The Washington Commanders' Week 8 Hail Mary walk-off win over the Chicago Bears still has the team buzzing as they head to New York for their second divisional matchup against the Giants.
Despite fighting through a rib injury sustained in Week 7's win over the Panthers, quarterback Jayden Daniels still put up a performance worthy of the Pepsi Zero Sugar Rookie of the Week award. He recorded a completion rate of 55.3% for 326 yards and a touchdown.
While wide receiver Noah Brown's catch to seal the win was the highlight, the Commanders' defense also shined. Washington halted Chicago's opportunity to take the lead earlier in the fourth quarter, forcing a turnover at the goal line and preventing a Bears' go-ahead touchdown. The Commanders' defensive tackle Johnny Newton also saw a larger role in part due to injuries, recording his first sack against.
During the teams' last meeting in Week 2, the Commanders were still working through offensive woes and were unable to find the end zone, yet Washington was able to come out on top 21-18 thanks to kicker Austin Seibert's perfect seven-for-seven game. Things will be different in Week 9, as the Commanders have been clicking on all fronts as of late.
As the Commanders head to MetLife Stadium to take on the Giants, let's check in on how the other teams around the division are faring.
Check out the top photos from the Washington Commanders' week of practice as they prepared for their Week 9 matchup with the New York Giants.
Dallas Cowboys (3-4)
The Cowboys have yet to prove themselves as a legitimate threat this season, dropping their Week 8 Sunday Night Football bout against a banged-up 49ers team, 30-24. Despite having a bye week to regroup, Cowboys' quarterback Dak Prescott still doesn't seem to be on the same page as his receivers and threw two interceptions. Dallas was also without linebacker Micah Parsons, who has yet to practice and will likely sit out against the Falcons.
Dallas is heading to Atlanta in what is a must-win game and could signal a turning point in their season if they can overcome quarterback Kirk Cousins and the Falcons. The Cowboys' defense could be helped if cornerback DaRon Bland is able to return, although he has yet to practice due to an ankle injury.
The Falcons' lack of offensive consistency could work in the Cowboys' favor. Aside from wide receiver Drake London, Atlanta lacks depth at the position. Additionally, the Falcons have consistently ranked toward the bottom of the League in defensive pressure. If Dallas can exploit these weaknesses and fix their offensive chemistry, they may have a shot to turn their season around.
Philadelphia Eagles (5-2)
The Eagles contained a hot Bengals' team and recorded their first-ever win in The Jungle, posting a 37-17 Week 8 win. Philadelphia displayed dominance by thwarting Cincinnati's late third quarter fourth-and-one attempt in their own territory. The stop turned the ball over well in the Eagles' field goal range, and injected Philadelphia with momentum for the rest of the matchup.
The Eagles are facing a Jaguars' pass defense ranked 31st in the league, which they will likely exploit now that wide receivers A.J. Brown and DeVonta Smith are back in the lineup despite top tight end Dallas Goedert still sidelined with a hamstring injury. Philadelphia's defense, however, is a bit impaired because cornerback Darius Slay is working through a groin injury that could deem him inactive against Jacksonville.
Notable this week is that Jacksonville will be without tackle Cam Robinson, whom they traded earlier this week to Minnesota. Although the Jaguars have been struggling as of late with a 2-6 record, the Eagles defense will have their work cut out for them containing Jaguars' rookie receiver Brian Thomas Jr., who recorded three receptions for 60 yards and a touchdown in the team's three-point loss to the Packers last week. Thomas popped up on the injury report with a chest injury, so he could be less of a threat than expected.
New York Giants (2-6)
When the Giants and Commanders last met in Week 2, the game was a back-and-forth affair. The Giants' offense looked like it was clicking, as quarterback Daniel Jones connected with wide receiver Malik Nabers and running back Devin Singletary for a touchdown each. Ultimately, New York couldn't make up for the loss of their kicker Graham Gano, who suffered a hamstring injury early in the game.
Seven weeks later, and these two teams look a lot different. The Giants' Week 8 loss to the Steelers 26-18 on Monday Night Football highlighted the team's recent struggles with offensive chemistry. A failed two-point conversion after New York's only touchdown showed Jones and Nabers on completely different pages. One thing the Giants still have going for them is the stellar play of nose tackle Dexter Lawrence, although the Commanders were able to limit him to just two solo tackles last time the teams met.
The Commanders, on the other hand, have been firing on all cylinders and coming off huge momentum from their Week 8 win over the Bears. Daniels has proven his ability to use both his arms and legs, connecting with his receivers on deep balls and running when necessary. Daniels is still on the injury report with a rib injury, which could limit his ability to get outside of the pocket.
If the Giants want to record their first win of the season at MetLife, they will have to figure out their offensive struggles and find a way to contain Daniels.
