Why Quinyon Mitchell can stop the Commanders’ star

On November 15, 2024By Littum

PHILADELPHIA − In three of the last four games have Eagles has faced some of the best wide receivers in the NFL in the Giants’ Malik Nabers, the Bengals’ Ja’Marr Chase and most recently the Cowboys’ CeeDee Lamb.

These teams don’t even test Quinyon Mitchell.

That was evident Sunday in the Eagles’ 34-6 victory over the Dallas Cowboys. Lamb, the Cowboys’ star receiver, had only one pass thrown his way with Mitchell as a defender, according to CBSSports’ Jeff Kerr.

Lamb caught that pass, for only 5 yards. In all, Cowboys quarterbacks Cooper Rush and Trey Lance were 2-for-5 targeting Mitchell for just 15 yards. Their passer rating was a paltry 47.9.

Forget Revis Island. Maybe it’s time for Quinyon’s corner.

It was the same way against the Bengals’ Ja’Marr Chase. Bengals QB Joe Burrow only threw to Chase twice as Mitchell covered him, completing just 1 pass for 16 yards. Chase, mind you, is coming off a game where he had 264 receiving yards against the Baltimore Ravens.

Nabers, meanwhile, had just 4 catches for 41 yards against the Eagles.

Granted, Rush and Giants QB Daniel Jones aren’t the best NFL quarterbacks by any stretch. But that’s not the case for Burrow.

But Mitchell could be tested much more often against Commanders star receiver Terry McLaurin when the Eagles (7-2) face Washington (7-3) on Thursday night with first place on the line in the NFC East.

That’s because McLaurin, who is third in receiving with 711 yards, primarily lines up on the left side, or opposite where Mitchell lines up.

Unlike previous years, the Eagles’ other CB, Darius Slay, will not “travel” to cover McLaurin. Slay, who is 33 years old, is not the same elite corner that he was in recent years. And he’s left four of the past five games for at least a few plays with an injury. That included the game against the Cowboys when Slay hurt his ankle on the third play of the game and didn’t return until the second quarter.

Slay didn’t play at all the week before against Jacksonville because of a groin injury suffered against the Bengals in the second half.

Obviously, with Slay out, teams would rather test his replacement, Isaiah Rodgers, than Mitchell. But even with Slay in the lineup, teams are staying away from Mitchell.

“Obviously Mitchell and fellow rookie nickel (Cooper DeJean) have come in and they’re good football players,” Eagles coach Nick Sirianni said. “The newbies really flexed their muscles as they went.”

It’s the first of five overreactions to come after the Cowboys win with a quick turnaround at Washington. Here are the others:

What Saquon Barkley’s light load vs Dallas means

Sure, Barkley’s low workload of 15 touches gave the Eagles a chance to rest him before Thursday’s game.

But the Eagles couldn’t have done it if Barkley didn’t have an impact, even with just those 14 carries, for 66 yards, along with one reception for 12. That’s because Barkley’s presence opens up everyone.

That’s why AJ Brown had 1-on-1 coverage on his 44-yard reception, for example.

“People have to pay attention to your playmakers,” Sirianni said. “When you put resources into stopping one guy, something else opens up. It’s our job as coaches to figure out, ‘Hey, this is what they’re doing to stop this, (so) get to it.’ .”

It’s not exactly breaking news. But it makes the Eagles’ offense virtually unstoppable. Barkley is second in the NFL with 991 rushing yards.

“We didn’t play that well on offense and we look up and we still won 34-6,” Barkley said. “It’s a good football team.”

Can Jordan Mailata Return Vs. Commanders?

The Eagles opened the 21-day practice window for left tackle Jordan Mailata, who has missed the required four games on injured reserve with a hamstring injury. Logic would have Mailata sit out Thursday, giving his hamstring an extra 10 days before the Eagles’ next game against the Los Angeles Rams.

It should be noted that the Eagles only hold walkthrough drills on the Tuesday and Wednesday before the game.

But it was interesting that Mailata was rated a full participant on the injury report Monday (Eags did not practice), an indication that Mailata’s hamstring is fully healed. Sirianni said they can find “creative” ways to make Mailata work in the passing drills this week.

“If Jordan isn’t ready, he won’t go,” Sirianni said. “If he’s ready, he’ll go. So we’ll see where we are at the end of the week.”

Zack Baun is having a defensive player of the year caliber season

It’s hard to believe that Baun has never played inside linebacker much before this season. On Sunday, Baun had 2 forced fumbles, a fumble recovery and 8 tackles. During the Eagles’ 5-game hitting streak, Baun has 44 tackles, 3 forced fumbles, 2 tackles for loss and an interception.

Baun signed a 1-year deal worth $3.5 million. He makes himself a lot of money in the offseason, whether it’s with the Eagles or another team.

Are the Eagles the best team in the NFC?

Technically, that title so far belongs to the Detroit Lions, who are 8-1. And impressively, they rallied to beat Houston on Sunday night with QB Jared Goff throwing 5 interceptions.

The Eagles are back at 7-2. Both the Eagles and Lions have comparable remaining strength of schedule, as the Eagles’ opponents’ winning percentage is .526 compared to Detroit’s .533, according to tankathon.com.

The difference may come in games back in their respective divisions. The Lions’ remaining NFC North foes have a combined record of 21-15 (Minnesota 7-2, Green Bay 6-3 and two against 4-5 Chicago). The Eagles’ remaining NFC East foes have a combined mark of 19-20 (two against Washington 7-3, Dallas 3-6 and the Giants 2-8).

Contact Martin Frank at [email protected]. Follow on X @Mfranknfl.