- Sam Cosmi’s season-ending harm creates a big problem for Washington: The correct guard is out for the yr forward of a sport through which the Commanders might want to stifle an elite Eagles inside pass-rusher.
- Some potential choices: Head coach Dan Quinn might shift Andrew Wylie to proper guard and insert Cornelius Lucas at proper deal with, for one.
- 2025 NFL Draft season is right here: Strive PFF’s best-in-class Mock Draft Simulator and study 2025’s prime prospects whereas buying and selling and drafting in your favourite NFL crew.
Estimated Studying Time: 4 minutes
The Philadelphia Eagles and Washington Commanders will meet for the third time this season on Sunday, with a visit to the Tremendous Bowl on the road. The Commanders put the league on discover with their dominant 45-31 street victory over the closely favored Detroit Lions, whereas the Eagles squeaked out a 6-point victory over the Los Angeles Rams at a snowy Lincoln Monetary Subject.
One of many key storylines heading into this NFC Championship tilt is what Washington will do with the proper facet of its offensive line. The crew can be with out beginning proper guard Sam Cosmi, who tore his ACL final week towards Detroit. Trent Scott stepped in and admirably crammed the void, enjoying 45 snaps and never permitting strain.
Trent Scott stepped in for the injured Sam Cosmi final week and performed 45 snaps at proper guard. He was wonderful in pass-protection (0 pressures allowed)
He’s a candidate to begin on Sunday however the crew is exploring each possibility vs All-Professional Jalen Carter#RaiseHail pic.twitter.com/pn4Uh3OSDg
— Ryan Smith (@PFF_RyanSmith) January 23, 2025
Eagles defensive deal with Jalen Carter placed on an elite efficiency towards the Rams, incomes a 90.3 PFF total grade, the second highest of any defensive participant within the divisional spherical. He generated seven pressures within the sport and got here up huge after they wanted him most. The Rams had been 13 yards away from clinching an NFC Championship sport look within the ultimate minute when he sacked quarterback Matthew Stafford on third-and-2 after which broke by means of the offensive line once more the next play to power an incompletion on fourth down.
Jalen Carter was the second highest-graded defender within the Divisional Spherical at 90.3 total
LA was 13 yards away from the Convention Championship when he had his two greatest performs of the sport – a sack on third & 2 adopted up with a success on 4th down to finish the sport#FlyEaglesFly pic.twitter.com/vqHIdGPUeN
— Ryan Smith (@PFF_RyanSmith) January 24, 2025
Holding Carter in verify can be essential to the Commanders’ possibilities this weekend, one thing they had been largely in a position to do with Cosmi within the lineup. Carter’s PFF total grade from the 2 earlier matchups was 60.0 throughout 130 snaps, however he nonetheless displayed that always-present game-breaking potential
The Commanders held Jalen Carter in verify for probably the most half throughout the common season (60.0 total grade throughout 130 snaps)
Regardless of that, reps like this one from Week 16 present the the game-breaking potential he has on any given play#WASvsPHI pic.twitter.com/cgkQawB6QL
— Ryan Smith (@PFF_RyanSmith) January 23, 2025
It’s nonetheless unclear what Washington will choose to do at proper guard towards Philadelphia with Cosmi sidelined. Head coach Dan Quinn stated there was “loads of thought” about guaranteeing the Commanders have their greatest 5 offensive linemen on the sphere, per The Athletic’s Ben Standig.
Shuffling items alongside the offensive line is all the time dangerous, particularly with a Tremendous Bowl look in attain. Carter has lined up on the left facet of the defensive formation for 95.7% of his snaps this season, so his most popular attacking place isn’t any secret.
Jalen Carter’s Snap Alignments in 2024
Realistically, the Commanders have three choices to switch Cosmi heading into the sport. First, they might begin Trent Scott at proper guard, contemporary off his 45 snaps there final week in Detroit. Second, they might transfer Andrew Wylie from proper deal with to proper guard and insert Cornelius Lucas at proper deal with. The logic behind that transfer is that Wylie has expertise at guard (none since 2020, nevertheless) and Lucas is a deal with who has performed nicely throughout 464 snaps this season (74.1 PFF total grade). Third, they might transfer Brandon Coleman from left deal with to proper guard with Lucas beginning at left deal with (though this selection appears much less possible).
At his greatest, Carter dominates video games like few different defenders within the NFL can at simply 23 years previous. Whether or not Washington can formulate a sport plan to gradual him down can be one of many key matchups to observe this weekend within the crew’s quest for its first Tremendous Bowl look since 1991.
