The Sports Junkies discuss if their expectations would change for the Washington Commanders season if they were able to upset the Philadelphia Eagles.
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00:00So, Commanders-Eagles this weekend, it is a big game, obviously, it's a division game,
00:06so there's always more focus on those, but, you know, Washington doesn't really have that
00:11signature win yet.
00:14You know, they've beaten the Cardinals, who are 500, but that's not a signature win.
00:17I really like the win over the Bengals.
00:20The Bengals is a good win, but the Bengals' defense has been so bad this year, they're
00:25not going to the playoffs.
00:26They're 6-8.
00:27Now, offensively, they're legit.
00:29I mean, Burrow's having an MVP-type season, even though he's not going to win it because
00:33they're not going to go to the playoffs, but offensively, they're legit.
00:36But I wouldn't consider it a signature win.
00:38All those other teams in the NFC, the Eagles, the Lions, the Vikings, the Packers, the Bucs,
00:43the Rams, they all have signature wins, but Washington doesn't.
00:47So this would be huge, and if you beat the Eagles, you're probably a 95% chance to go
00:53to the playoffs.
00:55Oh, well, higher than that.
00:57Yeah, we'll see.
00:58If you beat the Eagles, does it kind of change your outlook for this team?
01:03Well, I think it does.
01:04Are you kind of considered a contender again, whereas right now, a lot of the media goes,
01:09alright, they're good, going to make the playoffs, but wild card, they're going to play on the
01:13road against a really good team.
01:14Well, they're just going to say they haven't beaten a good team.
01:16Now, if you beat them, I mean, right now, currently, I don't know if all the power rankings,
01:20I mean, obviously, everybody has a different one, I would assume, or it's not unanimous,
01:25but ESPN's power rankings currently have the Eagles number one.
01:29Okay.
01:30Number one team in the NFL.
01:33So if you knock them off on their 10-game winning streak, that opens up all possibilities.
01:38That does a lot, yeah.
01:39That opens up all possibilities, and you're like, alright, well, they beat the best team
01:43in football.
01:44Yeah, I would agree.
01:46And so I think that it does kind of change your perception of what might be possible.
01:53But if they go out there and they lose, like they basically have every other time they've
01:57played a winning team, then you're going to kind of stick with, yeah, they're a playoff
02:02team in all likelihood, but you can't expect them to win anything.
02:05But you can't expect them to win anything.
02:07Right.
02:08And that's kind of where they are right now, but if they did knock off the Eagles, which
02:12is definitely possible, division rival.
02:14It would be a huge story.
02:16It opens up the possibilities.
02:18Yeah, it would be a huge story since Philly is 1-10 straight, and like you said, in most
02:22power rankings, they're number one.
02:24Right.
02:25But, Commanders fans, do you feel like, first of all, do you feel like they're going to
02:28beat the Eagles?
02:29And if they do, does it kind of change your mindset going forward in the playoffs where,
02:34you know what?
02:35We can go on the road and beat a team, whether it's Detroit or Minnesota or Philly.
02:41800-636-1067 is the number.
02:45But again, you know, like I said, all these other teams in the NFC have those signature
02:50wins.
02:51Tampa's got a couple of them.
02:52I mean, Tampa went to Detroit and won.
02:54The Rams have a couple of them.
02:56The Vikings certainly do.
02:58Commanders really don't have that win.
02:59That win go, you know what?
03:00That was a great win.
03:02The thing is, is that the Eagles...
03:04They got those losses though.
03:05If you remember, the Eagles started out poorly, right?
03:08And Jalen even really started out poorly.
03:13He had seven turnovers in the first four games.
03:17Only Will Levis had more in the first four.
03:22And they started out two and two.
03:24And then since then, in the 10-game winning streak, he's only had three.
03:28Yeah, he's turned it around.
03:29Turned it around completely.
03:32But you remember, they played the Packers.
03:34I think they played them in Brazil.
03:36And that was Saquon going crazy.
03:38And then they lost to the Falcons.
03:40I don't think he played well in that game.
03:42They barely beat the Saints.
03:43Scored 15 points in that game.
03:45And then they lost to the Bucks.
03:46And he was bad.
03:47So you're right.
03:48They were two and two.
03:49And he was getting criticized.
03:51Turned the ball over.
03:52He's not the same.
03:53Hurts.
03:54And then they went on that streak.
03:55Starting with the Browns.
03:56And they won 10 straight.
03:57And defensively, they have been unbelievable.
04:00This is what they've done defensively in the 10-game winning streak.
04:04They've allowed 16-3, 17-23, 6-18, 20-19, 16-13.
04:11They just don't allow points.
04:13So it takes the pressure off their offense.
04:16Because if the offense goes out and scores 24 points,
04:19well, they're going to win based on how their defense is played.
04:22They've only given up more than 20 points three times.
04:28I mean, something crazy.
04:32Let me see.
04:33The Packers in Week 1 scored 29.
04:36The Falcons, who look like a shadow of themselves,
04:40they scored 22 in Week 2.
04:42That's when they were struggling, when Jalen was turning the ball over.
04:46And then the Jags scored 23 in a loss to them,
04:50kind of in the middle of the season.
04:53And the only other team to get to even 20 was the Rams.
04:56Right.
04:57And they killed the Rams.
04:59So it kind of takes the pressure off their offense.
05:01They're not like the Lions, where they have to just outscore teams.
05:04Their defense has been so good.
05:06When we played them, it was only a while ago, wasn't it?
05:10It was like five weeks ago.
05:14It was one of those games where he was coming back from
05:16he was still dealing with the ribs on some level.
05:19And I felt like they did pretty good.
05:21They were one of the first teams.
05:23I mean, I know teams have been kind of like using a spy,
05:25but they really kept him contained.
05:27Daniels?
05:28Yeah, I remember.
05:29He really didn't get off the running.
05:30Yeah, they got to him a few times.
05:31I think they sacked him three or four times.
05:33He did throw that pick.
05:36But I'll say this.
05:37That was the Saquon Barkley game, too.
05:39Saquon had 200 combined yards, I believe.
05:42If they find a way, and I think that their dogs indeservedly so,
05:47and if you put a gun to my head, I would pick the Eagles.
05:50But if they found a way to beat the Eagles, then I would say
05:53it kind of puts them in contender status.
05:56Kind of in my mind, I would say, okay, maybe they're kind of
05:59gelling at the right time.
06:01But you don't expect it.
06:02I don't expect it.
06:04You don't expect it to be a good game.
06:06I'm begging for the Commanders to win.
06:08So that I can get on the bandwagon and get excited?
06:11Yeah.
06:12And I understand why.
06:14It's almost like, I don't want to say the word lucky,
06:16but it's almost like this season has been very fortunate.
06:19You know what I mean?
06:20Well, I mean, the schedule has been favorable.
06:22Yeah.
06:23And then it's weird.
06:25That schedule is going to be brutal, guys.
06:26It's weird seeing a team that's heading towards the playoffs
06:30all of a sudden just have no confidence
06:32as you're heading towards the playoffs.
06:34Well, they might have confidence.
06:35I'm just saying as a fan.
06:36And that's what I mean.
06:37The fans.
06:38It's almost like they're heading towards the playoffs,
06:40and you're already writing them off.
06:43It's like, hey, we're just happy to be here.
06:46I kind of am.
06:47That's why I want the win so people all of a sudden can start
06:51buying what the Commanders are selling.
06:53I'm sure there are a bunch of guys out there that are.
06:55I think it's a small percentage.
06:57Mars is probably picking them to win the Super Bowl.
06:59Mars probably got them winning everything.
07:01I mean, the NFC looks pretty wide open right now.
07:04I mean, all it takes is just getting to the dance.
07:06And then once we get to the dance, I mean, I think there's more people
07:09like you, Eric, than like Mark.
07:11Yes.
07:12I think it's probably like you.
07:13I think there's a lot of people that are just happy to get there.
07:17And if you beat the Eagles, I think all of a sudden those
07:20expectations can beat the Eagles.
07:21And I will say, hey, yeah, we probably should change.
07:25Yeah.
07:26Well, based on what happened last year, I mean, that's why
07:29Commanders fans are just happy to be in the situation.
07:31If the roles were reversed and it was the Ravens and they hadn't
07:33beaten a winning team all year, you would go.
07:36I know, but I would flip.
07:38As soon as the playoff starts, I flip the switch.
07:40I'm ready to go.
07:41I'm in the dance.
07:42No, I'd be ready to go, but my expectations would be low.
07:45That's all.
07:46All right.
07:47Let's touch the people.
07:48800-636-1067.
07:49Will your expectations change if they beat the Eagles?
07:54Let's go to Gary in Upper Marlboro.
07:58Gary, what's up, buddy?
07:59You're on with the junkies.
08:00Good morning, judge.
08:02Hey, look, I think they have a chance to be Philadelphia because
08:05I think Philadelphia is a team.
08:09It's hard to win 11 straight.
08:11And I'm thinking that the coach probably wants them to lose a
08:14game.
08:15I mean, would that be 14, 15, 16 straight games to win a Super
08:19Bowl?
08:20I think Philly, Washington has a chance because they have played
08:23really tough over the years and it's a division game, but it
08:26would not change my expectations as far as the playoffs.
08:30I don't think they're a contending team.
08:32I mean, this is a team that just almost lost to New Orleans with a
08:36third-string quarterback and all those players out, and they haven't
08:40beaten a team with a winning record.
08:42I just think that we need to manage our expectations.
08:45And if they do beat Philly, it could be a springboard for them.
08:49Next year I think they get to the playoffs.
08:51I do remember way back when we were undefeated in the 91 season, there
08:56was a young Cowboys team that came in the RFK and they beat us.
09:01And I've heard Jimmy Johnson say that was the springboard for us going
09:05the rest of that season and into next year.
09:08So I think they can win this game even if they go in the playoffs and
09:12lose like the Cowboys did.
09:13They got their doors blown off by Detroit that year.
09:16It could be a springboard.
09:19That's the way I think.
09:20It could be Philly, but I think it could be a springboard for next year.
09:22You make some good points.
09:23I would disagree that Nick Sirianni wants them to lose a game.
09:26They want to win all of these games because they want the first round
09:29by have the number one seat.
09:31So they're trying to win every one of these games.