to ever do this. pic.twitter.com/IoYGeq2IFa
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