Commanders Coach Leaks Plan to Stop Jalen Hurts With a Powerful Warning to Eagles

Two NFC powerhouses Washington Commanders and Philadelphia Eagles will face off in a major championship game. This matchup pits two established teams from 1934 against each other with a strong heritage in play. From the bone-crushing drama of the “Body Bag Game” in 1990—where Buddy Ryan’s Eagles turned a football game into an unsanctioned WWE Royal Rumble—to their modern clashes with Saquon Barkley and Jalen Hurts running wild, this rivalry is as unpredictable as a Hail Mary in double coverage. Whether it’s the 1991 playoff revenge or the nail-biters of 2024, one thing’s for sure: when Philly and Washington square off, it’s not just football—it’s war.

While the battle is amped up, the Commanders have a simple message for Jalen Hurts: Bring It On. The Commander’s defensive coordinator Joe Whitt Jr. known for his no-nonsense approach and ability to shut down top-tier offenses. Whitt quickly made a name for himself and dropped a bombshell of a comment that has Eagles fans on edge.”If he [Jalen Hurts] is going to run the ball…we are going to treat him like a running back.”

”We’re going to hit him that way. That’s their decision if they want to get him hit.” Classic Joe—always ready to bring the heat. The two teams have fought multiple times already and will continue to do so. Following two regular season games with different outcomes (the Eagles won 26-18 in Week 11, then the Commanders pulled out a 36-33 victory in Week 16) this matchup remains a toss-up. The Eagle’s offensive success faces its biggest test against Washington’s defense which loves to create confusion. Jalen Hurts needs to adjust his running game because he already achieved 2903 rushing yards and 18 touchdowns with a rating of 103.7.

The Commanders have one thing in mind: pressure. Washington aims to increase the pressure on Jalen Hurts because he struggles with performance under duress. Pro Football Focus data shows Hurts completes only 64.2% of his passes under pressure and ranks alongside Josh Allen and Daniel Jones in this category. The Commanders plan to attack Jalen Hurts with their elite defensive line duo of Frankie Luvu and Bobby Wagner, but can they truly counter the Hurts Effect? Hurts was more dialed in than Tony Stark in his suit. Over 15 games he completed 248 of 361 passes, serving up a spicy 68.7% completion rate. Add 2,903 passing yards and 18 touchdowns to that recipe, and you’ve got yourself one delicious season. But wait, there’s more: Hurts threw only 5 interceptions all year, which is elite QB territory.

But it’s not just about Hurts. Washington plans to shut down Saquon Barkley since he powers the Eagles‘ offensive system.

Saquon seems to be straight out of Madden on Rookie mode. This dude didn’t just run the ball in 2024—he owned the turf, leading the NFL with a jaw-dropping 2,005 rushing yards on 345 carries, That’s 5.8 yards per carry, aka half a first down every time he touched the rock. Oh, and let’s not forget his 13 rushing touchdowns—because why stop short of the end zone when you can live there? He didn’t stop when the regular season ended either; he piled up 324 postseason rushing yards pushing his season total to 2,218 yards making history as the third-highest single-season total. So when and if Washington’s defense gets a grip on Saquon Barkley, the Commanders may achieve their win over Philadelphia. The Commanders must use effective offense and defense strategies while their rookie Jayden Daniels runs the QB position.

The Commanders’ defensive powerhouse

The Washington Commanders defense stands as one of the top defensive units in the NFL and they must show their full strength to beat the Eagles. Under defensive coordinator Joe Whitt Jr., Washington’s defense now creates chaos on the field. Their defense stands out more in playoff games than in their normal season results, although, they only gave up 23 points per game.

During their NFC Divisional Round matchup against Detroit, the Commanders showed no mercy as they forced five turnovers and won by a strong 45-31 margin. Their defense? Absolute chaos-makers. They didn’t just show up; they stole the show. Five turnovers? Yep, you heard that right. Defensive back Quan Martin snatched a pick-six like he was swiping candy on Halloween, and linebacker Frankie Luvu added some drama with a strip-sack that screamed, “Not today, Detroit!” They weren’t just playing defense; they were writing the Lions’ early playoff exit script. The defensive unit of the Commanders includes Frankie Luvu, Bobby Wagner, and Dante Fowler Jr. who have delivered exceptional performances during the playoff games. Luvu made 9 tackles and 5 solo, he’s had a record of 17 tackles and 2 sacks with the Eagles.

The Commanders need to do more than just pressure the Eagles. Washington’s defense needs to stay organized to stop the Eagles’ running plays especially when Saquon Barkley is involved. The Eagles depend on Barkley to generate yardage during critical moments but Washington needs to contain his running to prevent disaster. The Washington Commanders’ defensive line including Daron Payne (22 Tackles and 4 Sacks) and Clelin Ferrell (36 Tackles and 3.5 sacks) will make the Philadelphia Eagles’ task very difficult. The defense needs to execute its blitz plays and keep delivering punishing hits to make Hurts and Barkley hesitate in their moves.

With the NFC Championship Game near, the teams face their biggest test yet. The two teams need to win now to secure a place in Super Bowl LIX. The Washington Commanders want to show everyone they can compete at the highest level in the NFC. Washington will reach the Super Bowl if their defense stays strong and Jayden Daniels maintains his poise.