Jayden Daniels gets first look at a Vic Fangio defense

Jayden Daniels has a very impressive quarterback resume.

But he will be tested on Thursday Night Football, and everyone is waiting to see if he can pass. Call it the young gun going against the old hand. Except the battle isn’t in the Wild West, it’s for first place in the Mild East.

When the Philadelphia Eagles (7-2) host the Washington Commanders (7-3), Thursday night, first place in the NFC East in what has become a two-team race will be on the line.

Washington rookie quarterback Jayden Daniels will get his first look at a Vic Fangio defense and likewise Fangio will get his first up-close look at Daniels.

Fangio, the Eagles defensive coordinator, began his NFL coaching career with New Orleans in 1986 as a linebacker coach under Jim Mora. His first defensive coordinator job came with Carolina in 1995 under Dom Capers. Daniels was born in 2000. 

The rookie, who was the No. 2 overall pick of this past NFL draft, has helped transform Washington from the second-worst team in the league a year ago to one of the best in the NFC. Politicians can only hope to do so well their first year in D.C. 

Fangio Speaks about Jayden Daniels

“He’s done a great job for them,’’ Fangio said of Daniels. “Kudos to him for what he’s been able to achieve. Kudos to the coaches there that are coaching him because that’s not an easy offense to run. They do a lot of different things. He’s only thrown two interceptions, which is unreal, really. He’s done a great job.’’

Through 10 games, Daniels has completed 68.7 percent of his passes, has averaged 8.2 yards per attempt and has nine touchdowns to the two interceptions. His quarterback rating is 101.7. He has also rushed for 464 yards and another four touchdowns. 

“Yeah, we’ve got to be assignment sound, make sure we always have a guy available to play that quarterback if he pulls it (and runs),’’ Fangio said. “He’ll pull it sometimes with blockers. He’ll pull it sometimes with just himself there if you overplay the run. You’ve got to be assignment sound.’’

Fangio’s defense, which began the season learning his system and making the change from a 4-3 to a 3-4 scheme, has been much better as the Eagles went on a five-game win streak to take over first place in the East. 

Washington had held that position until a heart-breaking one-point loss to the Pittsburgh Steelers last Sunday dropped them a half-game behind the Eagles. Now, they take on the team from the other side of Pennsylvania.

And all eyes will be on Daniels vs. Fangio. 

“He’s a really good player, highly talented,’’ Fangio said. “I think they’re running an offense that he’s very comfortable in, and he’s got a lot of good players around him. I think it’s an accumulation of all that.’’

QUICK HITS

• Washington will travel to Philadelphia in Week 11.
• Washington’s all-time record against Philadelphia is 88-84-5. The Commanders are 43-43-2 on the road against the Eagles.
• Last season, the Eagles beat the Commanders 34-31 in overtime in Week 4 in Philadelphia.
• The Commanders have a 5-9 record against the Eagles in prime time.
• In their most recent prime time matchup, Washington defeated Philadelphia on Monday night in Week 10 of the 2022 season to hand the Eagles their first loss of the season.
• With a win, Washington would move to 8-3, which would be their best record through 11 games since 1996.
• With a win against the Eagles, the Commanders would start 3-0 against NFC East opponents — their best in-division record since 1991.

COACHING STAFF

Washington:

• Head coach Dan Quinn (1st in Washington)
• Offensive coordinator Kliff Kingsbury (1st)
• Defensive coordinator Joe Whitt Jr. (1st)
• Special teams coordinator Larry Izzo (1st)

Philadelphia:

• Head coach Nick Sirianni (4th season in Philadelphia)
• Offensive coordinator Kellen Moore (1st)
• Defensive coordinator Vin Fangio (1st)
• Special teams coordinator Michael Clay (4th)

INDIVIDUAL STAT LEADERS

Washington:

• Passing Yards — QB Jayden Daniels (2,147)
• Passing TDs — QB Jayden Daniels (9)
• Rushing Yards — QB Jayden Daniels (464)
• Rushing TDs — RB Brian Robinson Jr. (6)
• Receiving Yards — WR Terry McLaurin (711)
• Receiving TDs — WR Terry McLaurin (6)
• Tackles — LB Bobby Wagner (83)
• Sacks — LB Dante Fowler Jr. (8.5)
• Interceptions — CB Mike Sainristil, LB Dante Fowler Jr., S Jeremy Chinn and CB Emmanuel Forbes Jr. (1)

Philadelphia:

• Passing Yards — QB Jalen Hurts (1,976)
• Passing TDs — QB Jalen Hurts (12)
• Rushing Yards — RB Saquon Barkley (991)
• Rushing TDs — QB Jalen Hurts (10)
• Receiving Yards — WR A.J. Brown (553)
• Receiving TDs — WR DeVonta Smith (4)
• Tackles — LB Zack Baun (87)
• Sacks — LB Josh
• Interceptions — CB C.J. Gardner-Johnson and S Reed Blankenship (2)

TEAM STATS

Washington:

• Total offense — 4th (377 YPG)
• Scoring offense — T-3rd (29 PPG)
• Passing offense — 11th (223.5 YPG)
• Sacks allowed — T-11th (21)
• Rushing offense — 4th (153.5 YPG)
• Third-down offense — 5th (44.72%)
• Total defense — 14th (324.9 YPG)
• Scoring defense — 12th (21.7 PPG)
• Passing defense — 5th (182.8 YPG)
• Sacks — T-9th (27)
• Rushing defense — 28th (142.1 YPG)
• Third-down defense — 22nd (41.84%)
• Time of possession — 15th (30:27)
• Turnover differential — T-7th (+6)

Philadelphia:

• Total offense — 6th (373.9)
• Scoring offense — T-7th (25.9)
• Passing offense — 20th (197.8 YPG)
• Sacks allowed — T-23rd (27)
• Rushing offense — 2nd (176.1 YPG)
• Third-down offense — 15th (39.17%)
• Total defense — 2nd (274.1 YPG)
• Scoring defense — T-5th (17.9 PPG)
• Passing defense — 3rd (173.4 YPG)
• Sacks — T-11th (27)
• Rushing defense — 5th (100.7 YPG)
• Third-down defense — 11th (34.69%)
• Time of possession — 5th (32:28)
• Turnover differential — 14th (+1)