The Philadelphia Eagles bounced back in a big way against the Las Vegas Raiders on Sunday. A 31-0 blowout win was exactly what both the team and fanbase needed, but a divisional showdown with the Commanders that is not only on a short week, but in a very interesting spot, will need a similar effort in order to restore confidence before the intensity really picks up.
It's easy to see that the dominant win on the fact that the Raiders are 2-12 and are caught in a terrifying spiral. Yes, they rank last in offensive yards per game, but their defense sits 16th. The Eagles put more points up against a middle-of-the-pack defense than they did against the Giants in their first clash, the Lions, and the Bears, all of whom boast defensive units giving up more yards per game than Las Vegas. Sure, one could question the 'level' of opponent and effort once it was clear the offense was lifeless, but as far as a complete performance goes, this was arguably one of the best we've seen this season.
Now, they face a Commanders team facing a harsh reality. Jayden Daniels is done for the season, the defense ranks 31st in yards allowed per game, and most importantly, they were eliminated from playoff contention following a year where everything that could've gone wrong, very much did.
There's nothing like a run of late divisional games where the only incentive for opponents is to play spoiler. Former Eagles QB Marcus Mariota will be trying to run an offense that's endured its fair share of issues even without JD5. To put it simply, this is another game where winning is the bare minimum for an Eagles unit that is still in the mix to retain its second Lombardi Trophy.
But with the Buffalo Bills on deck in what is a crucial game for their own Super Bowl hopes, the fixture against Washington is another tune-up opportunity. A borderline risk-free opportunity to experiment a little with the offense, try some different concepts and take the learnings into a game where the Bills must win if they're to stop Drake Maye's Patriots from clinching their first AFC East title since 2019. Buffalo has won the division every year since then, and their marquee win over New England last week was very much a statement. The Eagles can expect nothing but the very best from the Bills next week, and going into that game with a disappointing performance against the Commanders behind them would be a scary proposition.
There's no doubting that the Eagles are the favorites in this matchup, but Saturday's game will be remembered more for how they play, and not the end result. A second consecutive dominant display from both the offense and defense would signal that the team is finally finding a rhythm and doing so at the right time. Anything less than that and the airwaves will once again be filled with panic and confusion.
So in a season where the Birds have done more gliding than flying, we now get to find out whether last week's win over the Raiders was this team feeling the wind beneath their wings again, or if a sudden, unexpected gust lifted them a few feet higher.
