Winning in the trenches on both sides of the ball will be key for the Washington Commanders against the Philadelphia Eagles on Thursday Night Football. But the most important player on the field will line up outside the numbers.
That distinction belongs to a struggling cornerback coming off a miserable outing against the Pittsburgh Steelers in Week 10. The Eagles hardly offer the chance for a reprieve when they have two dynamic playmakers, A.J. Brown and DeVonta Smith, at wide receiver.
Better coverage on the perimeter will be key for the Commanders against their NFC East rival. Yet the priority will be winning in the pits at Lincoln Financial Field.
Under the radar Commanders who must deliver in Week 11
Sheldon Day must disrupt middle of Eagles' offensive line
Sheldon Day is one of the NFL journeymen the Commanders acquired when Jonathan Allen was lost for the season. It's proved to be a sneaky good move, with the player becoming an increasing nuisance in the rotation next to incumbent defensive tackle Daron Payne.
Day will need to be a constant menace against the foundation of Philadelphia's offense. Namely, the beefy interior offensive line. That's where Landon Dickerson and Cam Jurgens hold sway.
Dominating this duo is how a struggling Commanders' run defense can shut down Eagles star running back Saquon Barkley. Stopping the run was a problem against the Steelers, with the Black and Gold amassing 140 yards on the ground. However, Day was one of the few who emerged with any credit.
The 6-foot-1, 294-pounder was in on eight tackles, including four solo stops and one for a loss. Day must be even busier to keep the run-happy Eagles stuck in neutral.
Nick Allegretti can help Commanders hold up inside
Nick Allegretti has flown under the radar as one of the most important signings general manager Adam Peters made after he took over in the offseason. The scrappy left guard has brought a smash-mouth toughness and overall competence to the inside of what had been a revolving door previously. He will face his toughest test yet against the Eagles.
Philadelphia's defensive line is underpinned by two man-mountains, Jalen Carter and Jordan Davis. Both can own the middle, clog running lanes, and puncture the interior of the pass pocket.
Standing up to Carter and Davis in the physical battles is vital for the Commanders. If they get pushed around inside, Jayden Daniels will be fleeing a crumbling pocket too often. He'll also be denied the buttress of a credible running game.
Getting the run going has been a challenge for the Commanders in recent weeks without injured workhorse Brian Robinson Jr. That has to change after Daniels posted a lowly completion percentage against the Steelers when Washington mustered a mere 60 rushing yards.
Benjamin St-Juste must make amends
Commanders head coach Dan Quinn will likely be nervous whenever the ball goes Benjamin St-Juste's way. Especially after the way the veteran cornerback made a mess of his assignments last week.
St-Juste was beaten by Mike Williams for the Steelers' decisive score at Northwest Stadium. The beleaguered starting cornerback admitted to reporters, including Sam Fortier of The Washington Post, that he tried to do too much.
Despite knowing Steelers' quarterback Russell Wilson likes to target the fade route, St-Juste acknowledged he chose the wrong option. It's the latest coverage breakdown from an experienced player who has endured a torrid time in one-on-one matchups on the outside.
The Commanders traded for All-Pro Marshon Lattimore to limit these breakdowns, but he's still working his way toward being fully healthy. It means St-Juste is likely to be on the field a lot this week, and the Eagles are sure to go after him.
A more composed and intelligent game from No. 25, based on his film study, could be the deciding factor in a game the Commanders can't lose against the biggest threat to their supremacy in the NFC East.
