The Washington Commanders took care of business on the road and defeated the New York Giants, 27-22. Sunday’s win helped the franchise improve to 7-2 on the season and remain in first place in the NFC East.
Washington is on a three-game winning streak and will face the Pittsburgh Steelers this Sunday at home. This game will be the Commanders’ biggest test this season as they are currently undefeated at home (Northwest Stadium).
Needless to say, critics have argued that the Burgundy and Gold’s strength of schedule is part of the reason that they are excelling. Needless to say, the new ownership, coaching staff, and rookie sensation of Jayden Daniels can be attributed to that.
As a result, Pittsburgh will enter Sunday’s matchup on a three-game winning streak behind the stellar coaching of head coach Mike Tomlin, the old-school running attack led by Najee Harris, the stingy defense, and the rejuvenated play of Russell Wilson.
Washington: Daniels passing consistency
Daniels’ ability to throw in the pocket is going to be heavily relied on this Sunday. As of now, he is third in the NFL with completion percentage (71.5 percent), and he has only thrown two interceptions so far. Both will be important when the Steelers’ defense lines up against the Commanders this Sunday.
Currently, Pittsburgh only allows 14.9 points per game (second-best in the NFL) with their physical defense. They are fourth in the NFL in rushing defense, only allowing 90.5 per game. This could cause problems for the Commanders who love to run the ball.
T.J. Watt, Patrick Queen, and Minkah Fitzpatrick are going to try to disrupt the line of scrimmage by any means necessary and will force quick throws.
Brian Robinson, Jr. leads the team in rushing with 461 yards and Austin Ekeler continues to improve in health. Expect the box to be stacked all night and that the Steelers will force the Commanders to throw.
On the flip side, the Steelers’ Achilles’ heel is their pass defense which is 22nd in the league at 219.8 yards per game. Daniels and Washington’s receiving core can catch any defense by surprise with their depth and consistency.
Terry McLaurin, Zach Ertz, Noah Brown, Olamide Zaccheaus, and Luke McCaffrey continue to gel together with their rookie quarterback. Daniels must stay in the pocket at all costs and avoid taking unnecessary hits.
Defensive battle
Washington’s defense is ranked 13th in the league for total defensive yards allowed (326.4). Nonetheless, the defense is going to have to generate sacks from their linebacker core. Bobby Wagner and Frankie Luvu need to lead the charge of cluttering the pocket for Wilson.
The Commanders have only forced eight turnovers this season which isn’t the greatest. Their secondary play is improving but this weekend will be a measuring stick. Washington’s secondary will line up against George Pickens, Van Jefferson, and Calvin Austin III, and all are great route runners.
🔝 defensive plays through Week 8 💪
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— Pittsburgh Steelers (@steelers) November 3, 2024
The franchise is going to need a big effort from the secondary to ensure they stay in the game. On the other hand, Washington’s pass rush needs to force Wilson to the left side of the field.
Sunday’s matchup against the Steelers is going to be the most physical game the Commanders play in the regular season.
What if?
If Washington wins Sunday, there is a possibility they can run the table in the NFC East. Obviously, the Philadelphia Eagles and the Dallas Cowboys remain on the schedule but division matchups can be toss-ups. Today, the Cowboys announced that Dak Prescott will miss several weeks with a hamstring injury. The Eagles are hitting on all cylinders but for how long?
A win from the Commanders this Sunday will provide a boost of confidence for the team. The last time Washington entered the playoffs with a winning record was in 2012 with Robert Griffin III (10-6).
Main Image: Robert Deutsch-Imagn Images
