Washington vs. Philadelphia Prediction: Undefeated Eagles Go for Season Sweep of Commanders on MNF

Can the Eagles keep flying high over the Commanders' circus enveloping them off the field?

Author:
Tom Bowles
Updated:
Nov 14, 2022
Original:
Nov 12, 2022

Off the field, the best thing the Washington Commanders can do right now is escape the nation's capital to face the Philadelphia Eagles. In just the past 10 days alone…

- Owner Dan Snyder has announced he’s hired Bank of America to explore a sale of the team. Since then, everyone from Amazon guru Jeff Bezos to rapper Jay-Z has been rumored to become the future owner of the franchise.

- The D.C. attorney general announced the city is suing the team, accusing Snyder, the organization, and the entire NFL for colluding to deceive local residents surrounding their investigation into the Commanders’ toxic workplace culture. Despite accusations of harassment, assault and corruption, the AG alleged the Commanders quashed negative discoveries they learned from going public in order to maximize profit and keep fans attending games.

- The team, in responding, singled out running back Brian Robinso n Jr., hurt over the summer during an attempted robbery in D.C. “Less than three months ago, a 23-year-old player on our team was shot multiple times, in broad daylight,” the statement said, a tone-deaf potshot accusing the attorney general of focusing on the wrong priorities “despite the out-of-control violent crime” in the city. It’s caused players to voice public support for Robinson, anger spilling into the locker room as quarterback Taylor Heinicke explained, “It’s a little bit frustrating… it seems like every week, something pops up [with current ownership].”

Fleeing this black cloud, the Commanders find themselves running into the not-so-friendly confines of Lincoln Financial Field. Unfortunately, that’s where their problems transition on to the field; they’re facing the lone undefeated team left in the NFL.

Sitting at 8-0, the Eagles already have the equivalent of a two-game lead on home-field advantage throughout the playoffs. They’ve won nine of their last 11 against Washington, losing just once at home to them since 2016. And their meeting earlier this season was a total mismatch, a 24-0 Eagles rout until the fourth quarter when the game was no longer in doubt.

Related: Expert Picks for Every Week 10 NFL Game

That makes the Commanders a heavy underdog under the bright lights of "Monday Night Football." Is there any way they can come together and pull off the upset? Or are the Eagles destined to keep on rolling over a team in turmoil?

Monday Night Football: Washington (4-5) at Philadelphia (8-0)

Kickoff: Monday, Nov. 14 at 8:15 p.m. ET
TV: ESPN
Live Stream: fuboTV (Start your free trial)
Spread: Eagles -11
Tickets: As low as $127 on SITickets.com*

Three Things to Watch

1. Can the Eagles avoid playing down to their opponent?
In almost any major category, the Eagles are on a whole other level compared to the Commanders. Their point differential (+90) leads the NFC and trails only the Buffalo Bills, a trendy pick to be a potential Super Bowl opponent. Quarterback Jalen Hurts leads the NFC in passer rating; the defense leads the NFL with 18 takeaways.

The Eagles have been exceptional in all facets of the game. So why were they tied with the lowly Houston Texans, 14-14, at the half last Thursday night? The worst team in the league nearly beat the best before Philly finally put the game away in the fourth quarter.

It was a reminder, not only about the parity of this league, but how quickly it can all unravel.

“I’ve been 8-0 before and lost the national championship,” Hurts said after the game, reminiscing about his time as the Alabama starter back in college. “So, we just have to take it day by day. We haven’t accomplished anything yet. It’s a day-by-day thing of us controlling the things we can and playing to our standard and trying to grow every day.”

As the season progresses, the Eagles will find teams looking to take their best shot and knock off Goliath. That’s exhausting, bound to catch up with them as it has for all but one team in modern NFL history (here’s to you, 1972 Miami Dolphins!)

Notorious for being slow starters, the Eagles have been shut out during the first quarter in four of their eight games this season. Washington has to jump on them early, similar to what Jacksonville did in Week 3 at the Linc (14 quick points) in order to give themselves a chance.

2. How much will Heinicke provide a spark?
The biggest difference between September’s matchup and now is the quarterback starting under center for the Commanders. Former Eagles starter Carson Wentz is on injured reserve due to a fractured ring finger, forcing Taylor Heinicke to step in.

So far, so good, Heinicke winning two of his first three games and bringing the Commanders within a last-second field goal of sending the 7-1 Minnesota Vikings to overtime. Heinicke’s stats thus far are only modestly better than Wentz with one major exception: he gets rid of the football when in trouble. Only six sacks in three games pale in comparison to Wentz’s 23 in five, a total that’s still tied for eighth in the NFL despite his injury.

Turns out Heinicke is an effective game manager who also has personal revenge on his mind. The starter last December against the Eagles, he was in position to win during a crucial Week 17 game before getting picked off in the end zone on a botched play.

“That … stuck with me throughout the whole offseason,” Heinicke said this week. “Everything that we went through last year and to have a chance to go to the playoffs there, we’re driving down the field, we’re moving the ball and that last throw was unfortunate … what if he caught that and scored, might’ve made the playoffs and who knows what would’ve happened?”

Heinicke also enters this game with a (mostly) healthy offense; only starting center Tyler Larsen is a major piece of the puzzle who’s questionable to play. Don’t discount his leadership skills while embracing the Commanders’ underdog status, a competitive spirit that could matter in terms of beating the spread.

3. Can the Eagles keep playing mistake-free football?
The Eagles’ lost fumble in the first half against Houston? That was the first fumble they’d lost all season. Their plus-15 turnover margin doesn’t just lead the NFL, it’s more than twice the number of the second-best team (Baltimore).

They’ll be facing a Commanders defense that hasn’t been adept at turning the ball over; only the Raiders have fewer takeaways than their seven. It’s a recipe for disaster when you’re an underdog that needs a few lucky breaks to stop an Eagles offense with so many weapons. Consider that Hurts hasn’t thrown an interception in over a month. Running back Miles Sanders? He’s fumble-free with six rushing touchdowns, already matching his career high eight weeks in.

Tough to see the Eagles changing course here.

Final Analysis

Heinicke has given the Commanders a breath of fresh air, helping them tune out multiple outside distractions. Head coach Ron Rivera is under fire when he should honestly be given a large dose of credit; at 4-5, they’re still a borderline NFC playoff team with a couple of lucky breaks.

Those breaks just won’t come on Monday night. It’s hard to see, after the circus-like atmosphere they’ve endured the past 10 days, the Commanders turning around and beating a healthy Eagles team well rested after 10 days off.