ASHBURN, Va. (DC News Now) — As the Washington Commanders continue to get ready for the NFC Championship game this Sunday vs. the Philadelphia Eagles, they will have to try and slow down the best running back in the league: Saquon Barkley.
Barkley rushed for over 2,000 yards this season to become only the ninth player in NFL history to do so. Last week in the divisional round, he rushed for over 200 yards against the LA Rams.
In the two meetings vs. Washington this season, Barkley averaged 148 rushing yards and two touchdowns. So, coming into Sunday, the team knows they need to slow Barkley down to give themselves a chance.
“Every single time I’ve coached against him, he’s been the emphasis,” said head coach Dan Quinn. “He’s a remarkable player.”
“If you don’t take a confident angle, he runs past you,” said defensive coordinator Joe Whitt Jr. “You have to get to his inside hip in a confident way and get him down, and if not, you’re not going to make the tackle. It’s eleven man football to stop this man.”
As the Commanders defense gets set to stop the Eagles offense, the Washington offense, specifically the offensive line, will look to win the battle against a tough Philly front seven.
In the previous two meetings, the Eagles have managed to sack Jayden Daniels four times, and force three interceptions.
Coming into this weekend, the Commanders will be without offensive guard Sam Cosmi, as his season came to end last week vs. Detroit, when he tore his ACL in the first half. Backup Trent Scott filled Cosmi’s shoes, and will possibly look to do the same this weekend.
“[It’s] that next man up mentality,” said Scott. “We all have a responsibility and the team expects it to not drop off.”
“Anytime Trent has had his number called, whether it’s tackle or inside, he’s stepped up,” said offensive coordinator Kliff Kingsbury. “He’s one of the real leaders in that room. It will be a group effort. We will see how that plays out, but we have a few guys we feel confident about fighting in there.”
“Sam is a great player and he did a lot for us,” said offensive tackle Brandon Coleman. “Everybody has belief in everyone, and Trent’s done a great job. Whenever he came in, we didn’t lose a step, and that’s how it’s going to be this week too.”
The NFC Championship game is just three days away, as the Washington Commanders will play up in Philadelphia against the Eagles. Kickoff at 3 p.m.
