For the first time this season, the Eagles took control of the division with their win over the Cowboys. The Commanders also lost to the Steelers which gave the birds sole control. Now, the team has a chance to put even more security on that lead as they face the Commanders this week on Thursday Night Football. Both rosters have tons of talent, however there is a key matchup that could be the difference-maker for either club.
A Key Matchup for the Eagles vs. Commanders
Quinyon Mitchell vs. Terry McLaurin
Both players have been standouts for their respective teams and this matchup could be the determining factor of the whole contest. One of these players is a rookie making a strong impression, the other has been a veteran standout for years. Which one has the edge?
The Eagles have experienced a bit of a turnaround on defense since the bye week. One of the reasons for this has been their standout young corners. Even when the Eagles’ defense was off to a rocky start early in the year, Mitchell has been a consistent standout. The first-round corner has been making a statement in his rookie year. He has yet to give up a touchdown to any receiver he’s faced and has put up some impressive numbers. In nine games Mitchell has accumulated 30 combined tackles and eight pass deflections. He has also assisted on six tackles but has yet to record an interception. In particular, he has had standout performances against the Packers, Saints, Buccanneers, Browns, and Giants.
McLaurin on the other hand has already been in the league for several years. He has been one of the premiere downfield threats since entering the league in 2019. Even though he’s only a one-time Pro Bowler, he has been one of Washington’s most consistent players. McLaurin has averaged at least 1,000 yards receiving in four of his first six seasons. He has also racked up 31 touchdowns during that stretch. This season, McLaurin has already reached 711 yards receiving on 47 catches and six touchdowns. He is also averaging 15.1 yards-per-reception adding to his big play ability.
How Will This Matchup Play Out?
Mitchell will certainly have his hands full dealing with McLaurin. The receiver is certainly a skilled deep threat who has serious big-play ability and has been a very prominent scoring threat for Washington this season. Mitchell however has lived up to this challenge so far this season. The cornerback has already faced elite receivers this year like Drake London, Mike Evans, Chris Godwin, Amari Cooper, Malik Nabers, Ja’Marr Chase, and Ceedee Lamb just to name a few.
That is a very impressive resume to stand strong against and Mitchell should certainly have a lot of confidence going into the Thursday Night bout. The only questions now are who will win out and will this matchup be the determining factor in the game.
We will have to wait until tomorrow night to find out the answer to that question. This is a primetime matchup that will have serious implications for the NFC playoff picture going forward.
Main Photo: Bill Streicher-Imagn Images
