Something or nothing? Analyzing the Eagles’ sloppy loss vs. Commanders, from not-so special teams to a shaky run game

LANDOVER, Md. — The Eagles were bound to drop a game at some point, but the nature of their 36-33 loss to the Washington Commanders on Sunday would have been hard to prognosticate going into the weekend.

Five turnovers, two Eagles quarterbacks, one ejection, and myriad miscues kept the division alive for Washington with two weeks remaining, but the result wasn’t completely instructive for the Eagles. Which elements of Sunday’s game might be something and which likely aren’t? Here’s what we learned:

Of all the areas in which the Eagles struggled against Washington, the one that feels most likely to stick are the special teams woes that cost them in multiple phases. Jake Elliott eventually rebounded from a missed 56-yard field goal at the end of the first half, hitting a 50-yarder in the fourth quarter to give the Eagles a lead and finishing 4-for-5 on the day. His miss on a cold, blustery day can be excused some even with the margin of defeat begging for the make, but the bigger concern is how consistently poor the Eagles were on kickoffs against Washington.

Commanders returners averaged 29.4 yards per return against Eagles punter Braden Mann, who handled kickoff duties on Sunday. Mann’s opening kick fell short of the landing zone and the ensuing one floated to about the 10-yard line before Washington rookie Luke McCaffrey fielded it for a 47-yard return.

In eight kickoffs, Mann’s kicks averaged 55.4 yards traveled, but he was inconsistent with the opening kickoff traveling just 43 yards and two others making it just 50 and 53 yards, respectively. By comparison, Washington kicker Zane Gonzalez averaged 59.8 yards per kickoff without a single kick at or below Mann’s average.

With the benefit of Gonzalez’s distance on his kicks, the Commanders held the Eagles to 23 yards per return while Mann’s inconsistencies were compounded by poor kick coverage from the Eagles’ special teams units.

Aside from hoping for unseasonably pleasant January weather on playoff game days, the Eagles will need to shore up their shaky kickoff coverage in time for the playoffs or risk having it bite them in a big moment like it did on Sunday.

After taking some time to unpack the stagnant output from the Eagles’ run game against Washington, it becomes slightly easier to stomach.

Saquon Barkley had the inverse of his typical game, finishing the first quarter with 109 rushing yards and two touchdowns on seven carries but gaining just 41 yards on his next 22 attempts to finish the game. In real time, the frequency with which Washington’s aggressive defensive front got penetration into the backfield to disrupt Barkley before he could gain a head of steam was apparent, and plagued the Eagles offense for long spells of the second half with Kenny Pickett under center.

» READ MORE: DeVonta Smith’s late drop costs Eagles, who nearly clinched the NFC East with backup Kenny Pickett

Next Gen Stats helps tell the story, and explains why the lack of success on the ground in the second half may not be something to worry about long-term. The Commanders used single-high safety shells on just three of the opening 12 plays against the Eagles offense, but shifted dramatically once Jalen Hurts left the game with a concussion. In the Eagles final 59 offensive plays, Washington lined up with a safety in the box 40 times.

Needless to say Washington’s decision to sell out against the run worked. Next Gen Stats credited Barkley with just two “successful” runs (runs that kept the Eagles ahead of the sticks based on down and distance), on his 18 carries against the single-high looks. After gaining 99 of his initial 109 rushing yards before contact, Barkley was afforded a startling -4 yards before contact in the final three quarters.

When Hurts is in the lineup, it’s hard to imagine teams getting away with committing so much to combat the run. The Steelers loaded the box early and often two weekends ago and Hurts gashed them in response, which is enough reason to believe Sunday’s game was more of a blip than a trend for the Eagles offense assuming Hurts is able to return in time for the postseason.

The following two statements are not mutually exclusive.

1. The Eagles defense has formed an identity for being physically imposing and playing with an edge.

2. The Eagles defense needs to avoid the type of penalties that led to multiple unsportsmanlike conduct or unnecessary roughness calls on Sunday.

Arguments about the individual calls aside, what’s becoming apparent is that the Eagles defense’s well-earned reputation for bullying opposing teams is leading to chippy moments as offenses try to match the group’s physicality. While most of the Eagles defensive players likely welcome that challenge, C.J. Gardner-Johnson’s ejection was illustrative of the downside when they push the envelope with officials seemingly heightening their awareness for infractions from the group.

You can live with a few; Milton Williams’ roughing the passer penalty was particularly dubious and Jalen Carter’s unnecessary roughness penalty may not get called by every crew, but the volume of penalties on the defense Sunday was something the Eagles have to better avoid once the stakes rise in the postseason.

» READ MORE: The Eagles paid a painful price for their lack of discipline vs. Washington. Will they learn their lesson?

The Eagles’ chances of getting the No. 1 seed took a major hit on Sunday, meaning the all-important first-round bye week that comes with the top seed will likely go to either the Detroit Lions or Minnesota Vikings.

Being essentially locked into the No. 2 seed with two weeks remaining, though, the Eagles could be setting up for a DIY bye in Week 18 against the New York Giants. Aside from potentially giving Hurts a few series of work if he is sidelined for next week but ready to return for the regular-season finale, it’s hard to see much upside in the Eagles playing without much on the line that week.

If Barkley closes the 267-yard gap between him and Eric Dickerson enough to chase the single-season rushing record without taking on a heavy workload, it will at least be a conversation. But even he shouldn’t be risked in such circumstances considering the team’s ultimate goal of playing into February.

The real question, though, is how the team would feel if last Sunday’s win over the Steelers was the last full game for Hurts & Co. before the postseason.

A.J. Brown, up: Brown surpassed the 1,000-yard mark Sunday for his third straight season with the Eagles and the fifth time in his career. His performance was even better than his 97 yards on eight catches would suggest; he drew three pass-interference calls against veteran cornerback Marshon Lattimore for chunk gains as well.

Defensive substitutions, down: Getting penalized for having 12 men on the field should seldom happen at any point of the season, but getting called for it twice in Week 16 is especially inexcusable. It cost the Eagles on Sunday, giving Washington quarterback Jayden Daniels a free play that he promptly used to find a wide open Olamide Zaccheaus for a 49-yard touchdown.

Kenny Pickett, neutral: Pickett wasn’t stellar, but he wasn’t disastrous either. Sure, the Eagles didn’t trade for the former first-round pick for middling play, but, as I wrote in my grades, he gave the Eagles a chance to win the game. I don’t foresee a Nick Foles run in his future, and the Eagles shouldn’t need that from it anyway.

» READ MORE: Eagles grades: Kenny Pickett good enough in relief, but the coaching wasn’t in a loss to the Commanders