EAGLEMANIACAL.com

Sunday 1:00 EST Lincoln Financial Field  Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

THE PIVOT

RIGHT off the bat, I’m going to say I think we beat the Redskins. However because no win is guaranteed in the NFL, I’m going to bring up something that I hope the EAGLES players have given some thought to.

If we win, we’re 3-0, and the Foreskins 1-2. The Cowpies will likely see 2-1 with a win over the hapless Rams, and no one gives a shit what the Vagiants do this week. Point is, with a “W’ we own the NFC East for at least two more weeks. (If Dallas goes 3-1 and we drop to 3-1 in week 4, our in-division win gives us priority.)

If we lose however, the division loss puts us behind the ‘skins, and also Dallas if they win ( since they’d have no division loss). There’s no need to even mention the

That makes this game pivotal. Even though it’s early in the year, and there are 5 more division games after this, you don’t want your rival playing with the confidence of having beaten you. We have to play them again this year and our young players don’t need that doubt in the back of their minds when we do.

Oh yeah! Then there’s the DeSean Jackson factor. If we don’t win and he not only manages to play (which I’m starting to doubt), but factors heavily in a ‘skins win, the local media will make life Hell next week for Chip Kelly; amid questions of having given away the division in the offseason.

Make no mistake, a lot is riding on this game.

EAGLES

We’re 2-0. You can be optimistic about the wins because they were comebacks, or you can be pessimistic that they had to be. Realistically, it’s a fool’s paradise to think in this league that you can spot teams a 2 touchdown lead at the half, then routinely end up celebrating at the end of the game.

We have to get it together.

Defensively:

We had our hands full against a scrappy one dimensional Colts team; and an offense populated by second tier players in the Jags. Washington features real firepower on the offensive side of the ball, and we’re going to be heading into this one without ILB Mychal Kendricks, which is a major crotch-shot to this unit. (No pun intended.)

We have all of 3 sacks, all of which were collected in Week 1. None by a Defensive Lineman.  Be great to see an improvement in this department.

Offensively:

Offense  = RB Darren Sproles and some guys. That’s really how it’s been looking out there.

TE Zach Ertz has looked good when called upon, but if he’s really the main ingredient in replacing DeSean Jackson’s 2013 production, there has to be more of him. He currently is averaging a quiet 23.3 yards per snag, with 163 yards on 7 total grabs in 2 games; but considering the problems QB Nick Foles is having getting rid of the ball quickly, maybe a few of his routes need to make him available sooner.

The Offensive Line is beat up, so you can’t really harp on them too much. Besides, last week vs Indy, we didn’t allow a single sack. Under the circumstances, that HAS to count for something.

Foles has had an awful time so far of hooking up with his WR’s. Doesn’t matter if it’s his fault or theirs, it needs to get fixed yesterday.

THE OPPONENT

This is a team owned by an idiot, and run by a substitute teacher; which is appropriate given the talented roster features a number of unfocused juveniles similar to a kindergarten classroom.

Last week’s win over the Jaguars broke a 9 game losing streak that dated back to last year. During the game you saw a level of exuberance from this team that is uncharacteristic for them. That’s because they’re used to losing. The fight goes out of this bunch pretty quick, and it stays that way so long as you don’t let up.

Defensively:

Last week against the Jags the ‘skins racked up 10 sacks. The week before they didn’t record one. Considering that we got 3 off the Jags and none in our other game as well, I’m going to say that perhaps those 10 sacks had more to do with how awful The Jags line is than how great the ‘skins pass rush is.

Despite such a “fierce” pass rush up front, their secondary allowed QB Chad Henne to complete 50% of his passes with only 1 interception. Ryan Fitzpatrick was considerably better than that the week before.

They’re going to try to make a push early, but if we punch them in the nose early, that doggy will sit and stay.

Offensively:
People want to make a big deal of how QB Kirk Cousins is a much better fit for HC Jay Gruden’ssystem than Bobby Griffin was- I mean is!  Washington isn’t going to just bail on RGnumber just like that. Right? Right??….

Regardless of who gets to play the part of human bull’s-eye, the ‘skins O-line is an atrocious pass blocking unit. Every time I look at RGknee, I find myself saying “Dude. How are you even alive?”

What they lack in pass pro (and it’s a lot) they make up for in opening holes for RB Alfred Morris. Morris is a between the Tackles thumper. He’s not flashy but he runs through contact, keeps his legs churning, and finds a way to fall forward at the end of most carries. The best way to beat the ‘skins is to make them limit his carries.

In the event that the O-line can keep the QB upright long enough to throw the ball, they have a host of dangerous weapons in WR’s Pierre Garcon, DeSean Jackson, and Andre Roberts, as well as TE’s Niles Paul, and (for the 6 or 7 downs he’s available per year ) Jordan Reed.

To beat the ‘skins you have to control their line. The rest is cake.

BOTTOM LINE:

One of the straws that stirs our drink on Defense will be out. Advantage: REDSKINS

10 sacks vs the Jags, 0 vs the Texans. Pass rush my ass. Advantage: EAGLES

Despite their “win for the ages” over the Jaguars, the Redskins are an awfully shitty team. If we can punch them in the nose early, the route will be on. Then we can run up the score and get some garbage time in for our back-ups. If we let them hang around this could be a close one.

Until I see different however, I have to believe that the EAGLES will let yet another team toss points on the board early, and this opponent has more firepower than either of the last two.

PREDICTION: EAGLES 35-27