The Philadelphia Eagles are currently one of the top contenders in the NFL.

On Thursday night, the Eagles triumphed over the Washington Commanders with a score of 26-18. This victory extended their lead in the NFC East and marked their sixth consecutive win. They’ve dominated their division, currently holding a 3-0 record against it after defeating the Commanders for the third time in a row.

Meanwhile, the Commanders are in a bit of trouble after losing their last two games, but they still remain in contention for a playoff spot in the NFC.

YSL News Sports takes a closer look at the standout performers and those who struggled in Thursday night’s divisional matchup:

Standouts

Saquon Barkley and the Eagles’ Rushing Game

The Eagles have consistently topped the 100-yard mark in rushing during all their games this season, and this trend continued in Week 11.

On the night, Philadelphia’s rushing attack amassed 228 yards and scored three touchdowns.

Barkley emerged as the Eagles’ standout offensive player. His 23-yard touchdown run in the fourth quarter was pivotal in securing the win. Following that, he broke through the line for a 39-yard touchdown that put the game out of reach.

Before Week 11, Barkley ranked second in the NFL for both rushing yards and total yards from scrimmage. He finished the game with 198 yards from scrimmage, including 146 on the ground, achieving his sixth 100-plus yard rushing game this season.

With this win, Barkley surpassed the 1,000-yard mark for the season, joining the Ravens’ Derrick Henry as the only running backs to achieve this milestone so far.

Eagles’ Defensive Unit

The Eagles’ defense played a crucial role in neutralizing Washington’s offensive efforts. After allowing a touchdown in the first quarter, they successfully kept the Commanders out of the end zone for the majority of the game.

The strong performance of Philadelphia’s pass rush, combined with effective coverage in the secondary, made it challenging for Jayden Daniels to find his rhythm.

The Eagles yielded just 264 total yards against the Commanders. Defensive coordinator Vic Fangio’s group came into Week 11 positioned as the top defensive unit in the NFC, averaging 274 yards allowed per game.

Mitchell’s performance warrants consideration for the NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year award.

Linebacker Zack Baun contributed significantly, recording a game-high 15 tackles.

Brotherly Shove/Tush Push Strategy

The Eagles implemented a creative variation of the “Brotherly Shove,” also known as the “Tush Push,” during the game. In one instance, Hurts snapped the ball but then pitched it to Barkley, who ran for a first down.

Later, Philadelphia executed the traditional version of the play leading to Hurts scoring a crucial 1-yard touchdown in the fourth quarter.

This adaptable approach from a familiar formation may keep opposing defenses on high alert moving forward.

Struggles

Jayden Daniels and the Commanders’ Passing Game

Daniels is now facing the first losing streak of his rookie NFL career.

Throughout the game, he and Washington’s passing attack struggled significantly to find any rhythm. The rookie quarterback ended the night by throwing an interception with less than five minutes remaining, sealing the Commanders’ fate.

Daniels recorded 191 passing yards, threw one touchdown, and had one interception, ending with a passer rating of 81.6.

Commanders’ Receivers

Daniels’ discomfort was compounded by the underperformance of Washington’s wide receivers.

During the first half, the Commanders recorded two critical drops, leaving their receiving corps largely silent throughout the contest — not a single wide receiver caught more than one pass.

McLaurin managed just one reception for 10 yards.

Only running back Austin Ekeler and tight end Zach Ertz provided significant contributions, with Ekeler accounting for a team-leading eight catches totaling 89 yards.

Jake Elliott

Unfortunately for the Eagles, kicker Jake Elliott had a rough night. He missed a 44-yard field goal attempt to the left on their initial drive and followed that by misfiring on a 51-yard attempt in the second quarter, also wide left.

To make matters worse, Elliott missed an extra point in the fourth quarter, showcasing an inconsistent kicking performance throughout the game.

The last kicker to miss two field goals and an extra point was Ove Johansson in Week 11 of the 1977 season, according to NFL Research.

Cowboys and Giants

The Eagles and Commanders are the only two teams in the NFC East with winning records. This trend seems likely to continue for the rest of the regular season, as both teams are clearly outperforming the struggling Cowboys (3-6) and the Giants (2-8). Dallas holds a 1-1 division record, whereas New York’s record is a troubling 0-4.