This game marks another entry into a trend that I can't quite understand; dominating a game everywhere but the scoreboard. Philly rocked Washington in the box score (434-264 yardage, 23-18 FD, 6.2-4.2 YPP, 33-27 TOP) yet only ended up winning by eight. In this case the reasons are pretty clear; Jake Elliott had probably his worst game as a pro (took seven points off the board), Washington was gifted a field goal from a dreadful call against Cooper DeJean and got another eight points in what was effectively garbage time. This game likely could have been 33-7 as easily as it was 26-18.
A few more random notes:
Saquan Barkley, man. This guy just keeps cranking along. Another 198 total yards and two more scores.
Jalen had a solid if unspectacular night, which is OK by me. He didn't have a passing TD (mostly as Washington did a remarkable job clamping AJ Brown and Devonta Smith) but he made some great throws, both from the pocket and on the scramble drill. Several key runs as well, none more impressive than his dive for the first down on the first play of the fourth quarter.
You know who didn't have a good night? Playcaller Kellen Moore, who didn't realize until the second half that there was an obvious mismatch with our ground game against their defense. Once Philly started to lean into the run game late in the third quarter, they pretty much wore the Commanders' defense out.
As mentioned above, Philly's defense really only gave up seven true points. They forced Daniels into maybe his worst game as a pro so far. Even the 18 points allowed, as bogus as that is, was eleven points below their season average of 29 PPG. The Eagles had three sacks and eight total tackles for loss; it felt like more than that.
We've got to find out what's going on with Elliott. It's tempting to think that the lack of work that he's been given did something to his confidence, but that can't be proven. He's been doing this too well and too long to get worried... yet.
Philly now has clear pole position in the division, with a game and a half lead, not to mention wins over the other three teams already. We'll need to fix a few things in pass pro and with our kicker, but the extra time off should help with that. Up next: back to back road trips to a desperate Rams team and then Baltimore.
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