EAGLEMANIACAL.com

Washington Redskins

Sunday 1:00        FedEx Field        Landover, MD

NEEDS TO STEP UP:

TE Zach Ertz: Usually Ertz is more of a bigger, slower WR than a true TE. However, with the Eagles forced to start rookie RT Halapoulivaati Vaitai in place of suspended Lane Johnson, it would be wise to give the rookie help from an in-line TE. That means either Ertz has to step up his game, or TE Brent Celek should start. Otherwise QB Carson Wentz could wind up paying the price.

WE MUST CONTAIN:

WR DeSean Jackson: Honestly, Jackson is the only player on the Redskins entire roster who scares me at all, and in truth he doesn’t scare me much. While he’s only had one game in his career where he caught two touchdowns in a game (2013), what he brings to the table (besides blazing speed) is an ability to make a play that swings momentum in games. (See above.) That, even more than Jordan Reed (if he’s cleared to play), is what needs to be contained on Sunday.

EAGLES STORY LINE:

In recent history the Redskins have had our number, having beaten us in our last three match-ups. While those games have been close, they’ve still been losses. A win this week won’t mean as much to the national media as our win over the Steelers, but it would be far more significant in terms of getting the monkey off our back and shifting the de facto balance of power in the division. With any luck, DE Fletcher Cox‘s ankle will be healthy enough to play in this game. We’ll need him.

BOTTOM LINE:

No moral victories this week. We need this game.

PREDICTION:

EAGLES 27 – Redskins 24