<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Transitional//EN" "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-transitional.dtd"><html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml" xml:lang="en" lang="en">    <head>        <script>   (function(i, s, o, g, r, a, m) {     i["GoogleAnalyticsObject"] = r;     i[r] = i[r] || function() {       (i[r].q = i[r].q || []).push(arguments)     }, i[r].l = 1 * new Date();     a = s.createElement(o),       m = s.getElementsByTagName(o)[0];     a.async = 1;     a.src = g;     m.parentNode.insertBefore(a, m)   })(window, document, "script", "https://www.google-analytics.com/analytics.js", "ga");   ga('create', 'UA-66147751-16', {     'storage': 'none',     'clientId': localStorage.getItem('ga:clientId')   });   ga(function(tracker) {     localStorage.setItem('ga:clientId', tracker.get('clientId'));   });   ga('set', 'checkProtocolTask', null);      ga('set', 'page', '/is-jayden-daniels-best-season-rookie-quarterback-nfl-history');   ga('set', 'title', 'Is Jayden Daniels putting together the best season from a rookie quarterback in NFL history?');   ga('send', 'pageview');</script>        <style type="text/css" media="all">            body {    background: transparent;    margin: 0px;}h1, h2, h3 {    color: #DDDDDD;    font-family: "SFUIText-Semibold";    margin: 30px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 21px;    line-height: 125%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}header {    margin: 0px;    height: 0px;    display: none;}p {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 15px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}p > img {    margin-left: -15px;    width: calc(100% + 30px);}a {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;    text-decoration: underline;}ul {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 3px 10px 3px 10px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}ol {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}img {    margin: 0px;    width: 100%;    height: auto;}blockquote {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Medium";    margin: 30px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 19px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}blockquote p {    margin: 0px;}.op-tracker, .op-ad {    display: none;    height: 0px;}article > figure {    margin: 0px;}figcaption {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 10px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 13px;}iframe {    width: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;    margin: 0px;    border: 0;}.vine-embed {    height: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;}.twitter-tweet, .instagram-media {    margin-left: 15px !important;    margin-right: 15px !important;    width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;}.clutchpoints-widget {    /*margin: 10px 15px 10px 15px !important;*/    /*margin-top: 1px !important;*/    padding-top: 10px;    /*margin-left: 15px !important;*/    /*margin-right: 15px !important;*/    /*width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;*/}        </style>        <meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=UTF-8" />    </head>    <body>        <article id="mvp-content-main"><header><figure><img src="https://wp.clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/Is-Jayden-Daniels-putting-together-the-best-season-from-a-rookie-quarterback-in-NFL-history.jpg"></figure><h1>Is Jayden Daniels putting together the best season from a rookie quarterback in NFL history?</h1><time class="op-published" datetime="2024-12-23T13:58:51-08:00">December 23rd, 1:58pm</time><time class="op-modified" datetime="2024-12-23T13:58:51-08:00">December 23rd, 1:58pm</time><address><a href="https://matthew516sports.substack.com/">Douglas Fritz</a>Douglas Fritz has been writing about sports for almost four decades and publishes a Christian sports newsletter and podcast on Substack at Matthew516Sports. He started as a reporter for the student newspaper at East Tennessee State University, worked his way up to Editor-In-Chief, and began his sports writing career at the Johnson City Press daily newspaper while still in college. During 30-plus years at the Press, he covered University of Tennessee football, men's and women's basketball, ETSU athletics, and high school athletics. Among the people he has interviewed are Dale Murphy, Bobby Cox, John Smoltz, and Bruce Smith. He is also a Christian-based screenwriter (five feature-length and one short), book writer (three completed manuscripts and one novel), and songwriter.</address><h3 class="op-kicker">NFL</h3><figure class="op-ad"></figure></header><p>Jayden <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/commanders-news-commanders-jayden-daniels-mindset-comeback-vs-eagles-should-fire-up-fans">Daniels turned in a terrific finish</a> against the Eagles on Sunday, and his efforts <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/commanders-news-terry-mclaurin-awe-jayden-daniels-commanders-comeback-win-vs-eagles">left teammate Terry McLaurin in awe</a>. Through 15 games, the Washington Commanders star is putting together the best season from a rookie quarterback in NFL history.</p><p>Daniels drew a lot of praise early in the season, thanks in part to his accuracy and poise. But things trended the wrong way after a rib injury seemed to slow his progress. However, Daniels has responded stunningly over the last three weeks.</p><p>In wins over the Titans, Saints, and Eagles, Daniels threw 10 touchdown passes with three interceptions. Furthermore, he averaged 230 yards passing and 60 yards rushing in that stretch, plus another touchdown. The stretch pushed his season total to 3,303 yards with 22 touchdowns and eight interceptions. On the ground, he has 737 yards with six more scores. That’s over 4,040 yards of total offense with two more games left to play.</p><h2><b>Commanders QB Jayden Daniels is real deal</b></h2><figure><img src="https://wp.clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/Washington-Commanders-QB-Jayden-Daniels_631601.jpg"><figcaption>Peter Casey-Imagn Images</figcaption></figure><p>According to a ranking on sportingnews.com, a former Washington quarterback <a href="https://www.sportingnews.com/us/nfl/news/best-rookie-qbs-nfl-history-jayden-daniels-caleb-williams/0ce8bd39c5f91c8742e45d43" rel="noopener">ranks at the top</a> among rookies.</p><p>Robert Griffin III finished with 4,015 yards of total offense and accounted for 27 touchdowns in 2012. Daniels has exceeded both of those totals already. Plus his completions percentage (69.7) tops Griffin.</p><p>Second on the list is Dak Prescott (Cowboys, 2016), who threw for 3,667 yards and 29 total scores that season with a 67.8 completion percentage. Third is Russell Wilson (2012) had a strong debut with the Seahawks. He threw for 3,118 yards and accounted for 30 touchdowns.</p><p>Rounding out the top five are Ben Roethlisberger (Steelers, 2004), and Dan Marino (Dolphins, 1983). The list had Daniels at No. 6, but the rankings came in late October.</p><h2><b>Eagles performance put Daniels over the top</b></h2><p>Not only did Daniels throw five touchdown passes, he hit the game-winner on a bullet strike with six seconds remaining on the clock. But also consider who caught the touchdown passes.</p><p>Jamison Crowder caught two of them. He had only one touchdown reception over the last three seasons. Olamide Zaccheaus hadn’t score a touchdown since last season with the Eagles. These guys aren’t household names for a reason. Daniels is getting the job done even with less-than-star-level players.</p><p>It helps that Daniels has star wideout Terry McLaurin, who hauled in the other scoring strike. That moves his touchdown total to 12 on the season. McLaurin <a href="https://www.espn.com/nfl/story/_/id/43117666/jayden-daniels-throws-5-tds-commanders-win-vs-eagles" rel="noopener">has been impressed</a> by Daniels, according to espn.com.</p><p>“If we’re making plays or missing plays he just has a way to stay even-keel,” McLaurin said. “I’ve never seen that from a rookie at any position, let alone one quarterbacking. He has a way of making the right plays when it’s time. You can’t teach that. His ability to get better every week and learn from his mistakes is why he has a chance to be one of the great ones.</p><p>“I’ve never seen him flinch. The only time I’ve ever seen him show emotion is when we lost to Baltimore (in Week 6). He was on the sideline and I was upset, but I was kind of smiling to myself because (I was thinking), we’ve got us one. He hates to lose.”</p><h2><b>Teammates like what Jayden Daniels is doing</b></h2><p>Even the offensive linemen sense they are playing alongside a different dude. Guard Sam Cosmi said Daniels doesn’t get stressed.</p><p>“That keeps the rest of us calm,” Washington guard Sam Cosmi said. “The biggest thing that’s great to see is the person that has the most belief in his ability is himself. He’s a dog; he’s a competitor. I’m really happy he’s my QB.”</p><p>Daniels said he enjoys the high-impact parts of games.</p><p>“I love those types of situations,” Daniels said. “Those are when it’s on thin ice and plays need to be made. That’s what you live for. If you really love the sport you live for those big-time moments where it comes down to the end, everything’s against you, your back is against the wall. How will you respond?”</p><h2><b>How can Daniels put a stamp on being the best rookie QB ever?</b></h2><p>It’s pretty simple. If Daniels leads the Commanders to the playoffs, he seems to be a lock for rookie of the year. And he should be considered the best-ever first-year player at the position.</p><p>ESPN’s Dan Orlovsky said Daniels <a href="https://x.com/GetUpESPN/status/1871182993588424739?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%7Ctwcamp%5Etweetembed%7Ctwterm%5E1871182993588424739%7Ctwgr%5Ee3c45c543f2952c856e98ddfea71f99cea538985%7Ctwcon%5Es1_&amp;ref_url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.si.com%2Fnfl%2Fdan-orlovsky-jayden-daniels-best-player-in-nfl-this-weekend" rel="noopener">is separating himself</a> from the crowd, according to a post on X by Get Up.</p><p>“Jayden Daniels was the best player in the NFL this weekend,” Orlovsky said. “He’s unflappable. He doesn’t blink. Last year C.J. Stroud has this remarkable rookie season. What we’re watching is equally as remarkable.</p><p>“That fourth-and-11 run is the play of the game. It’s not only, am I going to take off and run with the football or not throw it. He’s three or four yards short of that first-down marker, and Philly defensively is bearing down on him. He doesn’t slide. He doesn’t leap. (And) he doesn’t dive. He goes, no, I’ll trust my speed and take off. He doesn’t get that, they don’t win that game. It is an unbelievable season that his is putting together right now.”</p><p>Daniels brought the spotlight to the Commanders with his performance against the Eagles, according to a post on X by Good Morning Football.</p><p><i>“Rookie Jayden Daniels went into superhero mode when the game mattered most. That last drive was a statement for the rest of the league to see. The @Commanders have a guy. He’s the franchise changer and he’s just getting started.” — @PSchrags (Peter Schrager).</i></p><figure class="op-tracker"></figure></article>    </body></html>

Is Jayden Daniels putting together the best season from a rookie quarterback in NFL history?

<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Transitional//EN" "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-transitional.dtd"><html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml" xml:lang="en" lang="en">    <head>        <script>   (function(i, s, o, g, r, a, m) {     i["GoogleAnalyticsObject"] = r;     i[r] = i[r] || function() {       (i[r].q = i[r].q || []).push(arguments)     }, i[r].l = 1 * new Date();     a = s.createElement(o),       m = s.getElementsByTagName(o)[0];     a.async = 1;     a.src = g;     m.parentNode.insertBefore(a, m)   })(window, document, "script", "https://www.google-analytics.com/analytics.js", "ga");   ga('create', 'UA-66147751-16', {     'storage': 'none',     'clientId': localStorage.getItem('ga:clientId')   });   ga(function(tracker) {     localStorage.setItem('ga:clientId', tracker.get('clientId'));   });   ga('set', 'checkProtocolTask', null);      ga('set', 'page', '/eagles-news-kenny-picketts-admission-running-offense-eagles-oc-kellen-moore');   ga('set', 'title', 'Kenny Pickett’s honest admission about running Eagles offense with OC Kellen Moore');   ga('send', 'pageview');</script>        <style type="text/css" media="all">            body {    background: transparent;    margin: 0px;}h1, h2, h3 {    color: #DDDDDD;    font-family: "SFUIText-Semibold";    margin: 30px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 21px;    line-height: 125%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}header {    margin: 0px;    height: 0px;    display: none;}p {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 15px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}p > img {    margin-left: -15px;    width: calc(100% + 30px);}a {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;    text-decoration: underline;}ul {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 3px 10px 3px 10px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}ol {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}img {    margin: 0px;    width: 100%;    height: auto;}blockquote {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Medium";    margin: 30px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 19px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}blockquote p {    margin: 0px;}.op-tracker, .op-ad {    display: none;    height: 0px;}article > figure {    margin: 0px;}figcaption {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 10px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 13px;}iframe {    width: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;    margin: 0px;    border: 0;}.vine-embed {    height: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;}.twitter-tweet, .instagram-media {    margin-left: 15px !important;    margin-right: 15px !important;    width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;}.clutchpoints-widget {    /*margin: 10px 15px 10px 15px !important;*/    /*margin-top: 1px !important;*/    padding-top: 10px;    /*margin-left: 15px !important;*/    /*margin-right: 15px !important;*/    /*width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;*/}        </style>        <meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=UTF-8" />    </head>    <body>        <article id="mvp-content-main"><header><figure><img src="https://wp.clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/Eagles-news-Kenny-Picketts-honest-admission-about-running-offense-with-Kellen-Moore.jpg"></figure><h1>Kenny Pickett’s honest admission about running Eagles offense with OC Kellen Moore</h1><time class="op-published" datetime="2024-12-23T00:23:18-08:00">December 23rd, 12:23am</time><time class="op-modified" datetime="2024-12-23T14:11:03-08:00">December 23rd, 2:11pm</time><address><a>Brayden Haena</a>Brayden Haena is an Associate Editor at ClutchPoints. A die-hard San Francisco Giants fan and a football fanatic, Brayden further channels his baseball enthusiasm through his podcast, where he delves into the latest in sports with engaging commentary. He also serves as the Defensive Coordinator for Heritage High School. His commitment to sports journalism is evident in his diverse experiences with ContraCosta.news and his dedication to delivering compelling and insightful content.</address><h3 class="op-kicker">NFL</h3><figure class="op-ad"></figure></header><p>The <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/eagles-news-nick-siriannis-sloppy-declaration-loss-commanders">Philadelphia Eagles suffered a tough 36-33 loss to the Washington Commanders</a> on Sunday. In this game, quarterbacks Jalen Hurts and Kenny Pickett both took center stage <a href="https://www.espn.com/nfl/story/_/id/43112051/eagles-jalen-hurts-ruled-suffering-concussion" rel="noopener">under difficult circumstances</a>. Hurts exited early with a concussion, leaving Pickett to take over and navigate the offense under new challenges. Following the game, Pickett <a href="https://x.com/kracze/status/1871012812996182035" rel="noopener">offered an honest assessment of his performance</a> and the adjustments required under offensive coordinator Kellen Moore.</p><p>Pickett acknowledged the learning curve as he continued to work with Moore in high-pressure situations. “First time Kellen’s had to call a game with me in there, so it was the first time for everybody working together in this kind of environment,” Pickett shared via Ed Kracz on X, formerly Twitter.</p><p>Despite stepping in <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/eagles-news-kenny-pickett-concerns-rib-injury-commanders">under challenging circumstances, Pickett showcased resilience.</a> The former Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback completed 14-of-24 passes for 143 yards, throwing one touchdown and one interception. His performance was marred by a rib injury sustained in the fourth quarter, which he played through to lead a crucial field-goal drive that briefly gave the Eagles the lead.</p><p>Wide receiver A.J. Brown expressed confidence in Pickett’s ability to step up when needed. “I’m happy that [Pickett] came in because that gives him confidence, regardless if we got the win or loss,” Brown said. Brown led the Eagles’ receivers with eight catches for 97 yards and a touchdown, further emphasizing Pickett’s ability to connect with his targets.</p><h2><b>Kenny Pickett and the Eagles look to bounce back next week</b></h2><figure><img src="https://wp.clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/Kenny-Pickett.jpg"><figcaption>Peter Casey-Imagn Images</figcaption></figure><p>However, the Eagles couldn’t maintain their lead as Commanders rookie quarterback Jayden Daniels orchestrated a late-game comeback, culminating in a game-winning touchdown pass to Jamison Crowder with six seconds left. The loss not only snapped Philadelphia’s 10-game winning streak but also dealt a significant blow to their playoff aspirations.</p><p>The Eagles now face an uphill battle to secure the top seed in the playoffs. At 12-3, they remain in contention but trail the 13-2 Detroit Lions and Minnesota Vikings in the NFC standings. Their chances for the No. 1 seed have <a href="https://www.espn.com/nfl/story/_/id/43117666/jayden-daniels-throws-5-tds-commanders-win-vs-eagles" rel="noopener">dropped to a mere 4%</a>, according to NFL NextGen Stats.</p><p>Head coach Nick Sirianni took responsibility for the team’s overall performance, labeling it as “sloppy.” “When you play a good football team like we played today and you’re sloppy, regardless of how many turnovers you force, it’s going to be hard to win,” Sirianni said postgame.</p><p>Pickett’s willingness to shoulder responsibility and adapt to Moore’s offensive system offers a silver lining amid the disappointment. “It’s all about learning and building chemistry,” Pickett said. “These moments will make us better as a team.” With two games remaining against the Cowboys and Giants, the Eagles have little margin for error as they aim to close the regular season on a high note and keep their playoff hopes alive.</p><figure class="op-tracker"></figure></article>    </body></html>

Kenny Pickett’s honest admission about running Eagles offense with OC Kellen Moore

<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Transitional//EN" "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-transitional.dtd"><html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml" xml:lang="en" lang="en">    <head>        <script>   (function(i, s, o, g, r, a, m) {     i["GoogleAnalyticsObject"] = r;     i[r] = i[r] || function() {       (i[r].q = i[r].q || []).push(arguments)     }, i[r].l = 1 * new Date();     a = s.createElement(o),       m = s.getElementsByTagName(o)[0];     a.async = 1;     a.src = g;     m.parentNode.insertBefore(a, m)   })(window, document, "script", "https://www.google-analytics.com/analytics.js", "ga");   ga('create', 'UA-66147751-16', {     'storage': 'none',     'clientId': localStorage.getItem('ga:clientId')   });   ga(function(tracker) {     localStorage.setItem('ga:clientId', tracker.get('clientId'));   });   ga('set', 'checkProtocolTask', null);      ga('set', 'page', '/eagles-news-devonta-smith-reaction-drop-commanders');   ga('set', 'title', 'Eagles WR DeVonta Smith’s brutally honest reaction to costly drop vs. Commanders');   ga('send', 'pageview');</script>        <style type="text/css" media="all">            body {    background: transparent;    margin: 0px;}h1, h2, h3 {    color: #DDDDDD;    font-family: "SFUIText-Semibold";    margin: 30px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 21px;    line-height: 125%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}header {    margin: 0px;    height: 0px;    display: none;}p {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 15px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}p > img {    margin-left: -15px;    width: calc(100% + 30px);}a {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;    text-decoration: underline;}ul {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 3px 10px 3px 10px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}ol {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}img {    margin: 0px;    width: 100%;    height: auto;}blockquote {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Medium";    margin: 30px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 19px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}blockquote p {    margin: 0px;}.op-tracker, .op-ad {    display: none;    height: 0px;}article > figure {    margin: 0px;}figcaption {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 10px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 13px;}iframe {    width: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;    margin: 0px;    border: 0;}.vine-embed {    height: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;}.twitter-tweet, .instagram-media {    margin-left: 15px !important;    margin-right: 15px !important;    width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;}.clutchpoints-widget {    /*margin: 10px 15px 10px 15px !important;*/    /*margin-top: 1px !important;*/    padding-top: 10px;    /*margin-left: 15px !important;*/    /*margin-right: 15px !important;*/    /*width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;*/}        </style>        <meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=UTF-8" />    </head>    <body>        <article id="mvp-content-main"><header><figure><img src="https://wp.clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/Eagles-news-DeVonta-Smiths-brutally-honest-reaction-to-costly-drop-vs-Commanders.jpg"></figure><h1>Eagles WR DeVonta Smith’s brutally honest reaction to costly drop vs. Commanders</h1><time class="op-published" datetime="2024-12-22T17:32:17-08:00">December 22nd, 5:32pm</time><time class="op-modified" datetime="2024-12-22T20:59:20-08:00">December 22nd, 8:59pm</time><address><a>Dakota Zientek</a>Dakota Zientek graduated from the University of Iowa in 2020 and has been writing about the NFL ever since. As a die-hard NFL fan, Dakota's fandom rides with the Chicago Bears through thick and thin -- regardless of how much pain it has caused his heart throughout the years. One day, he believes he will celebrate the Bears winning a Super Bowl. Maybe even... a few?</address><h3 class="op-kicker">NFL</h3><figure class="op-ad"></figure></header><p>In a battle that resulted in the <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/eagles-news-kenny-pickett-leads-td-drive-jalen-hurts-evaluated-concussion">Philadelphia Eagles losing their starting quarterback</a> and the game at hand, receiver DeVonta Smith <a href="https://x.com/CameronWolfe/status/1870949882422501595" rel="noopener">owned up</a> to his role in the <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/eagles-news-nick-siriannis-sloppy-declaration-loss-commanders">Week 16 loss against the Washington Commanders</a>, per NFL Network’s Cameron Wolfe on X.</p><p>“Devonta Smith said ‘I just dropped it, about late 4th quarter pass to him,” Wolfe wrote. “Smith didn’t make any excuses. He noted he called for the ball, but just dropped it.”</p><figure class="op-interactive"><blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p dir="ltr" lang="en">DeVonta Smith drops the pass that could have possibly clinched the victory for the Eagles 👀<a href="https://t.co/PiKXNIe3gI">pic.twitter.com/PiKXNIe3gI</a></p><p>— ClutchPoints (@ClutchPoints) <a href="https://twitter.com/ClutchPoints/status/1870941661552894328?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 22, 2024</a></p></blockquote><p><script async="" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></p></figure><p>In his post-game press conference following his <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/eagles-news-devonta-smith-drop-jayden-daniels-heroics">crucial dropped pass</a>, Smith took <a href="https://x.com/howardeskin/status/1870951834812379398" rel="noopener">complete responsibility</a> for his mistake, per Howard Eskin on X.</p><p>“I mean, s**t, I made all them tough catches today, and the easiest one I had, I dropped it,” Smith said. “It is what it is. Charge it to the game. Ain’t nobody else’s fault but mine.”</p><p>When asked about how Smith would move on from the crucial drop, the fourth-year receiver kept it blunt with the reporter.</p><p>“The game’s over with,” Smith said. “Ain’t nothing I can do about it now.”</p><p>While Smith is one of the more sure-handed receivers in the NFL, he noted there’s not much to learn from his costly mistake.</p><p>“I just dropped the ball,” Smith said. “There ain’t no teaching on it. Just catch the ball. It’s simple.”</p><figure class="op-interactive"><blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p dir="ltr" lang="en">Too many mistakes is why <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Eagles?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Eagles</a> lost for first time in 11 games. <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Commanders?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Commanders</a> score TD with seconds left in game. DeVonta Smith took responsibility for his drop late in game. <a href="https://t.co/gET06NBVR2">pic.twitter.com/gET06NBVR2</a></p><p>— Howard Eskin (@howardeskin) <a href="https://twitter.com/howardeskin/status/1870951834812379398?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 22, 2024</a></p></blockquote><p><script async="" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></p></figure><p>However, while Smith didn’t appear too bothered by the drop, it might’ve cost the Eagles their shot at a first-round bye in the 2024 NFL Playoffs.</p><h2><b>Eagles drop to No. 2 seed in NFC Playoff Picture after Commanders loss</b></h2><figure><img src="https://wp.clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/A.J.-Brown_acbf5c.jpg"><figcaption>Geoff Burke-Imagn Images</figcaption></figure><p>While they entered the week with a projected bye week in the first round of the playoffs, their loss to the Commanders dropped them to second place in the NFC.</p><p>However, the gap isn’t insurmountable, with the Detroit Lions holding just a one-game lead over the Eagles.</p><p>Considering the <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/lions-news-can-build-an-entire-defense-off-injured-players">Lions’ laundry list of injuries</a>, the Eagles could find themselves back in first place before the regular season is over.</p><p>Now, this loss <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/nfl-news-eagles-choke-commanders-eliminates-49ers-cowboys">makes things interesting in the NFC West</a>, however.</p><p>After the results of Week 16, the Eagles (12-3) are two games ahead of the Commanders (10-5) with just two matchups remaining for both sides.</p><p>The Eagles’ message moving forward is to win against the Dallas Cowboys in Week 17 and the New York Giants in Week 18.</p><figure class="op-tracker"></figure></article>    </body></html>

Eagles WR DeVonta Smith’s brutally honest reaction to costly drop vs. Commanders

<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Transitional//EN" "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-transitional.dtd"><html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml" xml:lang="en" lang="en">    <head>        <script>   (function(i, s, o, g, r, a, m) {     i["GoogleAnalyticsObject"] = r;     i[r] = i[r] || function() {       (i[r].q = i[r].q || []).push(arguments)     }, i[r].l = 1 * new Date();     a = s.createElement(o),       m = s.getElementsByTagName(o)[0];     a.async = 1;     a.src = g;     m.parentNode.insertBefore(a, m)   })(window, document, "script", "https://www.google-analytics.com/analytics.js", "ga");   ga('create', 'UA-66147751-16', {     'storage': 'none',     'clientId': localStorage.getItem('ga:clientId')   });   ga(function(tracker) {     localStorage.setItem('ga:clientId', tracker.get('clientId'));   });   ga('set', 'checkProtocolTask', null);      ga('set', 'page', '/commanders-news-commanders-jayden-daniels-mindset-comeback-vs-eagles-should-fire-up-fans');   ga('set', 'title', 'Commanders’ Jayden Daniels’ mindset on comeback vs. Eagles should fire up fans');   ga('send', 'pageview');</script>        <style type="text/css" media="all">            body {    background: transparent;    margin: 0px;}h1, h2, h3 {    color: #DDDDDD;    font-family: "SFUIText-Semibold";    margin: 30px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 21px;    line-height: 125%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}header {    margin: 0px;    height: 0px;    display: none;}p {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 15px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}p > img {    margin-left: -15px;    width: calc(100% + 30px);}a {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;    text-decoration: underline;}ul {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 3px 10px 3px 10px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}ol {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}img {    margin: 0px;    width: 100%;    height: auto;}blockquote {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Medium";    margin: 30px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 19px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}blockquote p {    margin: 0px;}.op-tracker, .op-ad {    display: none;    height: 0px;}article > figure {    margin: 0px;}figcaption {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 10px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 13px;}iframe {    width: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;    margin: 0px;    border: 0;}.vine-embed {    height: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;}.twitter-tweet, .instagram-media {    margin-left: 15px !important;    margin-right: 15px !important;    width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;}.clutchpoints-widget {    /*margin: 10px 15px 10px 15px !important;*/    /*margin-top: 1px !important;*/    padding-top: 10px;    /*margin-left: 15px !important;*/    /*margin-right: 15px !important;*/    /*width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;*/}        </style>        <meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=UTF-8" />    </head>    <body>        <article id="mvp-content-main"><header><figure><img src="https://wp.clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/Jayden-Daniels-mindset-on-comeback-vs.-Eagles-should-fire-up-fans.jpg"><figcaption>12/22/24</figcaption></figure><h1>Commanders’ Jayden Daniels’ mindset on comeback vs. Eagles should fire up fans</h1><time class="op-published" datetime="2024-12-22T15:53:31-08:00">December 22nd, 3:53pm</time><time class="op-modified" datetime="2024-12-22T15:53:31-08:00">December 22nd, 3:53pm</time><address><a>Steve Silverman</a>Steve Silverman has been covering the NFL for more than 35 years, and his writing has appeared in ESPN Magazine, Bleacher Report, CBS Sports, Pro Football Weekly, and Forbes.com. He has written 10 books, including "Who's Better, Who's Best in the NFL." He has won multiple awards from the Pro Football Writers of America.</address><h3 class="op-kicker">NFL</h3><figure class="op-ad"></figure></header><p>The Washington Commanders appeared to be up against it in their Week 16 home game against the red-hot Philadelphia Eagles. The <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/commanders-news-terry-mclaurin-awe-jayden-daniels-commanders-comeback-win-vs-eagles">Commanders fell into an immediate hole</a>, as the Eagles built a two-touchdown lead in the first quarter and had control of the game for nearly 60 minutes. However, rookie quarterback Jayden Daniels was never intimidated by the Philadelphia defense and remained confident in his team. He led a dramatic comeback that resulted in Washington’s 36-33 victory.</p><p>Daniels has had an excellent rookie season <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/nfl-news-eagles-choke-commanders-eliminates-49ers-cowboys">for the Commanders</a> with a great number of highlights throughout the season. However, the victory over the Eagles has to be the high point of the season as he threw five scoring passes, including the winning touchdown to wideout Jamison Crowder with just 6 seconds left in the fourth quarter.</p><p>Daniels was under pressure throughout the game from the Philadelphia defense, but his concentration never waned. He completed 24 of 39 passes for 256 yards with his 5 TD passes and 2 interceptions. He also ran 9 times for 81 yards and was sacked 1 time.</p><p>The Commanders trailed 27-14 at the start of the fourth quarter, but Daniels <a href="https://x.com/ZachSelbyWC/status/1870956193965076707">never lost faith</a> in his team. “I always believed we could win the game,” Daniels said.</p><p>Washington responded with a pair of touchdown drives at the start of the fourth quarter. Daniels finished off an 11-play, 61-yard drive with a 4-yard TD pass to Olamide Zaccheaus with 13:33 left in the quarter. On their next possession, Daniels connected with Zaccheaus on a 49-yard scoring pass to pay off a 7-play, 87-yard drive. That gave the Commanders a brief 28-27 lead.</p><h2><b>Eagles respond with a pair of field goals, but Commanders take advantage of final possession</b></h2><figure><img src="https://wp.clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/Jamison-Crowder-caught-the-game-winning-TD-pass-for-the-Commanders.jpg"><figcaption>Mandatory Credit: Peter Casey-Imagn Images</figcaption></figure><p>Even though quarterback Jalen Hurts suffered a concussion and had to leave the game in the first half, the Eagles had plenty of response. Backup quarterback Kenny Pickett was able to lead the Eagles to a pair of field goals by Jake Elliott, and that that gave Philadelphia a 33-28 lead.</p><p>However, the last Elliott field goal came with 1:58 remaining, and that gave Daniels more than enough time to negotiate 57 yards in nine plays. The drive culminated with the Crowder touchdown.</p><p>The Commanders added a two-point conversion and survived the ensuing kickoff to win the game.</p><p>Hurts suffered a concussion and Pickett completed 14 of 24 passes for 143 yards with 1 TD and 1 interception. Eagles running back Saquon Barkley had another big game with 29 carries for 150 yards and 2 touchdowns. Wide receiver A.J. Brown caught 8 passes for 97 yards and a touchdown.</p><p>The Commanders were able to keep the Eagles from stretching their winning streak to 11 despite committing 5 turnovers.</p><figure class="op-tracker"></figure></article>    </body></html>

Commanders’ Jayden Daniels’ mindset on comeback vs. Eagles should fire up fans

<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Transitional//EN" "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-transitional.dtd"><html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml" xml:lang="en" lang="en">    <head>        <script>   (function(i, s, o, g, r, a, m) {     i["GoogleAnalyticsObject"] = r;     i[r] = i[r] || function() {       (i[r].q = i[r].q || []).push(arguments)     }, i[r].l = 1 * new Date();     a = s.createElement(o),       m = s.getElementsByTagName(o)[0];     a.async = 1;     a.src = g;     m.parentNode.insertBefore(a, m)   })(window, document, "script", "https://www.google-analytics.com/analytics.js", "ga");   ga('create', 'UA-66147751-16', {     'storage': 'none',     'clientId': localStorage.getItem('ga:clientId')   });   ga(function(tracker) {     localStorage.setItem('ga:clientId', tracker.get('clientId'));   });   ga('set', 'checkProtocolTask', null);      ga('set', 'page', '/commanders-news-terry-mclaurin-awe-jayden-daniels-commanders-comeback-win-vs-eagles');   ga('set', 'title', 'Terry McLaurin in awe of Jayden Daniels after Commanders comeback win vs. Eagles');   ga('send', 'pageview');</script>        <style type="text/css" media="all">            body {    background: transparent;    margin: 0px;}h1, h2, h3 {    color: #DDDDDD;    font-family: "SFUIText-Semibold";    margin: 30px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 21px;    line-height: 125%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}header {    margin: 0px;    height: 0px;    display: none;}p {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 15px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}p > img {    margin-left: -15px;    width: calc(100% + 30px);}a {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;    text-decoration: underline;}ul {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 3px 10px 3px 10px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}ol {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}img {    margin: 0px;    width: 100%;    height: auto;}blockquote {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Medium";    margin: 30px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 19px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}blockquote p {    margin: 0px;}.op-tracker, .op-ad {    display: none;    height: 0px;}article > figure {    margin: 0px;}figcaption {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 10px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 13px;}iframe {    width: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;    margin: 0px;    border: 0;}.vine-embed {    height: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;}.twitter-tweet, .instagram-media {    margin-left: 15px !important;    margin-right: 15px !important;    width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;}.clutchpoints-widget {    /*margin: 10px 15px 10px 15px !important;*/    /*margin-top: 1px !important;*/    padding-top: 10px;    /*margin-left: 15px !important;*/    /*margin-right: 15px !important;*/    /*width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;*/}        </style>        <meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=UTF-8" />    </head>    <body>        <article id="mvp-content-main"><header><figure><img src="https://wp.clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/Commanders-news-Terry-McLaurin-in-awe-of-Jayden-Daniels-after-comeback-win-vs.jpg"><figcaption>12/21/24</figcaption></figure><h1>Terry McLaurin in awe of Jayden Daniels after Commanders comeback win vs. Eagles</h1><time class="op-published" datetime="2024-12-22T14:47:19-08:00">December 22nd, 2:47pm</time><time class="op-modified" datetime="2024-12-22T14:47:19-08:00">December 22nd, 2:47pm</time><address><a>Steve Silverman</a>Steve Silverman has been covering the NFL for more than 35 years, and his writing has appeared in ESPN Magazine, Bleacher Report, CBS Sports, Pro Football Weekly, and Forbes.com. He has written 10 books, including "Who's Better, Who's Best in the NFL." He has won multiple awards from the Pro Football Writers of America.</address><h3 class="op-kicker">NFL</h3><figure class="op-ad"></figure></header><p>The <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/nfl-news-eagles-choke-commanders-eliminates-49ers-cowboys">Washington Commanders appeared</a> to be in desperate position against the streaking Philadelphia Eagles. They found themselves down by a 21-7 margin in the first quarter and they would turn the ball over five times in the game against an opponent that had won 10 games in a row. Nevertheless there was no give-up in the Commanders or their rookie quarterback Jayden Daniels, and Washington pulled off a spectacular 36-33 victory.</p><p>The Commanders got the ball back with 1:58 remaining and trailing 33-28. Daniels led a 9-play, 57-yard drive that culminated when the quarterback connected with with Jamison Crowder on a 9-yard TD pass with 6 seconds left in the game. Washington succeeded on its two-point conversion and survived the ensuing kickoff to clinch the triumph.</p><p>Veteran wide receiver Terry McLaurin was in awe of his quarterback’s performance against the powerful Eagles. Daniels completed 24 of 39 passes for 258 yards with 5 touchdowns and 2 interceptions. He also ran the ball 9 times for 81 yards.</p><p>“I’ve never seen that from a rookie,” <a href="https://x.com/ZachSelbyWC/status/1870946806349062381">McLaurin said</a>.</p><p>The wide receiver was one of Daniels’ top targets in the game and he caught 5 passes for 60 yards and a touchdown. The top receiver in the game was Olamide Zaccheaus, who caught 5 passes for 70 yards and 2 touchdowns. Crowder only caught two passes, but both resulted in touchdowns.</p><h2><b>Eagles suffer key injury after hot start</b></h2><figure><img src="https://wp.clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/Jayden-Daniels-came-through-for-the-Commanders-against-the-Eagles.jpg"><figcaption>Mandatory Credit: Peter Casey-Imagn Images</figcaption></figure><p>The Eagles scored on their opening possession of the game as quarterback Jalen Hurts directed an 8-play, 49-yard drive after the <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/eagles-news-dl-injuries-philly-health-woes-commanders">Commanders had been stopped</a> on downs on its first possession. Running back Saquon Barkley pounded the ball in from 2 yards out to give Philadelphia a 7-0 lead.</p><p>The Eagles forced a turnover on Washington’s next possession and they were able to add to the lead with another touchdown. However, Hurts suffered a concussion during the middle of the 8-play, 57-yard drive and backup Kenny Pickett was forced into action. Pickett finished the drive with a 4-yard TD pass to A.J. Brown.</p><p>Pickett ended up completing 14 of 24 passes for 143 yards with 1 touchdown and 1 interception. Hurts was 1 of 4 for 11 yards before suffering the injury.</p><p>The Eagles could have clinched the NFC East title if they had been able to hold on for the victory. They fell to 12-3 with the defeat and Hurts’ status for the final two games of the season has not been determined. The Eagles host the Dallas Cowboys in Week 17.</p><p>The Commanders improved to 10-5 with the victory, and they are on the verge of making the playoffs. Washington hosts the Atlanta Falcons in its Week 17 game.</p><p> </p><figure class="op-tracker"></figure></article>    </body></html>

Terry McLaurin in awe of Jayden Daniels after Commanders comeback win vs. Eagles

<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Transitional//EN" "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-transitional.dtd"><html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml" xml:lang="en" lang="en">    <head>        <script>   (function(i, s, o, g, r, a, m) {     i["GoogleAnalyticsObject"] = r;     i[r] = i[r] || function() {       (i[r].q = i[r].q || []).push(arguments)     }, i[r].l = 1 * new Date();     a = s.createElement(o),       m = s.getElementsByTagName(o)[0];     a.async = 1;     a.src = g;     m.parentNode.insertBefore(a, m)   })(window, document, "script", "https://www.google-analytics.com/analytics.js", "ga");   ga('create', 'UA-66147751-16', {     'storage': 'none',     'clientId': localStorage.getItem('ga:clientId')   });   ga(function(tracker) {     localStorage.setItem('ga:clientId', tracker.get('clientId'));   });   ga('set', 'checkProtocolTask', null);      ga('set', 'page', '/nfl-news-eagles-choke-commanders-eliminates-49ers-cowboys');   ga('set', 'title', 'NFL news: Eagles’ choke job vs. Commanders eliminates 49ers, Cowboys from playoffs');   ga('send', 'pageview');</script>        <style type="text/css" media="all">            body {    background: transparent;    margin: 0px;}h1, h2, h3 {    color: #DDDDDD;    font-family: "SFUIText-Semibold";    margin: 30px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 21px;    line-height: 125%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}header {    margin: 0px;    height: 0px;    display: none;}p {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 15px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}p > img {    margin-left: -15px;    width: calc(100% + 30px);}a {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;    text-decoration: underline;}ul {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 3px 10px 3px 10px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}ol {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}img {    margin: 0px;    width: 100%;    height: auto;}blockquote {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Medium";    margin: 30px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 19px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}blockquote p {    margin: 0px;}.op-tracker, .op-ad {    display: none;    height: 0px;}article > figure {    margin: 0px;}figcaption {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 10px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 13px;}iframe {    width: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;    margin: 0px;    border: 0;}.vine-embed {    height: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;}.twitter-tweet, .instagram-media {    margin-left: 15px !important;    margin-right: 15px !important;    width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;}.clutchpoints-widget {    /*margin: 10px 15px 10px 15px !important;*/    /*margin-top: 1px !important;*/    padding-top: 10px;    /*margin-left: 15px !important;*/    /*margin-right: 15px !important;*/    /*width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;*/}        </style>        <meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=UTF-8" />    </head>    <body>        <article id="mvp-content-main"><header><figure><img src="https://wp.clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/NFL-news-Eagles-choke-job-vs.jpg"></figure><h1>NFL news: Eagles’ choke job vs. Commanders eliminates 49ers, Cowboys from playoffs</h1><time class="op-published" datetime="2024-12-22T13:46:10-08:00">December 22nd, 1:46pm</time><time class="op-modified" datetime="2024-12-22T14:05:33-08:00">December 22nd, 2:05pm</time><address><a href="https://matthew516sports.substack.com/">Douglas Fritz</a>Douglas Fritz has been writing about sports for almost four decades and publishes a Christian sports newsletter and podcast on Substack at Matthew516Sports. He started as a reporter for the student newspaper at East Tennessee State University, worked his way up to Editor-In-Chief, and began his sports writing career at the Johnson City Press daily newspaper while still in college. During 30-plus years at the Press, he covered University of Tennessee football, men's and women's basketball, ETSU athletics, and high school athletics. Among the people he has interviewed are Dale Murphy, Bobby Cox, John Smoltz, and Bruce Smith. He is also a Christian-based screenwriter (five feature-length and one short), book writer (three completed manuscripts and one novel), and songwriter.</address><h3 class="op-kicker">NFL</h3><figure class="op-ad"></figure></header><p>C.J. <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/eagles-news-cj-gardner-johnson-flips-off-commanders-fans-after-ejection">Gardner Johnson flew the bird</a> while <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/eagles-news-saquon-barkley-latest-mvp-statement-with-68-yard-td-scamper">Saquon Barkley romped for a long touchdown</a>. But at the end of the day, the Philadelphia Eagles’ choke job versus the Commanders eliminated the 49ers and Cowboys from the playoffs.</p><p>After Eagles QB Jalen Hurts left with a concussion, Commanders counterpart Jayden Daniels threw five touchdown passes and the Washington Commanders ended the Philadelphia Eagles’ winning streak at 10. The Commanders scored with six second remaining for a stunning 36-33 win in a game where Washington turned the ball over five times.</p><p>Daniels’ heroics culminated with a 57-yard touchdown drive in the final 1:58, finding Jamison Crowder in the end zone. Daniels bounced back from throwing an interception on the previous possession and led the Commanders (10-5) back after they fell behind by 14 points seven minutes into the game and trailed by 14 going into the fourth quarter.</p><h2><b>Eagles, head coach Nick Sirianni suffer tough loss</b></h2><figure><img src="https://wp.clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/Philadelphia-Eagles-head-coach-Nick-Sirianni.jpg"></figure><p>Washington is now on the verge of earning a playoff berth while the Eagles (12-3) hurt their chances of earning the top overall seed in the NFC.</p><p>The Eagles had to make a go of it without Hurts for most of the game. He got injured in the first quarter after a hard tackle sent him to the sideline. Pickett turned in a 14-of-24 performance for 143 yards. He also threw a touchdown pass to A.J. Brown.</p><p>It looked early like an Eagles blowout. They scored two touchdowns in the first eight minutes of the game. By the end of the first quarter, they held a 21-7 advantage. A pair of third-quarter field goals sent the Eagles into the fourth quarter with a 27-14 lead. Also, the Eagles picked off Daniels late in the fourth quarter with a 30-28 lead.</p><p>Furthermore, DeVonta Smith dropped a third-down pass that would have been a first down and effectively ended the game. Instead, the Eagles had to kick another field goal for a 33-28. That set up the dynamic finish for Daniels and the Commanders.</p><figure class="op-tracker"></figure></article>    </body></html>

NFL news: Eagles’ choke job vs. Commanders eliminates 49ers, Cowboys from playoffs

<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Transitional//EN" "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-transitional.dtd"><html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml" xml:lang="en" lang="en">    <head>        <script>   (function(i, s, o, g, r, a, m) {     i["GoogleAnalyticsObject"] = r;     i[r] = i[r] || function() {       (i[r].q = i[r].q || []).push(arguments)     }, i[r].l = 1 * new Date();     a = s.createElement(o),       m = s.getElementsByTagName(o)[0];     a.async = 1;     a.src = g;     m.parentNode.insertBefore(a, m)   })(window, document, "script", "https://www.google-analytics.com/analytics.js", "ga");   ga('create', 'UA-66147751-16', {     'storage': 'none',     'clientId': localStorage.getItem('ga:clientId')   });   ga(function(tracker) {     localStorage.setItem('ga:clientId', tracker.get('clientId'));   });   ga('set', 'checkProtocolTask', null);      ga('set', 'page', '/eagles-news-devonta-smith-drop-jayden-daniels-heroics');   ga('set', 'title', 'Eagles WR DeVonta Smith’s shocking drop opens door for Jayden Daniels’ heroics');   ga('send', 'pageview');</script>        <style type="text/css" media="all">            body {    background: transparent;    margin: 0px;}h1, h2, h3 {    color: #DDDDDD;    font-family: "SFUIText-Semibold";    margin: 30px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 21px;    line-height: 125%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}header {    margin: 0px;    height: 0px;    display: none;}p {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 15px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}p > img {    margin-left: -15px;    width: calc(100% + 30px);}a {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;    text-decoration: underline;}ul {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 3px 10px 3px 10px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}ol {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}img {    margin: 0px;    width: 100%;    height: auto;}blockquote {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Medium";    margin: 30px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 19px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}blockquote p {    margin: 0px;}.op-tracker, .op-ad {    display: none;    height: 0px;}article > figure {    margin: 0px;}figcaption {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 10px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 13px;}iframe {    width: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;    margin: 0px;    border: 0;}.vine-embed {    height: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;}.twitter-tweet, .instagram-media {    margin-left: 15px !important;    margin-right: 15px !important;    width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;}.clutchpoints-widget {    /*margin: 10px 15px 10px 15px !important;*/    /*margin-top: 1px !important;*/    padding-top: 10px;    /*margin-left: 15px !important;*/    /*margin-right: 15px !important;*/    /*width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;*/}        </style>        <meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=UTF-8" />    </head>    <body>        <article id="mvp-content-main"><header><figure><img src="https://wp.clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/Eagles-news-DeVonta-Smiths-shocking-drop-opens-door-for-Jayden-Daniels-heroics.jpg"></figure><h1>Eagles WR DeVonta Smith’s shocking drop opens door for Jayden Daniels’ heroics</h1><time class="op-published" datetime="2024-12-22T13:39:52-08:00">December 22nd, 1:39pm</time><time class="op-modified" datetime="2024-12-22T14:04:03-08:00">December 22nd, 2:04pm</time><address><a>Troy Finnegan</a>Troy Finnegan is an Associate Editor at ClutchPoints. He graduated from the University of Colorado Boulder in 2023 with a degree in journalism and minors in communications and sports media, as well as a critical sports studies certificate. He has had a passion for sports his entire life, and enjoys covering and writing about all sports.</address><h3 class="op-kicker">NFL</h3><figure class="op-ad"></figure></header><p>The <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/nfl-news-eagles-choke-job-vs-commanders-eliminates-49ers-cowboys-from-playoffs">Washington Commanders pulled a rabbit out of their hat</a> on Sunday, coming from bed to beat the Philadelphia Eagles 36-33 in a classic in the nation’s capital.</p><p>Even after the <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/eagles-news-dl-injuries-philly-health-woes-commanders">Eagles suffered a litany of injuries</a>, Philadelphia looked like they were in position to win for most of the second half, as they held a 27-14 lead before Commanders quarterback Jayden Daniels started the comeback. Daniels ripped off two consecutive touchdowns to give Washington a brief lead before a Jake Elliott field goal put the Eagles back in front.</p><p>The Eagles got the ball back thanks to a Daniels interception with a 30-28 lead, and they looked poised to close the game out. However, <a href="https://x.com/ClutchPoints/status/1870941661552894328" rel="noopener">a critical drop</a> by star wide receiver DeVonta Smith on third down forced the Eagles to settle for three points once again and gave the Commanders a chance to respond.</p><figure class="op-interactive"><blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p dir="ltr" lang="en">DeVonta Smith drops the pass that could have possibly clinched the victory for the Eagles 👀<a href="https://t.co/PiKXNIe3gI">pic.twitter.com/PiKXNIe3gI</a></p><p>— ClutchPoints (@ClutchPoints) <a href="https://twitter.com/ClutchPoints/status/1870941661552894328?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 22, 2024</a></p></blockquote><p><script async="" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></p></figure><p>Daniels responded with some more heroics, something that he is becoming known for as the season goes on. After driving his team down the field, Daniels found veteran receiver Jamison Crowder <a href="https://x.com/NFL/status/1870942529652428953" rel="noopener">for the game-winning touchdown</a> with just six seconds to go.</p><figure class="op-interactive"><blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p dir="ltr" lang="en">JAYDEN DANIELS. COMMANDERS TAKE THE LEAD WITH 6 SECONDS.<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/PHIvsWAS?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#PHIvsWAS</a> <a href="https://t.co/BcKGpEBIsl">pic.twitter.com/BcKGpEBIsl</a></p><p>— NFL (@NFL) <a href="https://twitter.com/NFL/status/1870942529652428953?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 22, 2024</a></p></blockquote><p><script async="" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></p></figure><p>This loss, combined with a <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/lions-news-jared-goff-jameson-williams-already-dancing-on-bears-grave-with-82-yard-td">win by the Detroit Lions</a> on Sunday, will make it very difficult for the Eagles to earn the No. 1 seed and a first-round bye in the NFC. The Eagles are now a game back of the Lions for first place with just two games to play.</p><p>The Commanders also stayed alive in the division with this win, but it would take a collapse by the Eagles over the next few weeks for Washington to actually steal the NFC East from them. In order for that to happen, the Commanders would need to win their final two games and the Eagles would have to lose both of theirs.</p><p>Daniels was a master in the second half of this one, finishing with five touchdown passes and leading the Commanders down the field time and time again in the fourth quarter. He has now been then big difference at the end of multiple games this season, giving Commanders fans optimism that he is going to be a great quarterback for a very long time.</p><figure class="op-tracker"></figure></article>    </body></html>

Eagles WR DeVonta Smith’s shocking drop opens door for Jayden Daniels’ heroics

<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Transitional//EN" "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-transitional.dtd"><html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml" xml:lang="en" lang="en">    <head>        <script>   (function(i, s, o, g, r, a, m) {     i["GoogleAnalyticsObject"] = r;     i[r] = i[r] || function() {       (i[r].q = i[r].q || []).push(arguments)     }, i[r].l = 1 * new Date();     a = s.createElement(o),       m = s.getElementsByTagName(o)[0];     a.async = 1;     a.src = g;     m.parentNode.insertBefore(a, m)   })(window, document, "script", "https://www.google-analytics.com/analytics.js", "ga");   ga('create', 'UA-66147751-16', {     'storage': 'none',     'clientId': localStorage.getItem('ga:clientId')   });   ga(function(tracker) {     localStorage.setItem('ga:clientId', tracker.get('clientId'));   });   ga('set', 'checkProtocolTask', null);      ga('set', 'page', '/commanders-news-zach-ertz-gameday-injury-update-eagles-showdown');   ga('set', 'title', 'Commanders’ Zach Ertz gets gameday injury update for Eagles showdown');   ga('send', 'pageview');</script>        <style type="text/css" media="all">            body {    background: transparent;    margin: 0px;}h1, h2, h3 {    color: #DDDDDD;    font-family: "SFUIText-Semibold";    margin: 30px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 21px;    line-height: 125%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}header {    margin: 0px;    height: 0px;    display: none;}p {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 15px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}p > img {    margin-left: -15px;    width: calc(100% + 30px);}a {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;    text-decoration: underline;}ul {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 3px 10px 3px 10px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}ol {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}img {    margin: 0px;    width: 100%;    height: auto;}blockquote {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Medium";    margin: 30px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 19px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}blockquote p {    margin: 0px;}.op-tracker, .op-ad {    display: none;    height: 0px;}article > figure {    margin: 0px;}figcaption {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 10px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 13px;}iframe {    width: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;    margin: 0px;    border: 0;}.vine-embed {    height: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;}.twitter-tweet, .instagram-media {    margin-left: 15px !important;    margin-right: 15px !important;    width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;}.clutchpoints-widget {    /*margin: 10px 15px 10px 15px !important;*/    /*margin-top: 1px !important;*/    padding-top: 10px;    /*margin-left: 15px !important;*/    /*margin-right: 15px !important;*/    /*width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;*/}        </style>        <meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=UTF-8" />    </head>    <body>        <article id="mvp-content-main"><header><figure><img src="https://wp.clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/Commanders-news-Zach-Ertz-gets-gameday-injury-update-for-Eagles-showdown.jpg"></figure><h1>Commanders’ Zach Ertz gets gameday injury update for Eagles showdown</h1><time class="op-published" datetime="2024-12-22T06:41:55-08:00">December 22nd, 6:41am</time><time class="op-modified" datetime="2024-12-22T07:19:35-08:00">December 22nd, 7:19am</time><address><a>Malik Brown</a>Malik Brown is a multimedia reporter based in Atlanta who covers the Hawks and Dream for ClutchPoints. Malik has worked in entertainment and sports, and he specializes in the NBA and NFL.</address><h3 class="op-kicker">NFL</h3><figure class="op-ad"></figure></header><p>Last week, <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/commanders-news-zach-ertz-heads-locker-room-possible-concussion">Zach Ertz left the Washington Commanders game</a> early after suffering a concussion, but it looks like the tight end <a href="https://x.com/RapSheet/status/1870729233162481795" rel="noopener">will be back</a> in Week 16, according to ESPN’s John Keim.</p><p>“TE Zach Ertz will play today, coach Dan Quinn just told Sal Paolantonio. Good news for Jayden Daniels and the Commanders,” Keim wrote on X, formerly Twitter.</p><p>Against the New Orleans Saints, Ertz went into the blue tent and was evaluated for a concussion after he caught a pass from Jayden Daniels. As he was being tackled, his shoulder hit the ground, and so did his head.</p><p>Ertz has been a big part of the Commanders’ offense this season, and it’s big that he didn’t have to miss any games with his concussion. As the team tries to stay in the playoff hunt, they’re going to need everyone to be healthy in these next final games.</p><h2><b>Commanders looking to stay in playoff hunt</b></h2><p>The Commanders are still in the thick of the playoff hunt, and they’re going to have to do a lot of winning in the next final games to get in. It first starts with the Philadelphia Eagles, who have won 10 games in a row and can be considered one of the hottest teams in the league right now. During one point in the season, it felt like the Commanders were going to win the division, but then the Eagles caught fire.</p><p>In Week 17, the Commanders will have to play the Atlanta Falcons, another team looking to get into the playoffs by either winning their division or getting a wild card spot. The Falcons recently made the decision to <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/falcons-news-benches-kirk-cousins-favor-of-michael-penix-jr">bench Kirk Cousins</a> and start Michael Penix Jr. for the remainder of the season, and it’ll be interesting to see how the rookie quarterback fairs in the last three games.</p><p>The Commanders have had a nice year with Jayden Daniels in control of the offense, and it would probably give them some motivation for years to come if they can make the playoffs in his rookie season.</p><figure class="op-tracker"></figure></article>    </body></html>

Commanders’ Zach Ertz gets gameday injury update for Eagles showdown

<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Transitional//EN" "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-transitional.dtd"><html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml" xml:lang="en" lang="en">    <head>        <script>   (function(i, s, o, g, r, a, m) {     i["GoogleAnalyticsObject"] = r;     i[r] = i[r] || function() {       (i[r].q = i[r].q || []).push(arguments)     }, i[r].l = 1 * new Date();     a = s.createElement(o),       m = s.getElementsByTagName(o)[0];     a.async = 1;     a.src = g;     m.parentNode.insertBefore(a, m)   })(window, document, "script", "https://www.google-analytics.com/analytics.js", "ga");   ga('create', 'UA-66147751-16', {     'storage': 'none',     'clientId': localStorage.getItem('ga:clientId')   });   ga(function(tracker) {     localStorage.setItem('ga:clientId', tracker.get('clientId'));   });   ga('set', 'checkProtocolTask', null);      ga('set', 'page', '/commanders-news-zach-ertz-encouraging-update-week-16-rematch-eagles');   ga('set', 'title', 'Commanders’ Zach Ertz gets encouraging update before Eagles rematch');   ga('send', 'pageview');</script>        <style type="text/css" media="all">            body {    background: transparent;    margin: 0px;}h1, h2, h3 {    color: #DDDDDD;    font-family: "SFUIText-Semibold";    margin: 30px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 21px;    line-height: 125%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}header {    margin: 0px;    height: 0px;    display: none;}p {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 15px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}p > img {    margin-left: -15px;    width: calc(100% + 30px);}a {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;    text-decoration: underline;}ul {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 3px 10px 3px 10px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}ol {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}img {    margin: 0px;    width: 100%;    height: auto;}blockquote {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Medium";    margin: 30px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 19px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}blockquote p {    margin: 0px;}.op-tracker, .op-ad {    display: none;    height: 0px;}article > figure {    margin: 0px;}figcaption {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 10px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 13px;}iframe {    width: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;    margin: 0px;    border: 0;}.vine-embed {    height: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;}.twitter-tweet, .instagram-media {    margin-left: 15px !important;    margin-right: 15px !important;    width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;}.clutchpoints-widget {    /*margin: 10px 15px 10px 15px !important;*/    /*margin-top: 1px !important;*/    padding-top: 10px;    /*margin-left: 15px !important;*/    /*margin-right: 15px !important;*/    /*width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;*/}        </style>        <meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=UTF-8" />    </head>    <body>        <article id="mvp-content-main"><header><figure><img src="https://wp.clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/Commanders-Zach-Ertz-gets-encouraging-update-before-Eagles-rematch.jpg"></figure><h1>Commanders’ Zach Ertz gets encouraging update before Eagles rematch</h1><time class="op-published" datetime="2024-12-21T22:17:47-08:00">December 21st, 10:17pm</time><time class="op-modified" datetime="2024-12-21T22:18:14-08:00">December 21st, 10:18pm</time><address><a>Tristin McKinstry</a>Tristin McKinstry is an experienced sports writer who got his start back in 2014. He is an Associate Editor with ClutchPoints and is one of the staff's NHL experts. Tristin has worked professionally with The Inquisitr and GIVEMESPORT in the past, and his work has also been featured on Last Word On Sports, XFL News Hub, and USFL News Hub. He is currently pursuing a Bachelor's degree in Communications at Southern New Hampshire University.</address><h3 class="op-kicker">NFL</h3><figure class="op-ad"></figure></header><p>The <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/washington-commanders-bold-predictions-for-week-16-vs-eagles">Washington Commanders are set for a huge showdown with the Philadelphia Eagles</a> in Week 16. The Commanders could record their 10th win of the season if they defeat the Eagles. However, they are a bit banged up. Notably, <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/commanders-news-zach-ertz-heads-locker-room-possible-concussion">tight end Zach Ertz is dealing with a concussion as well as a shoulder issue.</a> But it appears as if news regarding him is rather promising.</p><p>Ertz is <a href="https://x.com/AdamSchefter/status/1870685040470036628" rel="noopener">trending toward playing</a> against the Eagles, according to ESPN’s Adam Schefter. The veteran tight end was originally listed as questionable on the team’s injury report. However, it looks like he should receive full clearance to play on Sunday in one of his team’s biggest games of the season.</p><p>Ertz has had something of a renaissance with Washington in 2024. The veteran tight end has played 14 games, catching 54 passes. Ertz has racked up 526 receiving yards while averaging 9.7 yards per reception. This is his best offensive output since the 2021 season with the Arizona Cardinals, according to ESPN.</p><h2><b>Commanders not shying away from Eagles in Week 16</b></h2><p>Zach Ertz and The Commanders could not pull off a win in their last meeting with the Eagles. It was a rather close game, but Washington fell by a 26-18 scoreline. However, they certainly aren’t backing down from a Philadelphia team that looks like a Super Bowl favorite out of the NFC.</p><p>Commanders running back Brian Robinson put Washington’s confidence <a href="https://www.si.com/nfl/eagles/news/commanders-aren-t-backing-down-from-eagles-rematch-01jfgbqp9t0e" rel="noopener">on full display</a> with his recent comments. Despite the loss, he and Washington believe it isn’t indicative of how they stack up with the Eagles. “We feel like we are the better team,” Robinson said, via Sports Illustrated.</p><p>The close game certainly has to give Washington confidence about their ability to win. However, the stage is a bit different. The regular season is two weeks from its conclusion after Week 16. If the first matchup was intense, this second clash should heighten the stakes tenfold. There is a lot on the line for each side, and it will certainly be interesting to see how they respond on the field.</p><figure class="op-tracker"></figure></article>    </body></html>

Commanders’ Zach Ertz gets encouraging update before Eagles rematch

<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Transitional//EN" "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-transitional.dtd"><html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml" xml:lang="en" lang="en">    <head>        <script>   (function(i, s, o, g, r, a, m) {     i["GoogleAnalyticsObject"] = r;     i[r] = i[r] || function() {       (i[r].q = i[r].q || []).push(arguments)     }, i[r].l = 1 * new Date();     a = s.createElement(o),       m = s.getElementsByTagName(o)[0];     a.async = 1;     a.src = g;     m.parentNode.insertBefore(a, m)   })(window, document, "script", "https://www.google-analytics.com/analytics.js", "ga");   ga('create', 'UA-66147751-16', {     'storage': 'none',     'clientId': localStorage.getItem('ga:clientId')   });   ga(function(tracker) {     localStorage.setItem('ga:clientId', tracker.get('clientId'));   });   ga('set', 'checkProtocolTask', null);      ga('set', 'page', '/commanders-news-jonathan-allen-out-eagles-matchup-despite-injury-progress');   ga('set', 'title', 'Commanders’ Jonathan Allen ruled out of Eagles matchup despite injury progress');   ga('send', 'pageview');</script>        <style type="text/css" media="all">            body {    background: transparent;    margin: 0px;}h1, h2, h3 {    color: #DDDDDD;    font-family: "SFUIText-Semibold";    margin: 30px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 21px;    line-height: 125%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}header {    margin: 0px;    height: 0px;    display: none;}p {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 15px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}p > img {    margin-left: -15px;    width: calc(100% + 30px);}a {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;    text-decoration: underline;}ul {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 3px 10px 3px 10px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}ol {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}img {    margin: 0px;    width: 100%;    height: auto;}blockquote {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Medium";    margin: 30px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 19px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}blockquote p {    margin: 0px;}.op-tracker, .op-ad {    display: none;    height: 0px;}article > figure {    margin: 0px;}figcaption {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 10px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 13px;}iframe {    width: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;    margin: 0px;    border: 0;}.vine-embed {    height: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;}.twitter-tweet, .instagram-media {    margin-left: 15px !important;    margin-right: 15px !important;    width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;}.clutchpoints-widget {    /*margin: 10px 15px 10px 15px !important;*/    /*margin-top: 1px !important;*/    padding-top: 10px;    /*margin-left: 15px !important;*/    /*margin-right: 15px !important;*/    /*width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;*/}        </style>        <meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=UTF-8" />    </head>    <body>        <article id="mvp-content-main"><header><figure><img src="https://wp.clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/Jonathan-Allen-ruled-out-for-Eagles-matchup-despite-recent-injury-progress.jpg"></figure><h1>Commanders’ Jonathan Allen ruled out of Eagles matchup despite injury progress</h1><time class="op-published" datetime="2024-12-20T10:53:03-08:00">December 20th, 10:53am</time><time class="op-modified" datetime="2024-12-20T10:53:03-08:00">December 20th, 10:53am</time><address><a>Jaren Kawada</a>Jaren Kawada is a former full-time sports bettor and is now a NFL, College Football and Betting Associate Editor at ClutchPoints. Kawada was born and raised in Honolulu, Hawaii, but now resides in Indianapolis, Indiana, after graduating from Butler University with a B.A. in sports media. Aside from football, Kawada is an avid combat sports and basketball bettor.</address><h3 class="op-kicker">NFL</h3><figure class="op-ad"></figure></header><p>Jonathan Allen will not make his return in Week 16. Despite previous reports of the <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/commanders-news-jonathan-allen-miraculous-injury-return-washington">Washington Commanders’ star defensive end progressing</a> through his pectoral injury, Allen will remain on injured reserve as his team takes on the NFC East-leading Philadelphia Eagles.</p><p>As of Friday afternoon, Allen is the only player the Commanders are <a href="https://x.com/NickiJhabvala/status/1870154393963610144" rel="noopener">ruling out for the week</a>, per Nicki Jhabvala of The Washington Post. They continue to list several key players — including Daron Payne, Jeremy Chinn and Zach Ertz — as questionable for the pivotal matchup.</p><p>Allen initially suffered a torn pectoral in the team’s Week 6 loss to the Baltimore Ravens. He was subsequently placed on injured reserve and expected to be out for the year. However, during practices leading up to Week 16, the Commanders opened his 21-day practice window, allowing Allen to return to the field.</p><p>While the move was shocking, Washington ultimately decided to keep their star pass rusher on the sidelines for at least another week. He must be officially activated by the team’s final regular-season game against the Dallas Cowboys to play in the playoffs.</p><h2><b>Commanders ride two-game win streak into Week 16</b></h2><figure><img src="https://wp.clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/Commanders-defensive-tackle-Jonathan-Allen.jpg"><figcaption>Peter Casey-Imagn Images</figcaption></figure><p>It was tighter than they had hoped, but the Commanders embarked on another win streak by <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/3-commanders-reasons-concern-tight-victory-saints">topping the New Orleans Saints</a> in Week 15. The win allows them to bring a 9-5 record into their Week 16 matchup with the Eagles.</p><p>The Eagles have already clinched the division but are tied with the Detroit Lions and Minnesota Vikings with the best record in the NFC. That gives both teams immense motivation ahead of their final meeting of 2024 with just three weeks left in the regular season.</p><p>Entering Week 16, the Commanders are in position to claim the final Wild Card spot in the NFC. However, they remain only one game ahead of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Los Angeles Rams and Seattle Seahawks, all of whom are still fighting for their respective divisions. Including Philadelphia, two of Washington’s final three opponents have winning records and are still pushing for playoff seeding.</p><figure class="op-tracker"></figure></article>    </body></html>

Commanders’ Jonathan Allen ruled out of Eagles matchup despite injury progress

<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Transitional//EN" "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-transitional.dtd"><html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml" xml:lang="en" lang="en">    <head>        <script>   (function(i, s, o, g, r, a, m) {     i["GoogleAnalyticsObject"] = r;     i[r] = i[r] || function() {       (i[r].q = i[r].q || []).push(arguments)     }, i[r].l = 1 * new Date();     a = s.createElement(o),       m = s.getElementsByTagName(o)[0];     a.async = 1;     a.src = g;     m.parentNode.insertBefore(a, m)   })(window, document, "script", "https://www.google-analytics.com/analytics.js", "ga");   ga('create', 'UA-66147751-16', {     'storage': 'none',     'clientId': localStorage.getItem('ga:clientId')   });   ga(function(tracker) {     localStorage.setItem('ga:clientId', tracker.get('clientId'));   });   ga('set', 'checkProtocolTask', null);      ga('set', 'page', '/washington-commanders-bold-predictions-for-week-16-vs-eagles');   ga('set', 'title', 'Washington Commanders bold predictions for Week 16 vs. Eagles');   ga('send', 'pageview');</script>        <style type="text/css" media="all">            body {    background: transparent;    margin: 0px;}h1, h2, h3 {    color: #DDDDDD;    font-family: "SFUIText-Semibold";    margin: 30px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 21px;    line-height: 125%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}header {    margin: 0px;    height: 0px;    display: none;}p {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 15px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}p > img {    margin-left: -15px;    width: calc(100% + 30px);}a {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;    text-decoration: underline;}ul {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 3px 10px 3px 10px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}ol {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}img {    margin: 0px;    width: 100%;    height: auto;}blockquote {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Medium";    margin: 30px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 19px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}blockquote p {    margin: 0px;}.op-tracker, .op-ad {    display: none;    height: 0px;}article > figure {    margin: 0px;}figcaption {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 10px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 13px;}iframe {    width: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;    margin: 0px;    border: 0;}.vine-embed {    height: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;}.twitter-tweet, .instagram-media {    margin-left: 15px !important;    margin-right: 15px !important;    width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;}.clutchpoints-widget {    /*margin: 10px 15px 10px 15px !important;*/    /*margin-top: 1px !important;*/    padding-top: 10px;    /*margin-left: 15px !important;*/    /*margin-right: 15px !important;*/    /*width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;*/}        </style>        <meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=UTF-8" />    </head>    <body>        <article id="mvp-content-main"><header><figure><img src="https://wp.clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/Washington-Commanders-bold-predictions-for-Week-16-vs-Eagles.jpg"></figure><h1>Washington Commanders bold predictions for Week 16 vs. Eagles</h1><time class="op-published" datetime="2024-12-19T18:27:27-08:00">December 19th, 6:27pm</time><time class="op-modified" datetime="2024-12-19T18:27:27-08:00">December 19th, 6:27pm</time><address><a href="https://matthew516sports.substack.com/">Douglas Fritz</a>Douglas Fritz has been writing about sports for almost four decades and publishes a Christian sports newsletter and podcast on Substack at Matthew516Sports. He started as a reporter for the student newspaper at East Tennessee State University, worked his way up to Editor-In-Chief, and began his sports writing career at the Johnson City Press daily newspaper while still in college. During 30-plus years at the Press, he covered University of Tennessee football, men's and women's basketball, ETSU athletics, and high school athletics. Among the people he has interviewed are Dale Murphy, Bobby Cox, John Smoltz, and Bruce Smith. He is also a Christian-based screenwriter (five feature-length and one short), book writer (three completed manuscripts and one novel), and songwriter.</address><h3 class="op-kicker">NFL</h3><figure class="op-ad"></figure></header><p>While the Washington <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/commanders-news-jonathan-allen-miraculous-injury-return-washington">Commanders hope for a miraculous return of Jonathan Allen</a>, they still have to <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/3-commanders-reasons-concern-tight-victory-saints">address problems that became evident against the Saints</a>. With a Washington Commanders Week 16 game scheduled against the Philadelphia Eagles, playoff implications are bouncing across Internet stories. Ahead of the Commanders-Eagles game, we’ll be making our Commanders Week 16 predictions.</p><p>Washington enters the game with a record of 9-5, three games behind the Eagles (12-2). These teams met four weeks ago with the Eagles earning a 26-18 victory.</p><p>For the Commanders to have a shot at the upset, they will have to run the football effectively and keep the Eagles’ explosive offense off the field. Plus, Jayden Daniels will have to hit a downfield pass.</p><h2><b>Commanders QB Jayden Daniels will account for three TDs</b></h2><figure><img src="https://wp.clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/Washington-Commanders-QB-Jayden-Daniels.jpg"><figcaption>Stephen Lew-Imagn Images</figcaption></figure><p>It’s not going to be easy, but the Commanders must score at least three touchdowns to have a shot against the Eagles. Look for Daniels to deliver with a pair of throws and one rushing score.</p><p>Eagles head coach Nick Sirianni said he knows what <a href="https://sports.yahoo.com/eagles-vs-commanders-predictions-expert-093330985.html#:~:text=%22He's%20super%20dynamic%2C%22%20Eagles,and%20different%20things%20like%20that." rel="noopener">his team is facing</a> in Daniels, according to yahoo.com.</p><p>“He’s super dynamic,” Sirianni said. “He’s a good passer, (and) he’s outstanding with the ball in his hands and creating. I just see him continuing to get better as he sees different looks and different things like that. I think they’re doing a great job, adapting the offense around him.”</p><p>That’s this week. Before the first meeting, Sirianni also said Daniels <a href="https://www.nbcsports.com/nfl/profootballtalk/rumor-mill/news/nick-sirianni-jayden-daniels-has-come-out-on-fire" rel="noopener">is a difference-maker</a>, according to nbcsports.com.</p><p>“He’s come out on fire,” Sirianni said. “He’s got his team playing really well. Hats off to their coaches. You know, I just have a lot of respect for that coaching staff and the players on that team.</p><p>“He’s playing really good football. It’s very obvious. I think everybody can see that. A really good player who started off on fire, so we’ll have a challenge here this week. Can’t say enough good things about him. You know, how he’s going to the right place with the football, being accurate, the things he can do when things do break down. I have got a lot of respect for him and we’ll have our hands full.”</p><h2><b>Commanders RB Brian Robinson Jr will rush for 75-plus yards</b></h2><p>If the Commanders are going to win, this must happen. Washington must be able to move the football on the ground — consistently — to have a chance. The <a href="https://apnews.com/article/eagles-commanders-preview-e330734f21e64ccca3895decd336d122" rel="noopener">key matchup of the game</a> is Robinson verses the Eagles’ defense, according to apnews.com.</p><p>“Philadelphia limited Pittsburgh’s Najee Harris and Jaylen Warren to a total of 26 yards on 10 carries, and Robinson is coming off averaging just 3.1 yards a carry at New Orleans,” the AP wrote. “Robinson getting going opens up the offense for Daniels to mix and match, and the Eagles can force opponents to be one-dimensional by shutting down the run almost entirely.”</p><h2><b>Commanders WR Terry McLaurin catches a 40-plus-yard TD</b></h2><p>Again, this is something that needs to happen for a Commanders’ victory. They have to find a way to make the Eagles worry about the deep ball. This probably needs to happen in the first quarter or early in the second quarter to have the intended impact.</p><p>McLaurin will have to play better than he did in the first meeting, where Quinyon Mitchell shut him down. The Commanders did not throw the ball to McLaurin <a href="https://www.cbssports.com/nfl/news/eagles-rookie-cb-quinyon-mitchell-shuts-down-terry-mclaurin-as-hes-earning-a-new-reputation-around-the-nfl/" rel="noopener">when he drew</a> Mitchell in coverage, according to cbssports.com.</p><p>“I feel like we did, defensively, we did a good job with him and their offense just limiting explosives,” Mitchell said. “I feel like we had great preparation and went out and executed.”</p><p>Sirianni called it good team defense to smother McLaurin.</p><p>“A lot of credit to Q (Mitchell) and (Darius) Slay and the underneath coverage that was helping them go other places with the football,” Sirianni said. “Good team defense takes being on the same page, playing with great effort to the football, which I saw a lot in this game, and then just tackling well.”</p><h2><b>Commanders CB Marshon Lattimore will get an interception</b></h2><p>Lattimore had 13 interceptions in his first five NFL seasons. But he only added one each in 2022 and 2023. This year, in eight overall games he has zero.</p><p>What tends to happen when players stop getting picks is teams start to look their way a little more often. And even though the Saints used radio silence with Lattimore, look for the Eagles to poke that bear. Quinn said he Lattimore <a href="https://www.nfl.com/news/dan-quinn-on-marshon-lattimore-s-blank-stat-sheet-in-cb-s-commanders-debut-clear-signal-of-a-really-good-game#:~:text=For%20coach%20Dan%20Quinn%2C%20it,had%20a%20really%20good%20game." rel="noopener">did his job</a> against the Saints, according to a team transcript via nfl.com.</p><p>“Through my experience when there’s less attention going to you that is a sign that you’ve had a really good game,” Quinn said. “And sometimes that can even flip to go the other way, where there’s some more production to another player. But (cornerback) Mike (Sainristil) had a good PBU and an interception. So, those things happen in some games where there’s less targets that go to a particular person, sometimes that also changes when you match and put on a certain player. But in this instance less on the stat sheet from the passing game standpoint, that is a clear signal of a really good game.”</p><h2><b>Commanders will lose the game</b></h2><p>Let’s face it. The Eagles have a better team. They have far more talent. There’s only so far Dan Quinn’s good coaching can carry this team.</p><p>In fact, there’s a reasonable chance the Commanders will close out with three straight losses and miss out on the playoffs. The organization appears to have fallen short of building up enough talent to get the team to the postseason.</p><p>After the Commanders’ win over the Saints, they improved to 9-5 and have a 65.4% chance of making the playoffs. The Seahawks (8-6) are currently the eighth seed after losing to the Packers in Week 15. After that, it gets interesting. The Cardinals and Falcons are each 7-7 while the 49ers and Cowboys are both 6-8.</p><figure class="op-tracker"></figure></article>    </body></html>

Washington Commanders bold predictions for Week 16 vs. Eagles

<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Transitional//EN" "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-transitional.dtd"><html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml" xml:lang="en" lang="en">    <head>        <script>   (function(i, s, o, g, r, a, m) {     i["GoogleAnalyticsObject"] = r;     i[r] = i[r] || function() {       (i[r].q = i[r].q || []).push(arguments)     }, i[r].l = 1 * new Date();     a = s.createElement(o),       m = s.getElementsByTagName(o)[0];     a.async = 1;     a.src = g;     m.parentNode.insertBefore(a, m)   })(window, document, "script", "https://www.google-analytics.com/analytics.js", "ga");   ga('create', 'UA-66147751-16', {     'storage': 'none',     'clientId': localStorage.getItem('ga:clientId')   });   ga(function(tracker) {     localStorage.setItem('ga:clientId', tracker.get('clientId'));   });   ga('set', 'checkProtocolTask', null);      ga('set', 'page', '/eagles-news-aj-brown-injury-status-update');   ga('set', 'title', 'Eagles WR AJ Brown’s injury status gets intriguing update');   ga('send', 'pageview');</script>        <style type="text/css" media="all">            body {    background: transparent;    margin: 0px;}h1, h2, h3 {    color: #DDDDDD;    font-family: "SFUIText-Semibold";    margin: 30px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 21px;    line-height: 125%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}header {    margin: 0px;    height: 0px;    display: none;}p {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 15px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}p > img {    margin-left: -15px;    width: calc(100% + 30px);}a {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;    text-decoration: underline;}ul {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 3px 10px 3px 10px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}ol {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}img {    margin: 0px;    width: 100%;    height: auto;}blockquote {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Medium";    margin: 30px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 19px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}blockquote p {    margin: 0px;}.op-tracker, .op-ad {    display: none;    height: 0px;}article > figure {    margin: 0px;}figcaption {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 10px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 13px;}iframe {    width: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;    margin: 0px;    border: 0;}.vine-embed {    height: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;}.twitter-tweet, .instagram-media {    margin-left: 15px !important;    margin-right: 15px !important;    width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;}.clutchpoints-widget {    /*margin: 10px 15px 10px 15px !important;*/    /*margin-top: 1px !important;*/    padding-top: 10px;    /*margin-left: 15px !important;*/    /*margin-right: 15px !important;*/    /*width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;*/}        </style>        <meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=UTF-8" />    </head>    <body>        <article id="mvp-content-main"><header><figure><img src="https://wp.clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/Eagles-news-A.J.-Brown-injury-status-gets-intriguing-update.jpg"></figure><h1>Eagles WR AJ Brown’s injury status gets intriguing update</h1><time class="op-published" datetime="2024-12-19T17:39:45-08:00">December 19th, 5:39pm</time><time class="op-modified" datetime="2024-12-19T17:40:30-08:00">December 19th, 5:40pm</time><address><a>Dakota Zientek</a>Dakota Zientek graduated from the University of Iowa in 2020 and has been writing about the NFL ever since. As a die-hard NFL fan, Dakota's fandom rides with the Chicago Bears through thick and thin -- regardless of how much pain it has caused his heart throughout the years. One day, he believes he will celebrate the Bears winning a Super Bowl. Maybe even... a few?</address><h3 class="op-kicker">NFL</h3><figure class="op-ad"></figure></header><p>Once the <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/eagles-news-aj-brown-simple-message-after-panthers-win-challenge-jalen-hurts">Philadelphia Eagles’ passing game was questioned</a> heading into Week 15, Jalen Hurts and Philly’s receiving corps clicked in their 27-13 win against the Steelers. However, after getting a veteran rest day on Wednesday, Eagles receiver AJ Brown’s injury update on Thursday <a href="https://x.com/JimmyKempski/status/1869882612736508415" rel="noopener">raised some questions</a>, per Jimmy Kempski on X.</p><p>“AJ Brown was just ‘rest’ yesterday,” Kempski wrote. “Today he’s ‘knee/rest.’ ”</p><p>Now, while Brown missed practice on Wednesday for a rest day, it’s interesting to see him on the team’s injury report as a limited participant on Thursday with an apparent knee injury.</p><p>However, his status for the game is uncertain, as Brown’s knee injury seemingly came out of nowhere. Whether it’s serious enough to keep him out of Week 16, however, is unknown.</p><h2><b>Eagles WR AJ Brown’s Week 16 status uncertain following injury update</b></h2><figure><img src="https://wp.clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/A.J.-Brown.jpg"><figcaption>Eric Hartline-Imagn Images</figcaption></figure><p>Following Thursday’s injury report, the Eagles’ passing game could flounder if Brown’s knee holds him out of <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/eagles-vs-commanders-predictions-pick-odds-spread-for-nfl-week-16-2024">Week 16 against the Commanders</a>.</p><p>With the <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/nfc-playoff-picture-after-rams-take-control-of-nfc-west-in-week-15">Eagles on top of the NFC East</a> following their 10-game winning streak, it would take a significant drop-off in the last three weeks of the season for them to not clinch the division.</p><p>And considering how <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/eagles-news-jalen-hurts-reveals-resurrected-passing-game-after-drama">effective their passing game was against the Steelers</a>, Brown being out in Week 16 could be a major loss.</p><p>In Week 15, Brown was the team’s leading receiver, catching eight passes for 110 yards and a touchdown.</p><p>Now, while Brown is clearly important to this offense, Philly’s offense is loaded with talent.</p><p>Not only do they have one of the best offensive lines in the NFL, but the Eagles have a strong quarterback in Hurts, a potential <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/eagles-news-saquon-barkley-breaks-franchise-record-amid-mvp-caliber-season">league MVP in Saquon Barkley</a>, and a great receiving duo in Brown and Smith.</p><p>If Brown is held out of Week 16, Smith is still a reliable receiver, paired with one of the best rushing attacks in the league.</p><p>So, while clearly the Eagles don’t want to be without Brown, the possibility is there after Thursday’s injury report.</p><p>However, with a few days until their Week 16 matchup, Brown has plenty of time to get his knee feeling right before the Eagles take the field on Sunday afternoon.</p><figure class="op-tracker"></figure></article>    </body></html>

Eagles WR AJ Brown’s injury status gets intriguing update

<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Transitional//EN" "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-transitional.dtd"><html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml" xml:lang="en" lang="en">    <head>        <script>   (function(i, s, o, g, r, a, m) {     i["GoogleAnalyticsObject"] = r;     i[r] = i[r] || function() {       (i[r].q = i[r].q || []).push(arguments)     }, i[r].l = 1 * new Date();     a = s.createElement(o),       m = s.getElementsByTagName(o)[0];     a.async = 1;     a.src = g;     m.parentNode.insertBefore(a, m)   })(window, document, "script", "https://www.google-analytics.com/analytics.js", "ga");   ga('create', 'UA-66147751-16', {     'storage': 'none',     'clientId': localStorage.getItem('ga:clientId')   });   ga(function(tracker) {     localStorage.setItem('ga:clientId', tracker.get('clientId'));   });   ga('set', 'checkProtocolTask', null);      ga('set', 'page', '/eagles-vs-commanders-predictions-pick-odds-spread-for-nfl-week-16-2024');   ga('set', 'title', 'Eagles vs. Commanders predictions, pick, odds, spread for NFL Week 16 2024');   ga('send', 'pageview');</script>        <style type="text/css" media="all">            body {    background: transparent;    margin: 0px;}h1, h2, h3 {    color: #DDDDDD;    font-family: "SFUIText-Semibold";    margin: 30px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 21px;    line-height: 125%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}header {    margin: 0px;    height: 0px;    display: none;}p {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 15px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}p > img {    margin-left: -15px;    width: calc(100% + 30px);}a {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;    text-decoration: underline;}ul {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 3px 10px 3px 10px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}ol {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}img {    margin: 0px;    width: 100%;    height: auto;}blockquote {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Medium";    margin: 30px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 19px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}blockquote p {    margin: 0px;}.op-tracker, .op-ad {    display: none;    height: 0px;}article > figure {    margin: 0px;}figcaption {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 10px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 13px;}iframe {    width: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;    margin: 0px;    border: 0;}.vine-embed {    height: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;}.twitter-tweet, .instagram-media {    margin-left: 15px !important;    margin-right: 15px !important;    width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;}.clutchpoints-widget {    /*margin: 10px 15px 10px 15px !important;*/    /*margin-top: 1px !important;*/    padding-top: 10px;    /*margin-left: 15px !important;*/    /*margin-right: 15px !important;*/    /*width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;*/}        </style>        <meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=UTF-8" />    </head>    <body>        <article id="mvp-content-main"><header><figure><img src="https://wp.clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/Eagles-vs.-Commanders-predictions-pick-odds-spread-for-NFL-Week-16-2024.jpg"></figure><h1>Eagles vs. Commanders predictions, pick, odds, spread for NFL Week 16 2024</h1><time class="op-published" datetime="2024-12-18T10:26:38-08:00">December 18th, 10:26am</time><time class="op-modified" datetime="2024-12-18T10:34:45-08:00">December 18th, 10:34am</time><address><a>RB Hayek</a>RB Hayek has been writing about sports for over a decade and is currently a member of ClutchPoints' Betting team. In addition, he is also a published author of thriller novels, available on Amazon. Rob went 29-31 against tge spread in November and 43-17 overall.</address><h3 class="op-kicker">Betting</h3><figure class="op-ad"></figure></header><p>The Philadelphia Eagles will battle the Washington Commanders on Sunday in Landover, Maryland. It’s an NFC East showdown at Northwest Stadium as we continue our NFL odds <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/betting" rel="noopener">series</a> with an Eagles-Commanders prediction and pick.</p><figure><img src="https://a.impactradius-go.com/display-ad/3065-2113640"></figure><figure><img src="https://paramountplus.qflm.net/i/492408/2113640/3065"></figure><h2><b>Eagles-Commanders Last Game – Matchup History</b></h2><p>The Eagles defeated the Commanders 26-18 on November 14, 2024, in a tight clash on Thursday Night Football. Significantly, the Eagles are 7-3 over 10 games against the Commanders. The Eagles are also 4-1 in the last five games at Northwest Stadium.</p><p>Overall Series: The Commanders lead the head-to-head series 89-85-5.</p><p><i><b>Here are the Eagles-Commanders <a href="https://sportsbook.fanduel.com/navigation/nfl" rel="noopener">NFL odds</a>, courtesy of FanDuel. </b></i></p><h2><b>NFL Odds: Eagles-Commanders Odds</b></h2><p>Philadelphia Eagles: -3.5 (-104)</p><p>Moneyline: -180</p><p>Washington Commanders: +3.5 (-118)</p><p>Moneyline: +152</p><p>Over: 45.5 (-112)</p><p>Under: 45.5 (-108)</p><h2><b>How to Watch Eagles vs. Commanders </b></h2><p>Time: 1 PM ET/10 AM PT</p><p>TV: FOX</p><p><i><b>*Watch NFL games LIVE with fuboTV <a href="https://www.fubo.tv/lp/football/?irad=356362&amp;irmp=492408" rel="noopener sponsored">(Get Access | Save $30)</a>*</b></i></p><h2><b>Why The Eagles Could Cover The Spread/Win</b></h2><p>After rumors of being fired at the end of last season, <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/3-reasons-nick-sirianni-must-coach-of-the-year-frontrunner">Nick Siriani is a contender</a> for Coach of the Year after guiding the Eagles to a 12-2 record on the heels of a 10-game winning streak. The Eagles are positioned to snag the number-1 seed and could have home-field advantage throughout the playoffs if they can continue their momentum and get at least one loss from the Detroit Lions. To continue striving, they need their offense to continue rolling.</p><p>Jalen Hurts has had another great season. So far, he has passed for 2,892 yards, 18 touchdowns, and five interceptions while running 147 times for 589 yards and 14 scores. Saquon Barkley has been the perfect running back for him, rushing 285 times for 1,688 yards and 11 touchdowns while also catching 31 passes for 276 yards and two scores. Ultimately, he is the best secondary threat when defenses are focusing on Hurts.</p><p>AJ Brown has been good despite missing some games with injury. Overall, he has 56 catches for 946 yards and five touchdowns. Devonte Smith just missed several games with a hamstring injury but returned with his best game of the season. He now has 56 catches for 662 yards and six touchdowns. The Eagles must rely on these two, especially since Dallas Goedert is injured.</p><p>The defense is one of the best in the NFL and continues to punish offensive lines. Josh Sweat has 24 solo tackles and eight sacks. Meanwhile, Nolan Smith Jr. has 17 solo tackles and 5.5 sacks. Milton Williams has nine solo tackles and five sacks. Likewise, the secondary has been good. C.J. Gardner-Johnson has 34 solo tackles and three interceptions, while Reed Blankenship has 46 solo tackles and three picks.</p><p>The Eagles will cover the spread if Hurts and Barkley continue to fool the defenses with an elite rushing attack. Also, the defense must continue to press the offensive line and not let a superstar quarterback evade them.</p><h2><b>Why The Commanders Could Cover The Spread/Win</b></h2><p>After their tight win over the Tennessee Titans, the <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/3-commanders-reasons-concern-tight-victory-saints">Commanders have some concerns</a> about their level of play. Additionally, <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/commanders-news-zach-ertz-heads-locker-room-possible-concussion">Zach Ertz is injured</a> after a concussion, which is another blow to an offense with several injuries. The offensive line must protect Jayden Daniels and give him some chances to do work.</p><p>Daniels has passed for 3,045 yards, 17 touchdowns, and six interceptions. Likewise, he has run 119 times for 656 yards and six touchdowns, showcasing his ability to run all over the field. Daniels must time his opportunities, especially behind a patchwork offensive line that is not giving him much time. His running back, Brian Robinson, has run 159 times for 705 tards and eight touchdowns.</p><p>Terry McLaurin is the only original healthy receiver left. Substantially, he has caught 68 passes for 969 yards and 11 touchdowns. McLaurin will have to carry the load, with Ertz likely unavailable. Moreover, Noah Brown is now out.</p><p>The defense contained the Eagles for 2.5 quarters in their last meeting before the wheels fell off. Ultimately, five players stand out on defense. Dante Fowler Jr. has rocked for this defense, with 20 solo tackles, 8.5 sacks, and one interception. Also, Frankie Luvu has notched 44 solo tackles and eight sacks. Dorance Armstrong has tallied 15 solo tackles and 4.5 sacks. Meanwhile, Daron Payne has 20 solo tackles and four sacks. Mike Sainristil has notched 48 solo tackles and two interceptions.</p><p>The Commanders will cover the spread if Daniels can evade the pressure and find his receivers, either through check downs or slants to McLaurin, while also finding some running lanes. Then, the defense must contain Hurts and Barkley while preventing them from going off.</p><h2><b>Final Eagles-Commanders Prediction &amp; Pick</b></h2><p>The Eagles are 9-5 against the spread, while the Commanders are 8-5-1 against the odds. Moreover, the Eagles are 6-1 against the spread on the road, while the Commanders are 5-2 against the odds at home. The Eagles are 3-0 against the spread when facing the NFC East, while the Commanders are 2-2 against the odds when facing the division.</p><p>The Commanders are under more pressure to get this game. Ultimately, I could see them pulling off the upset of the century at home behind Daniels.</p><p><b>Final Eagles-Commanders Prediction &amp; Pick: Washington Commanders +3.5 (-118)</b></p><figure class="op-tracker"></figure></article>    </body></html>

Eagles vs. Commanders predictions, pick, odds, spread for NFL Week 16 2024

<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Transitional//EN" "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-transitional.dtd"><html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml" xml:lang="en" lang="en">    <head>        <script>   (function(i, s, o, g, r, a, m) {     i["GoogleAnalyticsObject"] = r;     i[r] = i[r] || function() {       (i[r].q = i[r].q || []).push(arguments)     }, i[r].l = 1 * new Date();     a = s.createElement(o),       m = s.getElementsByTagName(o)[0];     a.async = 1;     a.src = g;     m.parentNode.insertBefore(a, m)   })(window, document, "script", "https://www.google-analytics.com/analytics.js", "ga");   ga('create', 'UA-66147751-16', {     'storage': 'none',     'clientId': localStorage.getItem('ga:clientId')   });   ga(function(tracker) {     localStorage.setItem('ga:clientId', tracker.get('clientId'));   });   ga('set', 'checkProtocolTask', null);      ga('set', 'page', '/commanders-news-jonathan-allen-miraculous-injury-return-washington');   ga('set', 'title', 'Jonathan Allen closing in on miraculous injury return for Commanders');   ga('send', 'pageview');</script>        <style type="text/css" media="all">            body {    background: transparent;    margin: 0px;}h1, h2, h3 {    color: #DDDDDD;    font-family: "SFUIText-Semibold";    margin: 30px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 21px;    line-height: 125%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}header {    margin: 0px;    height: 0px;    display: none;}p {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 15px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}p > img {    margin-left: -15px;    width: calc(100% + 30px);}a {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;    text-decoration: underline;}ul {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 3px 10px 3px 10px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}ol {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}img {    margin: 0px;    width: 100%;    height: auto;}blockquote {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Medium";    margin: 30px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 19px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}blockquote p {    margin: 0px;}.op-tracker, .op-ad {    display: none;    height: 0px;}article > figure {    margin: 0px;}figcaption {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 10px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 13px;}iframe {    width: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;    margin: 0px;    border: 0;}.vine-embed {    height: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;}.twitter-tweet, .instagram-media {    margin-left: 15px !important;    margin-right: 15px !important;    width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;}.clutchpoints-widget {    /*margin: 10px 15px 10px 15px !important;*/    /*margin-top: 1px !important;*/    padding-top: 10px;    /*margin-left: 15px !important;*/    /*margin-right: 15px !important;*/    /*width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;*/}        </style>        <meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=UTF-8" />    </head>    <body>        <article id="mvp-content-main"><header><figure><img src="https://wp.clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/Commanders-news-Jonathan-Allen-closing-in-on-miraculous-injury-return-for-Washington.jpg"></figure><h1>Jonathan Allen closing in on miraculous injury return for Commanders</h1><time class="op-published" datetime="2024-12-18T10:11:30-08:00">December 18th, 10:11am</time><time class="op-modified" datetime="2024-12-18T10:11:30-08:00">December 18th, 10:11am</time><address><a>Malik Brown</a>Malik Brown is a multimedia reporter based in Atlanta who covers the Hawks and Dream for ClutchPoints. Malik has worked in entertainment and sports, and he specializes in the NBA and NFL.</address><h3 class="op-kicker">NFL</h3><figure class="op-ad"></figure></header><p>The Washington <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/commanders-news-washington-claims-ex-patriots-wr-after-noah-brown-injury">Commanders may be getting some help</a> back on their defense soon, with Jonathan Allen <a href="https://x.com/TomPelissero/status/1869430686584844697" rel="noopener">making a surprising return</a>, according to NFL Network’s Tom Pelissero.</p><p>“Reinforcements coming: The Commanders are opening the 21-day practice window for standout DL Jonathan Allen, per me and. Allen suffered a significant pectoral injury in Week 6 but, amazingly, is expected back to help down the stretch,” Pelissero wrote on X, formerly Twitter.</p><p>Allen will have to be activated by the end of the 21-day window in order to return in the regular season or playoffs. The last time he was on the field was in Week 6 when he suffered was announced as a season-ending pectoral injury. It would be a stretch to say that Allen would return in Week 16 against the Philadelphia Eagles, so the last game of the season against the Dallas Cowboys may be more realistic.</p><h2>Commanders trying to make the playoffs</h2><p>With the Philadelphia Eagles in the driver’s seat of the NFC East, the only realistic choice for the Commanders to make the playoffs is getting in the wild card. If they’re able to win out, there’s a good chance that they’ll get a spot, but there are some important games for them to take care of.</p><p>One of them will be against the Atlanta Falcons, another team looking to get into the playoffs by either winning their division or getting a wild card spot. The Commanders have had an exciting season with rookie quarterback Jayden Daniels in control of the offense, and it would probably give them even more confidence if they were able to get into the playoffs.</p><p>The defense hasn’t been the best this season, but hopefully, <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/commanders-news-dan-quinn-staying-optimistic-marshon-lattimore-injury-update">the play of Marshon Lattimore</a> and the possible return of Jonathan Allen can help them get to the level they need to make a playoff run.</p><figure class="op-tracker"></figure></article>    </body></html>

Jonathan Allen closing in on miraculous injury return for Commanders

<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Transitional//EN" "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-transitional.dtd"><html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml" xml:lang="en" lang="en">    <head>        <script>   (function(i, s, o, g, r, a, m) {     i["GoogleAnalyticsObject"] = r;     i[r] = i[r] || function() {       (i[r].q = i[r].q || []).push(arguments)     }, i[r].l = 1 * new Date();     a = s.createElement(o),       m = s.getElementsByTagName(o)[0];     a.async = 1;     a.src = g;     m.parentNode.insertBefore(a, m)   })(window, document, "script", "https://www.google-analytics.com/analytics.js", "ga");   ga('create', 'UA-66147751-16', {     'storage': 'none',     'clientId': localStorage.getItem('ga:clientId')   });   ga(function(tracker) {     localStorage.setItem('ga:clientId', tracker.get('clientId'));   });   ga('set', 'checkProtocolTask', null);      ga('set', 'page', '/commanders-news-maryland-governor-confident-nfl-team-will-stay-amid-rfk-site-update');   ga('set', 'title', 'Maryland governor confident Commanders will stay amid RFK site update');   ga('send', 'pageview');</script>        <style type="text/css" media="all">            body {    background: transparent;    margin: 0px;}h1, h2, h3 {    color: #DDDDDD;    font-family: "SFUIText-Semibold";    margin: 30px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 21px;    line-height: 125%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}header {    margin: 0px;    height: 0px;    display: none;}p {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 15px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}p > img {    margin-left: -15px;    width: calc(100% + 30px);}a {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;    text-decoration: underline;}ul {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 3px 10px 3px 10px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}ol {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}img {    margin: 0px;    width: 100%;    height: auto;}blockquote {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Medium";    margin: 30px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 19px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}blockquote p {    margin: 0px;}.op-tracker, .op-ad {    display: none;    height: 0px;}article > figure {    margin: 0px;}figcaption {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 10px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 13px;}iframe {    width: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;    margin: 0px;    border: 0;}.vine-embed {    height: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;}.twitter-tweet, .instagram-media {    margin-left: 15px !important;    margin-right: 15px !important;    width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;}.clutchpoints-widget {    /*margin: 10px 15px 10px 15px !important;*/    /*margin-top: 1px !important;*/    padding-top: 10px;    /*margin-left: 15px !important;*/    /*margin-right: 15px !important;*/    /*width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;*/}        </style>        <meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=UTF-8" />    </head>    <body>        <article id="mvp-content-main"><header><figure><img src="https://wp.clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/Maryland-governor-confident-NFL-team-will-stay-amid-RFK-site-update.jpg"></figure><h1>Maryland governor confident Commanders will stay amid RFK site update</h1><time class="op-published" datetime="2024-12-18T07:13:24-08:00">December 18th, 7:13am</time><time class="op-modified" datetime="2024-12-18T07:13:24-08:00">December 18th, 7:13am</time><address><a>Ben Strauss</a>Ben Strauss is an Associate Editor at ClutchPoints. He is a die-hard NFL fan who cheers for the Detroit Lions. He has previously written fantasy football content for IDPGuys and ImportantNonsense.com.</address><h3 class="op-kicker">NFL</h3><figure class="op-ad"></figure></header><p>The Washington Commanders have been one of the most pleasant surprises of the 2024 season. <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/nfl-power-rankings-week-16-bills-win-shootout-seahawks-struggle">Washington is 9-5 heading into Week 16</a> and is primed to <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/nfc-playoff-picture-after-rams-take-control-of-nfc-west-in-week-15">make the playoffs in the NFC as a wild card team</a>. One recent piece of legislation could make it easier for the Commanders to finally return to our nation’s capitol.</p><p>Congress’ short-term spending bill <a href="https://apnews.com/article/washington-commanders-rfk-stadium-95c740d398a84e7ca4aa7877b826c0e0" rel="noopener">includes a provision that is incredibly important</a> to the Commanders. The provision would transfer the land that is the site of the old RFK Stadium from the federal government to the District of Columbia.</p><p>This could be a massive step towards getting the Commanders back in D.C. NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell and Commanders controlling owner Josh Harris pushed lawmakers to pass the Robert F. Kennedy Memorial Stadium campus Revitalization Act earlier in December. This act does not guarantee that a stadium will be built on the site, but is is obviously one of the main possibilities.</p><p>D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser celebrated the news as a “giant step forward” for the RFK site.</p><p>“As a city, we have worked for years to get control of the RFK campus,” Bowser said per Stephen Whyno of The Associated Press. “We’re celebrating this moment, and we’re looking to the future of a field of possibilities on the banks of the Anacostia.”</p><p>The Commanders are considering multiple sites for a new stadium. Washington is looking at places within the District of Columbia as well as in Maryland and Virginia.</p><p>Washington’s lease at Northwest Stadium in Landover, Maryland runs through 2027. Harris believes that the year 2030 is a “reasonable target” for a new stadium.</p><h2><b>Maryland governor responds to Commanders after RFK site update</b></h2><figure><img src="https://wp.clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/Dan-Quinn-and-Josh-Harris.jpg"><figcaption>Mandatory Credit: Geoff Burke-Imagn Images</figcaption></figure><p>If the Commanders moved back to the District of Columbia, that would be bad news for Maryland.</p><p>Maryland governor Wes Moore <a href="https://x.com/BenStandig/status/1869182689158611249" rel="noopener">released a statement on Tuesday</a> addressed to the Commanders following the news of the RFK site.</p><p>“Our position on the stadium hasn’t changed,” Moore said via a statement on Tuesday. “We are not afraid of competition, and we believe that we can continue to build on decades of partnership with the team here in Maryland. We are confident that Landover is still the best, and fastest, path to a new stadium for the Washington Commanders.”</p><p>It seems Maryland will still continue to fight to remain the home of the Washington Commanders.</p><p>“We have said from the start of this process that regardless of what happens with the RFK legislation, we are focused on making sure that Landover receives teh investment it deserves,” Governor Moore continued. “While the stadium location is still an open question, the Commanders and the state of Maryland both agree on the importance of the team’s commitment to the Prince George’s community if the team decides to move.”</p><p>This story is far from over. It will be interesting to see what happens next over the coming months and years.</p><figure class="op-tracker"></figure></article>    </body></html>

Maryland governor confident Commanders will stay amid RFK site update

<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Transitional//EN" "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-transitional.dtd"><html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml" xml:lang="en" lang="en">    <head>        <script>   (function(i, s, o, g, r, a, m) {     i["GoogleAnalyticsObject"] = r;     i[r] = i[r] || function() {       (i[r].q = i[r].q || []).push(arguments)     }, i[r].l = 1 * new Date();     a = s.createElement(o),       m = s.getElementsByTagName(o)[0];     a.async = 1;     a.src = g;     m.parentNode.insertBefore(a, m)   })(window, document, "script", "https://www.google-analytics.com/analytics.js", "ga");   ga('create', 'UA-66147751-16', {     'storage': 'none',     'clientId': localStorage.getItem('ga:clientId')   });   ga(function(tracker) {     localStorage.setItem('ga:clientId', tracker.get('clientId'));   });   ga('set', 'checkProtocolTask', null);      ga('set', 'page', '/3-commanders-reasons-concern-tight-victory-saints');   ga('set', 'title', '3 Commanders reasons for concern after tight victory vs. Saints');   ga('send', 'pageview');</script>        <style type="text/css" media="all">            body {    background: transparent;    margin: 0px;}h1, h2, h3 {    color: #DDDDDD;    font-family: "SFUIText-Semibold";    margin: 30px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 21px;    line-height: 125%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}header {    margin: 0px;    height: 0px;    display: none;}p {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 15px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}p > img {    margin-left: -15px;    width: calc(100% + 30px);}a {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;    text-decoration: underline;}ul {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 3px 10px 3px 10px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}ol {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}img {    margin: 0px;    width: 100%;    height: auto;}blockquote {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Medium";    margin: 30px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 19px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}blockquote p {    margin: 0px;}.op-tracker, .op-ad {    display: none;    height: 0px;}article > figure {    margin: 0px;}figcaption {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 10px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 13px;}iframe {    width: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;    margin: 0px;    border: 0;}.vine-embed {    height: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;}.twitter-tweet, .instagram-media {    margin-left: 15px !important;    margin-right: 15px !important;    width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;}.clutchpoints-widget {    /*margin: 10px 15px 10px 15px !important;*/    /*margin-top: 1px !important;*/    padding-top: 10px;    /*margin-left: 15px !important;*/    /*margin-right: 15px !important;*/    /*width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;*/}        </style>        <meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=UTF-8" />    </head>    <body>        <article id="mvp-content-main"><header><figure><img src="https://wp.clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/X-Commanders-reasons-for-concern-after-tight-victory-vs.-Saints.jpg"></figure><h1>3 Commanders reasons for concern after tight victory vs. Saints</h1><time class="op-published" datetime="2024-12-16T18:22:48-08:00">December 16th, 6:22pm</time><time class="op-modified" datetime="2024-12-16T18:22:48-08:00">December 16th, 6:22pm</time><address><a href="https://matthew516sports.substack.com/">Douglas Fritz</a>Douglas Fritz has been writing about sports for almost four decades and publishes a Christian sports newsletter and podcast on Substack at Matthew516Sports. He started as a reporter for the student newspaper at East Tennessee State University, worked his way up to Editor-In-Chief, and began his sports writing career at the Johnson City Press daily newspaper while still in college. During 30-plus years at the Press, he covered University of Tennessee football, men's and women's basketball, ETSU athletics, and high school athletics. Among the people he has interviewed are Dale Murphy, Bobby Cox, John Smoltz, and Bruce Smith. He is also a Christian-based screenwriter (five feature-length and one short), book writer (three completed manuscripts and one novel), and songwriter.</address><h3 class="op-kicker">NFL</h3><figure class="op-ad"></figure></header><p>CommandersAfter the Washington Commanders eeked out a win, head coach Dan <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/commanders-news-dan-quinn-taking-high-road-clock-stoppage">Quinn took the high road about a mysterious clock stoppage.</a> He also faced the bad news of a <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/commanders-news-zach-ertz-heads-locker-room-possible-concussion">possible concussion for Zach Ertz</a>. Also, here are three Commanders’ reasons for concern after the tight victory versus the Saints.</p><p>Jayden Daniels threw two first-half touchdown passes to Terry McLaurin, and Washington won 20-19 on Sunday as New Orleans failed on a 2-point conversion with no time left on the clock. The Commanders improved to 9-5 on the season and kept their playoff hopes solid.</p><p>However, that’s only how things stand right now. The Commanders’ position is much more precarious than meets the typical eye.</p><h2><b>Commanders HC Dan Quinn will have to find more magic</b></h2><figure><img src="https://wp.clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/Washington-Commanders-head-coach-Dan-Quinn_72314b.jpg"><figcaption>Stephen Lew-Imagn Images</figcaption></figure><p>There’s a possibility the Commanders won’t win any of their final three games. Such a collapse would likely usher them outside of the playoff room.</p><p>Washington plays the Eagles at home on Sunday, a game where the Commanders will be a serious underdog. Then they play host to the Falcons, who stood at 6-7 heading into Monday as the fight for a playoff berth of their own.</p><p>Finally, the Commanders travel to take on the Cowboys, a team they already lost to at home. Suffice to say, Quinn and the Commanders have a lot to be concerned about, from the schedule alone.</p><p>For now, Quinn is happy. But the 9-5 mark has been built on the foundation of a softer-than-most-in-the-NFL schedule. Quinn said the road win over the Saints <a href="https://www.si.com/nfl/commanders/news/washington-commanders-coach-reacts-to-win-against-saints" rel="noopener">helps a lot</a>, according to Sports Illustrated.</p><p>“For us to go and get one on the road is a big deal for us,” Quinn said. “There is lots to clean up with those and we will, but that is just December and January football. We went all the way down on the last play and when we talked about the fight of the group, I think we embodied that.”</p><h2><b>Spencer Rattler seemed to rattle Commanders</b></h2><p>The Commanders didn’t adjust well to the Saints’ quarterback change from Jake Haener to Spencer Rattler, making it appear the Saints might have won if they started Rattler. Saints coach Darren Rizzi said the <a href="https://www.neworleanssaints.com/news/washington-commanders-vs-new-orleans-saints-vs-2024-nfl-week-15-postgame-quotes" rel="noopener">team needed momentum</a>, according to neworleanssaints.com.</p><p>“As I said at halftime to the offense, we just need the first score to get a little momentum going,” Rizzi said. “Sometimes there is a snowball effect. I think, if I am not mistaken, we had one first down in the first half, and we had 16 first downs in the second half. A tale of two halves. It’s just really that initial read, that initial scoring drive to get a little confidence. When there’s a big fat zero up there for a while. There’s not a lot of confidence going on. Once you get that first score, everybody starts feeling on the sideline like you can do this.”</p><h2><b>Commanders don’t have a playoff-level offensive line</b></h2><p>Giving up eight sacks to a team like the Saints is extremely bad. New Orleans had no more than four sacks against any team all season. The performance by the Commanders’ pass protection can only be described as atrocious.</p><p>Furthermore, the Commanders didn’t run the ball effectively. Brian Robinson Jr. managed just over three yards a carry against a team that had surrendered five per game this season.</p><p>Yes, the Commanders missed Tyler Biadasz at center. His injury played a role. But it’s not like Biadasz is a superstar. He’s an effective center. The Commanders simply aren’t very good along the offensive line.</p><p>Quinn acknowledged his team has <a href="https://www.commanders.com/news/hc-dan-quinn-a-lot-of-energy-with-the-team" rel="noopener">work to do on the line</a> — on both sides of the ball — according to commanders.com.</p><p>“Sure. There’s a number of things, but when you’re kind of, you can’t pick 30 things, right?” Quinn said. “So, there’s some line of scrimmage stuff that we wanted to make sure on both sides, the lead sled dogs. We’re getting the right looks for the right guys and putting them in the right spaces. Those we want, we’re always going to dig in on third down always. And then the winning time moments as the season goes along and the air gets a little thinner, you gotta keep executing at a really high level.</p><p>“We’ve all seen that from games over the weekend and that you watch to say, those are the moments. So, those are the ones that I don’t think you’ll ever feel like, ‘Okay, we’ve done enough there.’ You always want to stay ready, you always want to stay on it because so many of these games, I don’t know, maybe there’s 70% of them are within one score, I mean it’s a high number. And as it gets even moving further, those are the moments, man, that when they come up you gotta nail them. So, I don’t ever want us to think, ‘Okay, we’re good on that. We’ve done this two minute, we’ve done a clock.’ No, no, no, let’s do it again.”</p><h2><b>Commanders defense seems to wilt in second half of games</b></h2><p>Many times this season, the Commanders have failed defensively in the second half of games. Against the Saints the only thing that prevented an epic second-half failure came in the form of an incomplete pass on the 2-point conversion.</p><p>The Commanders led 17-0 midway through the third quarter. This game should not have finished close. Quinn bemoaned a combination of <a href="https://www.espn.com/nfl/recap/_/gameId/401671737" rel="noopener">penalties and missed opportunities</a>, according to espn.com.</p><p>“When you get those, you really put yourself in a bad spot,” Quinn said. “We have lots to clean up, but we’ve been in a lot of close games and been battle-hardened.”</p><p>But Quinn’s choice of defensive coordinator Joe Whitt has come under scrutiny. To be fair, Whitt isn’t playing with a stacked deck in terms of talent. But his ability to make halftime adjustments seems to be lacking. The Saints played without almost all of their key weapons, and still Whitt couldn’t find a way for his team to stop a rookie quarterback.</p><figure class="op-tracker"></figure></article>    </body></html>

3 Commanders reasons for concern after tight victory vs. Saints

<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Transitional//EN" "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-transitional.dtd"><html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml" xml:lang="en" lang="en">    <head>        <script>   (function(i, s, o, g, r, a, m) {     i["GoogleAnalyticsObject"] = r;     i[r] = i[r] || function() {       (i[r].q = i[r].q || []).push(arguments)     }, i[r].l = 1 * new Date();     a = s.createElement(o),       m = s.getElementsByTagName(o)[0];     a.async = 1;     a.src = g;     m.parentNode.insertBefore(a, m)   })(window, document, "script", "https://www.google-analytics.com/analytics.js", "ga");   ga('create', 'UA-66147751-16', {     'storage': 'none',     'clientId': localStorage.getItem('ga:clientId')   });   ga(function(tracker) {     localStorage.setItem('ga:clientId', tracker.get('clientId'));   });   ga('set', 'checkProtocolTask', null);      ga('set', 'page', '/commanders-news-dan-quinn-taking-high-road-clock-stoppage');   ga('set', 'title', 'Commanders’ Dan Quinn ‘taking high road’ on mysterious clock stoppage');   ga('send', 'pageview');</script>        <style type="text/css" media="all">            body {    background: transparent;    margin: 0px;}h1, h2, h3 {    color: #DDDDDD;    font-family: "SFUIText-Semibold";    margin: 30px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 21px;    line-height: 125%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}header {    margin: 0px;    height: 0px;    display: none;}p {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 15px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}p > img {    margin-left: -15px;    width: calc(100% + 30px);}a {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;    text-decoration: underline;}ul {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 3px 10px 3px 10px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}ol {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}img {    margin: 0px;    width: 100%;    height: auto;}blockquote {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Medium";    margin: 30px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 19px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}blockquote p {    margin: 0px;}.op-tracker, .op-ad {    display: none;    height: 0px;}article > figure {    margin: 0px;}figcaption {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 10px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 13px;}iframe {    width: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;    margin: 0px;    border: 0;}.vine-embed {    height: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;}.twitter-tweet, .instagram-media {    margin-left: 15px !important;    margin-right: 15px !important;    width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;}.clutchpoints-widget {    /*margin: 10px 15px 10px 15px !important;*/    /*margin-top: 1px !important;*/    padding-top: 10px;    /*margin-left: 15px !important;*/    /*margin-right: 15px !important;*/    /*width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;*/}        </style>        <meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=UTF-8" />    </head>    <body>        <article id="mvp-content-main"><header><figure><img src="https://wp.clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/Commanders-Dan-Quinn-taking-high-road-on-mysterious-clock-stoppage.jpg"></figure><h1>Commanders’ Dan Quinn ‘taking high road’ on mysterious clock stoppage</h1><time class="op-published" datetime="2024-12-15T22:50:27-08:00">December 15th, 10:50pm</time><time class="op-modified" datetime="2024-12-15T22:50:27-08:00">December 15th, 10:50pm</time><address><a>Tristin McKinstry</a>Tristin McKinstry is an experienced sports writer who got his start back in 2014. He is an Associate Editor with ClutchPoints and is one of the staff's NHL experts. Tristin has worked professionally with The Inquisitr and GIVEMESPORT in the past, and his work has also been featured on Last Word On Sports, XFL News Hub, and USFL News Hub. He is currently pursuing a Bachelor's degree in Communications at Southern New Hampshire University.</address><h3 class="op-kicker">NFL</h3><figure class="op-ad"></figure></header><p>The <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/saints-news-darren-rizzi-explains-benching-jake-haener-vs-commanders">Washington Commanders defeated the New Orleans Saints</a> in a close game on Sunday. Washington moved to 9-5 on the season and currently occupies the final playoff spot in the NFC. However, the win over the Saints did not come without some controversy, though the controversy worked against Washington head coach Dan Quinn’s men in the moment.</p><p>The Saints drove the ball down the field with the clock ticking down the final seconds. Quarterback Spencer Rattler found tight end Foster Moreau for a seven-yard gain. He was tackled in bounds, but New Orleans was able to line up and spike the ball. The issue at hand is the clock stopped briefly with nine seconds left when it should have kept running. The Saints scored a touchdown on the next play.</p><p><a href="https://clutchpoints.com/saints-news-darren-rizzi-reveals-went-for-2-win-loss-commanders">The Commanders prevented a two-point conversion</a> to claim a close 20-19 win. After the game, head coach Dan Quinn <a href="https://x.com/NickiJhabvala/status/1868416342736654784" rel="noopener">addressed the controversial clock stoppage</a>. “I don’t know (what happened), and I’m absolutely taking the high road about that. I saw a quick video of that, and I await for the response from New York. But those three seconds were critical,” Quinn said, via Washington Post reporter Nicki Jhabvala.</p><h2><b>Refs address clock stoppage late in Commanders-Saints game</b></h2><figure><img src="https://wp.clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/Dan-Quinn-speaks-with-the-side-judge.jpg"><figcaption>Stephen Lew-Imagn Images</figcaption></figure><p>Dan Quinn mentioned not being able to ask in the moment what happened. Watching the replay of the play shows something interesting, though. One of the officials signals for the clock to stop once Moreau is ruled down. This solves why the clock stopped, but the reason is a lot less clear.</p><p>Referee Shawn Hocculi did not provide a reasoning for why the clock was stopped postgame. However, <a href="https://www.espn.com/nfl/story/_/id/42992872/officials-mistakenly-stopped-clock-upset-commanders-saints" rel="noopener">he did admit</a> that it was a mistake on behalf of the side judge. “The covering official mistakenly stopped the clock in that situation. The clock should not have stopped,” Hocculi said, via ESPN.</p><p>The Saints fell to 5-9 after their loss to the Commanders on Sunday. New Orleans has won three of its last five games, however. They are in third place in the NFC South but have a tough remaining schedule. The Saints travel to Green Bay next Monday to take on the Packers at Lambeau Field.</p><p>In the end, the Commanders held on to win. Had the Saints converted their two-point conversion, Washington may have taken a different tone after the game. In any event, they have a massive matchup with the NFC East-leading Philadelphia Eagles next Sunday.</p><figure class="op-tracker"></figure></article>    </body></html>

Commanders’ Dan Quinn ‘taking high road’ on mysterious clock stoppage

<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Transitional//EN" "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-transitional.dtd"><html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml" xml:lang="en" lang="en">    <head>        <script>   (function(i, s, o, g, r, a, m) {     i["GoogleAnalyticsObject"] = r;     i[r] = i[r] || function() {       (i[r].q = i[r].q || []).push(arguments)     }, i[r].l = 1 * new Date();     a = s.createElement(o),       m = s.getElementsByTagName(o)[0];     a.async = 1;     a.src = g;     m.parentNode.insertBefore(a, m)   })(window, document, "script", "https://www.google-analytics.com/analytics.js", "ga");   ga('create', 'UA-66147751-16', {     'storage': 'none',     'clientId': localStorage.getItem('ga:clientId')   });   ga(function(tracker) {     localStorage.setItem('ga:clientId', tracker.get('clientId'));   });   ga('set', 'checkProtocolTask', null);      ga('set', 'page', '/commanders-news-zach-ertz-heads-locker-room-possible-concussion');   ga('set', 'title', 'Commanders’ Zach Ertz heads to locker room after possible concussion');   ga('send', 'pageview');</script>        <style type="text/css" media="all">            body {    background: transparent;    margin: 0px;}h1, h2, h3 {    color: #DDDDDD;    font-family: "SFUIText-Semibold";    margin: 30px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 21px;    line-height: 125%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}header {    margin: 0px;    height: 0px;    display: none;}p {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 15px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}p > img {    margin-left: -15px;    width: calc(100% + 30px);}a {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;    text-decoration: underline;}ul {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 3px 10px 3px 10px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}ol {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}img {    margin: 0px;    width: 100%;    height: auto;}blockquote {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Medium";    margin: 30px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 19px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}blockquote p {    margin: 0px;}.op-tracker, .op-ad {    display: none;    height: 0px;}article > figure {    margin: 0px;}figcaption {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 10px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 13px;}iframe {    width: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;    margin: 0px;    border: 0;}.vine-embed {    height: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;}.twitter-tweet, .instagram-media {    margin-left: 15px !important;    margin-right: 15px !important;    width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;}.clutchpoints-widget {    /*margin: 10px 15px 10px 15px !important;*/    /*margin-top: 1px !important;*/    padding-top: 10px;    /*margin-left: 15px !important;*/    /*margin-right: 15px !important;*/    /*width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;*/}        </style>        <meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=UTF-8" />    </head>    <body>        <article id="mvp-content-main"><header><figure><img src="https://wp.clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/nfl-rumors-zach-ertz-linked-to-commanders-ahead-of-free-agency.jpg"></figure><h1>Commanders’ Zach Ertz heads to locker room after possible concussion</h1><time class="op-published" datetime="2024-12-15T11:17:35-08:00">December 15th, 11:17am</time><time class="op-modified" datetime="2024-12-15T11:33:50-08:00">December 15th, 11:33am</time><address><a>Malik Brown</a>Malik Brown is a multimedia reporter based in Atlanta who covers the Hawks and Dream for ClutchPoints. Malik has worked in entertainment and sports, and he specializes in the NBA and NFL.</address><h3 class="op-kicker">NFL</h3><figure class="op-ad"></figure></header><p>The Wahington <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/commanders-vs-saints-predictions-pick-odds-spread-for-nfl-week-15-2024">Commanders are up against the New Orleans Saints,</a> and they may have to play without their top tight end for the rest of the game. Zach Ertz went into the blue tent and is being <a href="https://x.com/FantasyInjuryT/status/1868370810983043325" rel="noopener">evaluated for a concussion</a>. The tight end caught a pass from Jayden Daniels, and as he was being tackled, his shoulder hit the ground, and so did his head.</p><p>Ertz has been a big part of the Commanders’ offense this season, and it will be the next-man-up mentality for the team as they try to take care of business against the Saints. Hopefully, Ertz doesn’t have to miss much time, if he has to miss any at all.</p><h2>Zach Ertz big part of Commanders’ offense</h2><p>Earlier in the season, <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/commanders-news-jayden-daniels-will-love-dan-quinns-review-zach-ertz">Zach Ertz shared why he came to Washington</a> in free agency and had several reasons for his decision. So far, Ertz has 501 receiving yards for four touchdowns.</p><p>“Adam Peters, Dan Quinn, and (offensive coordinator) Kliff Kingsbury are pretty much the main reasons that I’m here,” Ertz said. “These are guys that I truly believe are going to build long-term success at this place, and it was an opportunity that I couldn’t pass up.</p><p>“I think the job of any really good coach is to put the players in position to be successful, and no one does that better than Kliff in my opinion. He wants to put his guys in positions to make a lot of plays, whether it be running the ball or throwing the ball and catching the ball. He’s going to do everything he can to put his guys in positions to be successful, and he’s one of the best I’ve been around in that regards.”</p><p>There’s no doubt that the Commanders’ offense has been solid this season, and the hope for them is that they can finish the season strong to make the playoffs.</p><figure class="op-tracker"></figure></article>    </body></html>

Commanders’ Zach Ertz heads to locker room after possible concussion

<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Transitional//EN" "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-transitional.dtd"><html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml" xml:lang="en" lang="en">    <head>        <script>   (function(i, s, o, g, r, a, m) {     i["GoogleAnalyticsObject"] = r;     i[r] = i[r] || function() {       (i[r].q = i[r].q || []).push(arguments)     }, i[r].l = 1 * new Date();     a = s.createElement(o),       m = s.getElementsByTagName(o)[0];     a.async = 1;     a.src = g;     m.parentNode.insertBefore(a, m)   })(window, document, "script", "https://www.google-analytics.com/analytics.js", "ga");   ga('create', 'UA-66147751-16', {     'storage': 'none',     'clientId': localStorage.getItem('ga:clientId')   });   ga(function(tracker) {     localStorage.setItem('ga:clientId', tracker.get('clientId'));   });   ga('set', 'checkProtocolTask', null);      ga('set', 'page', '/commanders-news-washington-rules-out-starting-center-kicker-saints-matchup');   ga('set', 'title', 'Commanders rule out starting center, kicker for Saints matchup');   ga('send', 'pageview');</script>        <style type="text/css" media="all">            body {    background: transparent;    margin: 0px;}h1, h2, h3 {    color: #DDDDDD;    font-family: "SFUIText-Semibold";    margin: 30px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 21px;    line-height: 125%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}header {    margin: 0px;    height: 0px;    display: none;}p {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 15px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}p > img {    margin-left: -15px;    width: calc(100% + 30px);}a {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;    text-decoration: underline;}ul {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 3px 10px 3px 10px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}ol {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}img {    margin: 0px;    width: 100%;    height: auto;}blockquote {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Medium";    margin: 30px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 19px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}blockquote p {    margin: 0px;}.op-tracker, .op-ad {    display: none;    height: 0px;}article > figure {    margin: 0px;}figcaption {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 10px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 13px;}iframe {    width: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;    margin: 0px;    border: 0;}.vine-embed {    height: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;}.twitter-tweet, .instagram-media {    margin-left: 15px !important;    margin-right: 15px !important;    width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;}.clutchpoints-widget {    /*margin: 10px 15px 10px 15px !important;*/    /*margin-top: 1px !important;*/    padding-top: 10px;    /*margin-left: 15px !important;*/    /*margin-right: 15px !important;*/    /*width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;*/}        </style>        <meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=UTF-8" />    </head>    <body>        <article id="mvp-content-main"><header><figure><img src="https://wp.clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/Commanders-news-Washington-rules-out-starting-center-kicker-for-Saints-matchup.jpg"></figure><h1>Commanders rule out starting center, kicker for Saints matchup</h1><time class="op-published" datetime="2024-12-15T08:51:17-08:00">December 15th, 8:51am</time><time class="op-modified" datetime="2024-12-15T09:19:18-08:00">December 15th, 9:19am</time><address><a>Ben Strauss</a>Ben Strauss is an Associate Editor at ClutchPoints. He is a die-hard NFL fan who cheers for the Detroit Lions. He has previously written fantasy football content for IDPGuys and ImportantNonsense.com.</address><h3 class="op-kicker">NFL</h3><figure class="op-ad"></figure></header><p>The Washington Commanders have been one of the most pleasant surprises of the 2024 season. <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/nfl-power-rankings-week-15-vikings-roll-as-steelers-get-revenge">Washington is 8-5 heading into Week 15</a> and is <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/nfc-playoff-picture-buccaneers-nfc-south-from-falcons-week-14">in the mix to make the playoffs in the NFC</a>. Unfortunately, the Commanders got a pair of tough injury updates on Sunday morning ahead of their game with the Saints.</p><p>Commanders center Tyler Biadasz <a href="https://x.com/TomPelissero/status/1868332745686163553" rel="noopener">will not play on Sunday</a>, per NFL insider Tom Pelissero. Biadasz woke up this morning with an illness and is officially inactive. Backup Michael Deiter will fill in at center for the Commanders.</p><p>Washington <a href="https://x.com/TomPelissero/status/1868333173815582922" rel="noopener">will also be without starting kicker</a> Zane Gonzalez, who has a left foot injury. Veteran Greg Joseph will fill in at kicker, per Pelissero.</p><p>Both of these injuries could have an impact on the Commanders. Center injuries are not too difficult to prepare for in advance. However, losing your center on the morning of a game puts extra stress on backup Michael Deiter. Offensive line chemistry and the potential for botched snaps are something to watch in this game.</p><p>The kicker swap is less of an issue, but still important. New Orleans now gains a little bit of an edge on special teams.</p><p>Hopefully that is not the difference between a loss and a win for Washington.</p><h2><b>Marshon Lattimore blasts Saints for Commanders trade ahead of Week 15</b></h2><figure><img src="https://wp.clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/Marshon-Lattimore.jpg"><figcaption>Stephen Lew-Imagn Images</figcaption></figure><p>This Week 15 game will mean a little bit more to former Saints cornerback Marshon Lattimore.</p><p>The <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/commanders-acquire-marshon-lattimore-in-blockbuster-trade-with-saints">Saints traded Lattimore to the Commanders at the trade deadline</a> back in November. Lattimore gave an honest answer when asked if this grudge match means a little something extra to him.</p><p>“I’d be lying if I said it didn’t,” Lattimore told reporters on Friday. “They traded me away, and I’m going back to show them why they shouldn’t have. I’m happy where I’m at, but you know how it be. It’s extra motivation for the game, that’s all.”</p><p>Lattimore was a former first-round pick of the Saints. He earned Defensive Rookie of the Year in 2017 over other elite players like Myles Garrett, TJ Watt, Jamal Adams, and Budda Baker. Lattimore is a four-time Pro Bowler, all of them with the Saints.</p><p>Now Lattimore finds himself on a contending team in the NFC and is looking to get some revenge on Sunday.</p><p>This game is also important because the Commanders could really use a win to stay alive in the NFC playoff hunt.</p><p><a href="https://clutchpoints.com/nfl/washington-commanders/schedule/upcoming">Commanders vs. Saints kicks off at 1PM ET</a> on Sunday in New Orleans.</p><figure class="op-tracker"></figure></article>    </body></html>

Commanders rule out starting center, kicker for Saints matchup

<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Transitional//EN" "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-transitional.dtd"><html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml" xml:lang="en" lang="en">    <head>        <script>   (function(i, s, o, g, r, a, m) {     i["GoogleAnalyticsObject"] = r;     i[r] = i[r] || function() {       (i[r].q = i[r].q || []).push(arguments)     }, i[r].l = 1 * new Date();     a = s.createElement(o),       m = s.getElementsByTagName(o)[0];     a.async = 1;     a.src = g;     m.parentNode.insertBefore(a, m)   })(window, document, "script", "https://www.google-analytics.com/analytics.js", "ga");   ga('create', 'UA-66147751-16', {     'storage': 'none',     'clientId': localStorage.getItem('ga:clientId')   });   ga(function(tracker) {     localStorage.setItem('ga:clientId', tracker.get('clientId'));   });   ga('set', 'checkProtocolTask', null);      ga('set', 'page', '/commanders-news-washington-makes-roster-moves-ahead-of-saints-clash');   ga('set', 'title', 'Commanders make flurry of roster moves ahead of Saints clash');   ga('send', 'pageview');</script>        <style type="text/css" media="all">            body {    background: transparent;    margin: 0px;}h1, h2, h3 {    color: #DDDDDD;    font-family: "SFUIText-Semibold";    margin: 30px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 21px;    line-height: 125%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}header {    margin: 0px;    height: 0px;    display: none;}p {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 15px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}p > img {    margin-left: -15px;    width: calc(100% + 30px);}a {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;    text-decoration: underline;}ul {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 3px 10px 3px 10px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}ol {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}img {    margin: 0px;    width: 100%;    height: auto;}blockquote {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Medium";    margin: 30px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 19px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}blockquote p {    margin: 0px;}.op-tracker, .op-ad {    display: none;    height: 0px;}article > figure {    margin: 0px;}figcaption {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 10px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 13px;}iframe {    width: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;    margin: 0px;    border: 0;}.vine-embed {    height: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;}.twitter-tweet, .instagram-media {    margin-left: 15px !important;    margin-right: 15px !important;    width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;}.clutchpoints-widget {    /*margin: 10px 15px 10px 15px !important;*/    /*margin-top: 1px !important;*/    padding-top: 10px;    /*margin-left: 15px !important;*/    /*margin-right: 15px !important;*/    /*width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;*/}        </style>        <meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=UTF-8" />    </head>    <body>        <article id="mvp-content-main"><header><figure><img src="https://wp.clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/Commanders-news-Washington-makes-flurry-of-roster-moves-ahead-of-Saints-clash.jpg"><figcaption>ClutchPoints</figcaption></figure><h1>Commanders make flurry of roster moves ahead of Saints clash</h1><time class="op-published" datetime="2024-12-14T14:29:30-08:00">December 14th, 2:29pm</time><time class="op-modified" datetime="2024-12-14T15:13:06-08:00">December 14th, 3:13pm</time><address><a>Julian Ojeda</a>Julian Ojeda is an Orlando-based sports journalist with 3 years of professional writing under his belt, specializing in both NBA and NFL coverage. A devoted Orlando Magic fan, he deftly balances fervent fandom with insightful reporting, possessing a keen eye for compelling narratives.</address><h3 class="op-kicker">New Orleans Saints</h3><figure class="op-ad"></figure></header><p>The Washington Commanders have made <a href="https://x.com/TomPelissero/status/1868038592570036454" rel="noopener">several roster adjustments</a> ahead of their <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/commanders-news-marshon-lattimore-blasts-new-orleans-trade-week-15">Week 15 matchup against the New Orleans Saints</a>, including placing wide receiver Noah Brown on injured reserve. NFL insider Tom Pelissero reported that the team also activated wide receiver Jamison Crowder from injured reserve and elevated kicker Greg Joseph to the active roster.</p><p>Brown, who joined the Commanders after training camp, has been a key target for rookie quarterback Jayden Daniels this season. The 27-year-old receiver totaled 453 yards on 35 receptions with one touchdown before sustaining a “significant internal injury” during the team’s Week 14 victory over the Tennessee Titans.</p><p>Head coach Dan Quinn earlier described the injury as one that will “knock him out for a bit,” and the move to IR will likely sideline Brown for the remainder of the season.</p><h2><b>Commanders place Noah Brown on IR ahead of Week 15 vs. Saints</b></h2><figure><img src="https://wp.clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/Noah-Brown-85-reacts-after-a-first-down-reception.jpg"><figcaption>© Vincent Carchietta-Imagn Images</figcaption></figure><p>To bolster their receiving corps, the Commanders activated Crowder from IR. Crowder has played in just two games this season, recording one reception for five yards. The veteran receiver, however, is no stranger to success with Washington, having posted a career-high 847 yards on 67 receptions with seven touchdowns in 2016.</p><p>The <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/commanders-news-washington-claims-ex-patriots-wr-after-noah-brown-injury">Commanders also claimed wide receiver KJ Osborn</a> earlier in the week after his release from the New England Patriots. Osborn appeared in seven games for the Patriots this season, logging 57 receiving yards and a touchdown. His best season came in 2020 with the Minnesota Vikings, where he tallied 655 yards and seven touchdowns as a rookie.</p><p>In addition to their changes at wide receiver, Washington elevated kicker Greg Joseph to the active roster. Joseph, who previously played for the New York Giants this season, has made 13 of 16 field-goal attempts, including a long of 52 yards, and remains perfect on six extra-point tries.</p><p>The Washington Commanders, currently 8-5 and second in the NFC East, are looking to secure a pivotal win against the New Orleans Saints (5-8) before facing the division-leading Philadelphia Eagles (11-2) in Week 16. <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/commanders-jayden-daniels-backs-coach-controversial-call-eagles-loss">Washington lost their first meeting with Philadelphia in Week 11</a>, 26-18, and will need to be at full strength as they aim to keep their playoff aspirations on track.</p><figure class="op-tracker"></figure></article>    </body></html>

Washington
Commanders NEWS

WASHINGTON

COMMANDERS

WashingtonCommanders NEWS

WASHINGTON

COMMANDERS

Washington
Commanders NEWS