REDSKINS (6-5-1) VS. EAGLES (5-7)
SUNDAY, 1 P.M. ET, LINCOLN FINANCIAL FIELD, PHILADELPHIA uTV: FOX, DIRECTV 713
Announcers: Kevin Burkhardt, John Lynch, Pam Oliver
About the Redskins: The feel-good story of just a couple of weeks ago is gone in Washington after back-to-back frustrating losses dropped the Redskins behind the surging Tampa Bay Buccaneers for the final NFC wildcard spot. The latest last week at the Arizona Cardinals prompted a locker room tirade from coach who later told reporters his team underachieved. Much of that anger was directed at a defense that allowed a 15play touchdown drive to open the game and a 42-yard touchdown pass to seal the loss in the final minutes.
About the Eagles: The Eagles are not out of the playoff race — though with a three-game losing streak, they’re well on their way — but reaching the postseason is no longer the main focus for Philadelphia. The goal is to develop rookie into the kind of quarterback that can lift his team to a championship level. But last weekend he threw three interceptions in an ugly loss at the Cincinnati Bengals, giving him 10 picks and five touchdown passes in his past seven games.
Matchup to watch: Redskins OLBs Ryan Kerrigan and Trent Murphy vs. Eagles Ts Jason Peters and Allen Barbre. While the Washington defense as a whole has struggled, the pass rush has been quite healthy — the Redskins are tied for seventh in the NFL with 30 sacks. In fact, Kerrigan (10 sacks) and Murphy (eight) have emerged as a premier pass-rush tandem, combining for more sacks than any other pair of teammates in the league. Philadelphia will try to hold them off with Peters, a former all-pro who at 34 is no longer what he once was, and Barbre, a guard playing out of position amid injuries and suspensions.
Player to watch: Redskins WR DeSean Jackson. The Eagles jettisoned him in 2014. Since then, he’s been a bigger concern on the field, ringing up 338 yards on 17 receptions in four games vs. Philadelphia, an average of 19.9 yards per catch. Not coincidentally, the Redskins are 3-1 in those games. Last weekend,
WHO WILL WIN AND WHY
Jackson torched Arizona for a 59-yard catch.
In five games at Lincoln Financial Field, Wentz has completed 65.5% of his passes, averaged 7.2 yards per attempt and thrown five TD passes and three interceptions for a respectable 88.9 passer rating while being sacked eight times. In his seven road games, he has a 61.6% completion rate and averages 6 yards per attempt with seven TDs and eight interceptions for a 74.8 rating. He has been sacked 18 times. The Eagles are 4-1 at home and 1-6 on the road.
KEYS TO THE GAME
1. Right the ship: The Redskins are QB Kirk Cousins’ team — now he has to show he can carry them to the playoffs as he did late last season. Yes, the defense is shaky, ace TE
has been injured and there have been special teams issues. Butit’s Cousins’ job to take charge.
2. Create some heat: Since posting 20 sacks in their first six games, the Eagles have managed six in their past six games and none in their past two. Last season’s sack leader, DT
had four in the first four games and hasn’t had one since. Washington has allowed 16 sacks all season, the league’s second fewest, and gets Pro Bowl LT back from a four-game suspension.
Wentz is a big part of the Eagles’ recent problems, but he’s gotten little help from an underperforming receiver corps. Philly played last weekend without top WR (shoulder), and
left with a rib injury. Andy Friedlander