3 problems the Commanders must address before Week 11 at Eagles

The Washington Commanders play their most important game of the 2024 season on Thursday Night Football when they travel to the Philadelphia Eagles for a nationally televised NFC East clash.

They are coming off a heartbreaking loss to the Pittsburgh Steelers, which left them a half-game behind Philadelphia. Their remaining schedule does not appear very daunting, and the Commanders would remain in an excellent position for a playoff spot even if they lost. However, defeat to the Eagles at this stage would put a serious dent in their chances for the division crown.

More importantly, after playing a tough but sloppy game against the Steelers, Dan Quinn has to get his team playing sound football again.

The dropped balls and silly penalties must be eliminated. The Eagles are playing very well right now, but even during the down years under Ron Rivera, the Commanders always gave them a good contest. There is no reason to assume this will not be the kind of tight, high-scoring game these two rivals have played against each other in recent years.

If the Commanders are to come out on top, there are three big problems they must address beforehand. Let's examine them in greater detail.

Problems the Commanders must address before Week 11 at Eagles

Planning for the Eagles' wideouts

I don’t need to remind you what A.J. Brown and DeVonta Smith did to the Washington Commanders last season.

In two games, the standout wide receivers combined for 31 catches on 36 targets. In the second of those contests, Brown and Smith caught all 15 of their targets. The pair totaled almost 500 receiving yards and found the end zone five times. Washington’s defense was utterly helpless.

The status of newly acquired cornerback Marshon Lattimore remains unknown. If he cannot play, Joe Whitt Jr. and his crew will have to figure out strategies for quieting Brown and Smith without the benefit of a true shutdown presence.

Defensive schemes can help take out one great receiver. But when they have faced an elite pair this season, the Commanders' secondary has not performed well.

Chris Godwin and Mike Evans torched them in Week 1. A couple of weeks later, Ja’Marr Chase and a rusty Tee Higgins also presented major headaches. The Commanders' defense surrendered 70 points in those two games.

Washington did shut down an above-average receiving corps from the Chicago Bears. However, they were aided a great deal by quarterback Caleb Williams’ inaccuracy in that game.

Without Lattimore, the Commanders don't have any player who can consistently stay with a quality outside receiver. It's been the same story for a while.

The player best suited to do that, Benjamin St-Juste, seems to make multiple errors at the worst possible times weekly. The others - Mike Sainristil and Noah Igbinoghene - do not have the ideal length or speed to play the perimeter. Unfortunately, both have been forced to for lack of better options.

Somehow, Whitt and defensive pass game coordinator Jason Simmons must find a way to confuse quarterback Jalen Hurts and provide enough help to the corners. Otherwise, Brown and Smith will once again run wild through the secondary.