• Johnson wants to have the last word vs. ’Skins
PHILADELPHIA » Lane Johnson started the war of words, the big offensive tackle authoring a story for the Players Tribune stating he and the Eagles were going down to “D.C. and whup some ass against the Redskins.”
Redskins linebacker Zach Brown countered with a Tweet: “We don’t need PEDs to win ... but just for u, 53 will be seeing you!”
Johnson and Brown, the Eagles and the Redskins, fill in the blanks Sunday at FedEx Field (1 p.m., Channel 29, WIP 94.1FM).
Johnson was suspended for both games against the Redskins last season, having tested positive for PEDs. He was part of the previous wreckage that, all told, gives the Birds a five-game losing streak in the series.
Why in the world did Johnson go ballistic on the Redskins?
“We just want to go out there and go play with an edge,” Johnson said after a recent practice at the NovaCare Center. “We’re not scared of anybody. What you see is what you get. We need to go out and set a tone, especially against a division opponent. And it’s a team we haven’t done well against in the past four or five games.”
Four of the Eagles’ last five losses in the series have been by a touchdown or less. The pass-blocking presence of Johnson should help, as quarterback Carson Wentz was sacked nine times last season.
The Eagles believe they’ve upgraded the run game with LeGarrette Blount, who rushed for a league-best 18 touchdowns last season with the Patriots. Wide receivers Alshon Jeffery and Torrey Smith improve the pass game.
That’s got to be worth at least a couple of scores. Last year the Birds totaled just one offensive touchdown in the series. Defensively the Eagles have to hit quarterback Kirk Cousins, who they’ve been unable to put on his back often enough.
The Eagles feel they’ve upgraded the pass rush with rookie first-round draft pick Derek Barnett, who deserves the starting job, and defensive tackle Tim Jernigan. That would help cornerbacks Ronald Darby and Jalen Mills match up with the Redskins’ Terrelle Pryor, Jamison Crowder and Josh Doctson. But first things first.
“The last couple games we played them, the run game really hurt us more than anything,” Eagles safety Malcolm Jenkins said. “You really can’t stop the pass if you can’t stop the run first. They’re a balanced offense. They do a lot of things well. It’s hard to make them one-dimensional. We’ve got our work cut out.”
Rob Kelley (6-0, 228) makes the ground game work behind an offensive line anchored by massive tackles Trent Williams and Morgan Moses, who are slightly less surreal than some of the characters on Guardians of the Galaxy. Kelley rushed for 122 yards and two TDs against the Eagles last season. He also caught a scoring pass from Cousins.
Cousins threw for 497 yards and four TDs against the Eagles last year. He was intercepted twice, Jenkins taking one to the house.
“He’s a great plays great quarterback and he always against us it seems,” Jenkins said. “He’s one of those guys when you look at his numbers he’s playing just as good as any quarterback in the league. He gets the ball out of his hands quick. He’s commanding the line of scrimmage. He’s got some weapons. Jordan Reed being healthy is going to add another dimension to that offense. He’s a legit, elite quarterback. You try to take away first and second reads, do a good job of covering early in the down. You try to make him force it or hold onto it.”
According to Stats LLC., only one quarterback has a higher passer rating (since they kept the state) against the Eagles than Cousins, who enters this contest with a 102.9 rating. That would be Peyton Manning, with a 114.6 rating.
Cousins and Aaron Rodgers are the only NFL players to throw for 4,000 or more yards and rush for four or more TDs in back-to-back seasons, per Stats.
Traditionally Eagles fans have made their presence known during Redskins games at FedEx Field, which has created awkward moments for the home team during fourth-and-short situations and touchdowns. Johnson encourages Philly fans to bring it Sunday.
“I hope they go there and scream their ass off,” Johnson said. “I bet they’ll be just as loud as their fans, I promise you that. It will be a battle. Battle on the field, battle in the stands.”