2024 NFL Season, Week 11: Four things to watch for in Commanders-Eagles on Prime Video, NFL+
First place will be on the line when the Philadelphia Eagles host the Washington Commanders on Thursday night at Lincoln Financial Field, the biggest game for both teams this season.
After Sunday’s win at Dallas, the 7-2 Eagles leapt back into first place in the NFC East for the first time since winning in Week 1. The Commanders had led the division after each week since Week 2 until Sunday, when they lost to the Steelers at home.
Both Washington and Philadelphia enter the game with seven victories and 2-0 records in the NFC East entering Week 11. This is the first meeting of these teams in which both enter the game four-plus games over .500 since Week 12 of the 1996 season.
The Eagles have dominated the recent series between the rivals, beating the Commanders five of the past six meetings. But this is a different Washington team than we’ve seen in some time. With a win Thursday, it’d have as many victories this season as in any year since 2012 and would be a step closer to their first playoff spot since backing into the postseason with a 7-9 record in 2020.
This is also the first meeting between Jayden Daniels and Jalen Hurts, who each rank in the top three in QB rush yards and who have put up similar passing numbers in 2024. Daniels is the overwhelming favorite to win Offensive Rookie of the Year, and Hurts has steadily improved his MVP candidacy with a bounceback season.
Here are four things to watch for when the Commanders visit the Eagles on Thursday night on Prime Video and NFL+:
Teams that have had more success against the Commanders have tended to do a better job stopping their run game, and RB Brian Robinson Jr. has missed the past two games. There’s also the question of whether the league might be adapting to offensive coordinator Kliff Kingsbury’s system after their hot start. History appears to show that Kingsbury’s offenses -- whether he’s the head coach or OC -- tend to wane in production as seasons wear on. In Weeks 1-9, his offenses have averaged 26.6 points, 377.9 yards and 0.8 turnovers per game. In Weeks 10 and beyond in his career, Kingsbury’s offenses have slipped to 21.2 points, 331.6 yards and 1.5 turnovers per game.
Prior to a tepid game in the blowout of Dallas, Barkley was on a tear; he’s averaged 6.5 yards per carry the past four games. Over that same timeframe, Jalen Hurts has eight rushing TDs and has averaged 4.9 yards per carry. The Commanders did a respectable job containing Lamar Jackson earlier this season, but other mobile QBs (Daniel Jones and Caleb Williams) had some success scrambling against them. If they’re not assignment-sound and don’t bring population to the ball, it could be a long night for Washington.
Fangio will have his hands full, trying to slow down Jayden Daniels as a runner and passer and contending with McLaurin, Zach Ertz and Noah Brown. But Fangio has traditionally done a good job limiting big plays with two-high-safety looks, lighter defensive personnel and occasionally using spies versus athletic QBs. Still, at some point or another, the Eagles’ DBs will be tested. Mitchell and Cooper have been upgrades over their predecessors, James Bradberry and Avonte Maddox, and the entire secondary has held firm, well-equipped with the likes of Darius Slay, C.J. Gardner-Johnson, Reed Blankenship and the rookies.