00:00We're back in with our guy Scott Abraham, ABC7 Sports Director.
00:03He joins us on the Rude Guest Hotline, Rude's most reliable heating and air-conditioned
00:06products in the DMV.
00:07What's up, Scott?
00:09Morning, boys.
00:10Happy Friday.
00:10Scottie, we talked a lot about you this week because of the Amik interview.
00:15Played that clip.
00:16Oh, yeah.
00:17You got a knack for it, man.
00:19The first part of his answer was to another reporter, and then when I heard him say, basically,
00:24we're going to win, we have to win, we will, and then I responded like, that sounds like
00:29a guarantee, and then he took it from there.
00:31We definitely need to win this game, and we will.
00:34Amik, saying you guys are going to win on Sunday sounds like a guarantee.
00:37It has to be.
00:40Well, he's right.
00:41They have to.
00:43I mean, it's not like it's a Fort Knox secret.
00:46I mean, everybody knows in Ashburn, in this region, that if they don't win this game, basically
00:53blow a kiss to the season goodbye because, I mean, you're going to be winless in the division
00:57still, and probably the only chance of making the playoffs is to win the division, so this
01:02is, if you call it a must-win game, this is the all-time must-win games of all must
01:07-time
01:07win games.
01:08Yeah, I mean, if you lose, you're 1-5-1, you're looking at a top-five draft pick.
01:13Yep.
01:13Yep.
01:14I mean, the boys in the locker room know, the fellows know, they understand what's at
01:18stake, and I appreciate and respect the swagger, the confidence.
01:22They have a belief that what they produced in that second half of the San Francisco game,
01:28that they can build off that, and they know they have a battered and bruised Eagles team
01:34that they still respect, that there's going to be guys on that field for the Eagles that
01:38maybe have something to prove, because they're filling in a starter's role, whether it be
01:43filling in for a Saquon or filling in for a Devontae Smith.
01:47And they also understand the disrespect that that Philly defensive line's been getting
01:53throughout the week of, you know, they're just mauled by the Cowboys and Devontae Williams,
01:58so that's their livelihood.
02:01They make money, too.
02:02This is their job, so they're expecting the Eagles to be much better, especially up front.
02:06Scotty, when you talked to other players that day in the locker room, besides Amik, did
02:11you talk to players that said similar things that Amik did?
02:16I mean, it wasn't necessarily like, I didn't ask the guarantee question, because I didn't
02:20hear anyone say, you know, we will win, but everybody knows this is a must-win game.
02:26You know, Revo, Jeremy Reeves, the captain that he is, saying, I treat every game like
02:31a must-win game, but, you know, there's no secret.
02:34They understand that they have to win this game, period.
02:38The coaching staff knows.
02:40I mean, there's a reason why they're bringing in a Steve Wilks, because I'm sure they're all
02:45feeling pressure of the hot seat, per se.
02:47Like, if they don't win, most of them are going to be looking for jobs, and they're trying
02:52to turn every stone, and they know the game in front of them is the most important game,
02:58and that's the Eagles on Sunday night.
03:00Have you noticed any, I mean, he's so even-keeled, but any change in Jaden's demeanor?
03:06I'm probably being overly sensitive, but I just don't see the joy the last couple weeks.
03:12It's hard to be joyful.
03:13You're losing.
03:14But he's also been kind of the center of a lot of the controversies, I think unfairly
03:18so in some instances, certainly fairly so in others.
03:22I don't know.
03:23It just seems like it's taken a toll on him from afar.
03:27Yeah, I mean, E.B., I feel like we've talked about this before.
03:30Or, like, he's always been, like, a business-like approach, especially in a podium setting.
03:37He doesn't show too much emotion, too much personality in my experience with him.
03:42Like, I think I made the comparison a couple weeks ago to, like, a Caleb Williams.
03:45Like, Caleb Williams is more, I think he shows more personality.
03:49I think he's more out there in terms of, you know, showing how he feels.
03:55Where Jaden is, I feel like, more reserved and lets his work do the talking.
04:00And I think he's had the same demeanor pretty much the entire season, from my experience.
04:08But, again, like, he's been getting criticism, and I don't get it.
04:14I think he's playing fine.
04:15Yeah, certainly there's opportunities where he can maybe push the ball down the field a little bit more.
04:20Maybe a little bit more chances.
04:21Maybe being too extra careful with the football.
04:24But you still have a really good quarterback in Washington, and he's a guy that, he's not the reason, let
04:32me just say,
04:33he's not the reason why the Commanders are where they are right now record-wise.
04:37So, Scott, you touched on Steve Wilks, and our pal Grant Paulson tweeted yesterday that Wilks is expected to be
04:43on the field
04:43coaching with the Commanders' defensive staff Sunday night, according to a source.
04:48Initially, he, you know, he was pitched as, well, he's just going to be a coordinator.
04:51He's going to advise, he's going to come in for a few days, he's going to fly out, won't be
04:56with the team game day.
04:57Now he's going to be on the field.
04:59Like, how big of a deal is that?
05:01And conspiracy theorists are basically thinking, okay, if things don't go well for Dan Quinn this weekend,
05:07you've got a head coach in waiting in Wilks who has experience in that area.
05:12Yeah, from that angle, the element, I don't buy that because you have an Anthony Lynn on the staff as
05:17well,
05:18so I don't know if that's necessarily like, oh, they lose this game, Quinn gets axed, and then here comes
05:23Steve Wilks.
05:23I think maybe they would probably turn to Anthony Lynn before Wilks, but that's just my gut.
05:27But in terms of the Steve Wilks story and angle, it's been very interesting how it's evolved over the past
05:34week.
05:34It was very discreetly, very quiet, yeah, we're bringing Steve Wilks on board as a consultant, you know, has a
05:41lot of experience, you know.
05:43He's been through the rigors of the NFL, great defensive mind, defensive eyes, and now all of a sudden, you
05:48know,
05:48Grant Paulson did a great job, you know, sourcing it of he's going to be on the field, he's going
05:52to be in the fire,
05:55helping this defense and coach this game.
05:57I just lean back on the fact of they're trying to turn the ship around, they're trying to right the
06:05ship,
06:06they're trying to turn every stone because jobs are on the line, and Steve Wilks is a defensive-minded coach.
06:12Obviously, the defense has had their issues.
06:15I go back to that San Francisco game, I was so pleased with what I saw at the end of
06:20the second half of three straight three and outs.
06:22Can they bottle that up and play a complete football game, four quarters worth of backup quarterback in the Eagles?
06:29They better, and they should, and they're banking on Steve Wilks being that extra set of eyes,
06:34that extra experience to help Durante Jones, Dan Quinn, and the personnel on the field on the defensive side.
06:40Talking to Scott Abraham from ABC7, and let's be real, this is a perfect situation for Steve Wilks to come
06:45in and take credit
06:46because the Eagles' offense stinks.
06:49The Eagles' offense was terrible with Jalen Hurts.
06:53They're 29th in points per game at 18 points per game.
06:56They're 31st at yards per game, and now they've got Tanner McKee under center and not Jalen Hurts,
07:02so they're even worse.
07:03You know, I don't want to be a dead horse, but this is the literally perfect scenario for the Washington
07:08Commanders.
07:09You look at the rest advantage.
07:11Boom, they got that coming off a bye.
07:13Eagles played Monday night, short turnaround playing Sunday night.
07:16The injury report.
07:18Battered and bruised Eagles.
07:20Yes, the Commanders have some certain injuries, but not to the extent of Philly with their starting quarterback,
07:26Hurts, number one running back, Saquon Barkley.
07:29Devontae Smith, their number one wide receiver.
07:31Again, if there's a scenario where you could draw up, where it's a must-win game,
07:36all the advantages, swing to Washington, playing at home.
07:41You know, everybody talks about Dan Quinn being on the hot seat, and I love DQ.
07:47He's a great leader.
07:48He's a great human.
07:49But if you can't win this game on Sunday against the Philadelphia Eagles with the situation that is presented,
07:58I just don't see how Josh Harris thinks long and hard of maybe making a move and removing Dan Quinn
08:05as the head coach.
08:06Because this is a fireable offense, in my opinion, because of the situation, of the scenario.
08:15It comes down to the fact of it's the principle that at this point, if they lose this game against
08:22Philly,
08:23that would be three wins in their last 19 games.
08:27That's not good.
08:29It's horrible.
08:30You don't want to do it.
08:32It's embarrassing.
08:33That's what it is.
08:33But sometimes you just have to, okay?
08:36Like, you just have to.
08:38And it may not make sense.
08:39The season might be lost, but you're kind of kicking the can down the road.
08:43And, again, if you don't win this game, I just don't see how there's a path of return for Dan
08:50Quinn.
08:50Scotty, if they win and they're 2-4-1 and they've got some hope, do you think they should go
08:54out and acquire maybe another receiver?
09:00I don't know.
09:01If they look for a running back, do you think they should go out in the trade market and acquire
09:04a player or two or save all those draft picks?
09:10I'm kind of like, I know what's next.
09:13So, okay, you beat the Eagles.
09:15And then what do you got next?
09:16The Rams?
09:17Cincy?
09:18So, it's – at this point, I still think it's going to be a tough road ahead to really make
09:25a legitimate, true run to the division title.
09:29If they beat the Rams and the Eagles, maybe come talk to me and ask me that again.
09:33But I just – at this point, no.
09:37I think they stand, Pat.
09:38I think they're more of a seller mode.
09:41And, you know, they've done that whole trading away draft picks the last couple of times.
09:46And you've seen how that has worked out with Marshawn Lattimore.
09:51Obviously, they got Tunsell.
09:52That ended up being a good deal.
09:53But I think draft capital is kind of at a premium, especially in this year's upcoming draft, which is loaded
10:01with talent.
10:01I just noticed this.
10:03Obviously, the Niners was a primetime game.
10:05Eagles, primetime game.
10:07Rams is a 1 o'clock.
10:08But Giants and Bengals also primetime games.
10:11For now.
10:11For now.
10:12Yeah.
10:12And they could be flexed.
10:13The Giants is a Thursday, and then Bengals, I believe, is a Monday, right?
10:17Correct.
10:18Yep.
10:18Wow.
10:20Lots of late nights, man.
10:21All right, Scott.
10:22You want to give us a prediction?
10:23Yeah.
10:23What do you think?
10:24Hey, I take the fellas at their word, and I think they're going to come out playing with passion, playing
10:31with hair on fire.
10:33Give me Commanders 24-16.
10:3624-16.
10:37Right about the total.
10:3840-and-a-half is the total.
10:39What's the total?
10:4040-and-a-half, I believe.
10:41All right.
10:42All right.
10:43You're right there.
10:44All right.
10:45All right.
10:45Thank you, buddy.
10:46Appreciate it.
10:47Thank you, fellas.
10:47Have a good week.
10:48All right.
10:48Before I look at it, it should be a blowout.
10:51The Eagles' offense was terrible with Jalen Hurts.
10:55Yeah.
10:56They were punting all the time.
10:58Remember all the criticism about Sirianni and Jalen Hurts?
11:02Yep.
11:02Him slipping?
11:03And then they lost him.
11:05They don't have Saquon Barkley.
11:07They don't have their top two receivers.
11:09They're literally down.
11:09They got a bum backup quarterback who was, like, skipping balls.
11:12Last week, to guys who are wide open.
11:15They're potentially down to, like, their sixth or seventh running back.
11:18And Damian Pierce, who played last week for him, I looked at his numbers.
11:22He was averaging 2.7 yards per carry.
11:24He stunk.
11:25Now he's on IR.
11:26Like, they're at the bottom of the barrel, talent-wise.
11:29This is actually the perfect spot for Steve Wilkes to come in and go, see?
11:34That's what you needed.
11:35Me running the defense.
11:38It would be, and I said it earlier in the show, it would be a bad loss.
11:42Eagle game would be a bad loss.
