Eagles grades vs. Commanders: Tanner McKee, offensive line struggle in sixth straight defeat

LANDOVER, Md. — Instant grades on the Eagles’ performance in their 27-10 loss to the Washington Commanders:

Tanner McKee just hasn’t been a backup you can win with. He gets graded on a slight curve because of coaching malpractice and all the injuries on offense. But when he needs to do more than just get the ball out quickly or sit comfortably in the pocket, he just can’t get the job done. He completed 23 of 34 passes for 212 yards, but had two turnovers and was sacked five times.

» READ MORE: Eagles’ offense stifled again in 27-10 loss to Commanders; six-game losing streak is longest since 2012

McKee had an untimely fumble after some nice throws during a third-quarter drive. He had good protection and lost the ball when Washington edge Dorance Armstrong glanced his arm. He did use his legs to scramble for 15 yards to convert a third down in the fourth quarter.

The fourth-year pro had a decent enough first half. He hit Makai Lemon for 20 yards from under center and off play action in the first quarter and found a wide-open Saquon Barkley for 24 yards on a wheel route. But he’s also a part of the pressure pickup plan and didn’t do enough to help set protections and avoid unblocked pressures. McKee also took an unnecessary delay-of-game penalty in the second quarter.

Cole Payton was active and not the “emergency” quarterback.

Saquon Barkley was limited by hamstring and back injuries again, but wasn’t as effective as a runner with Washington fully aware that if he was on the field, he was likely to get the ball. He was held to 30 yards on 13 carries. He did score a touchdown when he took a direct snap and rushed three yards around the corner. Barkley also hauled in a 24-yard pass when he beat rookie linebacker Sonny Styles on a wheel route.

Elijah Mitchell tried his best as the fifth Eagles running back to lead the team in rushes in a game this season. But he couldn’t muster much on the ground with Commanders defenders often in the backfield. He ran 11 times for 34 yards. Mitchell had problems picking up blitzes, but stopped Frankie Luvu on McKee’s first-down scramble.

Makai Lemon was McKee’s top receiving target with starters DeVonta Smith (hamstring) and Dontayvion Wicks (ankle) sidelined for a second straight game. He caught a 20-yard pass on a nicely run in-and-out route in the first quarter. It would have been a tough snag, but Lemon couldn’t pull in a diving attempt on a McKee heave before the half. He led the offense with six catches on nine targets for 57 yards.

Tight end Dallas Goedert didn’t exactly make himself more attractive ahead of the trade deadline. He was McKee’s answer over the middle vs. a third-down blitz and pulled in a 16-yarder. But he was late to block linebacker Luvu when the Eagles ran on third-and-3 in the third quarter. Goedert was bailed out when a roughing the passer penalty took away his dropped pass that was deflected for an interception. He later took a direct snap on third-and-1 and got past the marker with his second effort.

Darius Cooper couldn’t bring down a jump ball on third down on the Eagles’ first series. He rebounded a series later with an 11-yard grab over the middle. Hollywood Brown got to the sticks on a third-and-8 grab in the fourth quarter.

Johnny Mundt struggled to block an edge on an outside zone run, and Barkley was dropped for a 4-yard loss. Still, shouldn’t it be obvious to coaches at this point that Mundt isn’t an in-line blocker you want to run behind? Grant Calcaterra was an odd choice to be the H-back and lead blocker on a Mitchell run that netted just a yard in the first quarter. Rookie tight end Eli Stowers caught his first NFL pass for seven yards in the third quarter. He had two more late receptions and finished with three catches for 53 yards.

For the first time this season, the Eagles had consecutive games with the same starting five on the O-line. It didn’t improve the unit. They couldn’t get enough push or open holes on the ground, even with Washington defensive tackle Daron Payne sidelined, and they hardly held up in pass protection.

Jordan Mailata was solid, but his illegal formation penalty that erased a successful field goal will likely be what most remember about his performance in this game. The Eagles are unlikely to get trade offers for left guard Landon Dickerson — even if he could pass a physical — after another rough game. It’s unclear who messed up the protection and/or the call, but Dickerson turned away from a free rusher who sacked McKee in the second quarter.

Tyler Steen got a push ahead of Barkley’s 7-yard run to open the second half. The right guard later allowed a sack after getting beat inside. When the Eagles had successful runs up the middle, center Drew Kendall was often leading the way. Right tackle Markel Bell blocked his man into the second level on Mitchell’s 7-yard run to open the second quarter. He was blown back into McKee, who was sacked late in the game.

Jalen Carter, Jordan Davis and Co. up front improved upon last week’s lackluster outing, but it wasn’t enough. Washington running backs ran for more than a combined 110 yards, although 33 yards came on a late Rachaad White run that all but sealed the game. The return of edge Nolan Smith Jr. added some juice to the pass rush. He notched a fourth-quarter sack after Carter got on the stat sheet with a takedown of quarterback Jayden Daniels. But the front four didn’t generate enough pressure.

Eagles head coach Nick Sirianni leaves the field after losing to the Commanders.Read moreMonica Herndon / Staff Photographer

Carter faced talented right guard Sam Cosmi and held his own. He had to loop inside to sack Daniels, though. He batted a pass early on, but committed an encroachment penalty in the second quarter.

Jordan Davis was better at clogging the middle against the run, but he still doesn’t have a sack this season. Jonathan Greenard’s offside penalty negated an interception in the end zone on Washington’s first possession. He got rag-dolled by a lead blocker on an early outside run that went for a first down.

Jalyx Hunt continued to play hurt, but he didn’t record a single play that made the stat sheet. Smith got to Daniels and hurt the quarterback before the half, forcing Washington to burn a timeout. Defensive tackle Moro Ojomo was clearly playing through pain and left the field a few times, seemingly because of his neck injury. He blew up an early run play by getting into the backfield. Edge Arnold Ebiketie did a poor job of setting the edge on an Austin Ekeler 18-yard run off the left.

Jeremiah Trotter Jr. started in his second game of the season with Jihaad Campbell out with hamstring and quadriceps injuries. He had four run tackles in the first quarter alone. Trotter gave up some short passes over the middle. He led the defense with 10 stops. Zack Baun finished with seven tackles and had a first-quarter fumble recovery.

Daniels completed only 16 of 29 passes, but he hit several explosive plays downfield. Even the Eagles’ few standout performers this season had bad moments. Quinyon Mitchell got fooled by a double move and allowed receiver Treylon Burks to get behind him for a 53-yard catch in the third quarter. He was in coverage when Burks converted a third down with a 7-yard grab.

Riq Woolen allowed a 21-yard reception to Burks in the second quarter, but Daniels had all kinds of time to wait for his receiver on his route. Woolen’s holding penalty in the third quarter was declined after Washington tight end Chig Okonkwo’s 21-yard circus catch. Cooper DeJean didn’t have any obvious bad snaps. He sneaked into the backfield from the slot for a run tackle for loss.

The Eagles were scrambling with various injuries at safety, but the unit has handicapped the defense all season. On his leaping interception that wasn’t meant to be, Andrew Mukuba fell awkwardly on his head. He left the game and was examined, but returned, and a few series later forced a fumble. Mukuba was otherwise inconsistent. He got cooked by receiver Antonio Williams for 30 yards in the fourth quarter.

Kenny Moore II got the nod in nickel personnel despite Michael Carter II’s return from an abdominal injury. He was rubbed out in man coverage and was late to cover Stefon Diggs on his 8-yard touchdown. Former starter Marcus Epps took Mukuba’s spot when he briefly left, and when Moore exited in the second quarter with another unspecified injury. Carter re-injured his ab on the kick cover team and left the game.

Coordinator Michael Clay’s cover units continued to allow big returns. There was a 44-yard kick return to open the game and a 27-yard punt return just before the half that led to a field goal.

Kicker Jake Elliott’s perfect 2026 — partly because of few opportunities — ended with a disastrous series of events that culminated with his 41-yard field goal attempt clanking off the left upright. Elliott did connect from 40 yards out earlier in the game.

Punter Braden Mann had a third-quarter 44-yard punt downed inside the Washington 5. He averaged only 34.8 net yards on five punts. DeJean handled punt returns with Britain Covey (knee) out. He had a 12-yard return in the third quarter. Jaydon Blue handled most of the Eagles’ kick returns. He averaged 24 yards on six attempts. Blue made a little error when he fielded a kick in the field of play before taking a knee. The Eagles had to start only on their 20-yard line as a result.

Nick Sirianni could be coaching for his future in Philly. His team doesn’t look tough, detailed, or together. His instinct to go for it on fourth-and-4 on the Commanders’ 13-yard line, down 16-10, made some sense. What Sirianni likely didn’t compute was that his team is not well coached. Bell jumped offside and the Eagles were forced to kick a field goal as a result. But Mailata lined up equally, wiping the three points off the board before Elliott doinked the re-kick. Brutal.

Sean Mannion just isn’t able to lift the offense out of its doldrums. He had some nice early moments. The design on Barkley’s 24-yard wheel route was nifty. A few plays later, with seven O-linemen on the field — and Willie Lampkin as the fullback — Barkley got the edge for a three-yard score.

But there were still issues with pass protection vs. the blitz with more unblocked pressures. And having Calcaterra block an edge to his side on a bootleg was just asking for trouble. On a third-quarter third-and-3, Mannion called a run play likely because it was four-down territory. But the Commanders snuffed out the call and dropped Mitchell for a loss and the Eagles were forced to punt.

Defensive coordinator Vic Fangio got a better effort out of his group. But there were still sloppy moments: missed tackles, busted assignments, and just overall uninspiring play from a defense that was supposed to be one of the league’s best.