will we ever win?

Eagles-Skins Preview

The Eagles meet the Redskins Saturday Night in a long rivalled series that has the Eagles 59-73-5 overall. This matchup, however, features an Eagles team that has outmatched the Redskins while under Andy Reid (6-3, winning the last four straight). And, just like last year's third to last game of the season, the Eagles can clinch the East with a win over this team. In fact, the Eagles must do the same, as a loss would be devastating, likely putting (combined with a Cowboy win) the Eagles on the road in Minnesota or Green Bay for the first round of the playoffs.

The Redskins have had a horrific season under second year wonderboy head coach, Steve Spurrier. Their offense ranks 12th in the NFC overall and 11th in both the run and pass game. Their defense is similarly poor overall with a 12 rank in the NFC. Expect the Eagles' running game to dominate Andy Reid's normally pass-happy game plan, since Washington is 14th in NFC total rush defense and 8th in total pass defense. In fact, the Skins' have given the interception stingy McNabb problems in the past (throwing ~40% more interceptions vs. the Skins than his career average per attempt). Assuming Buckhalter makes all of his meetings and walk throughs this week, the three headed monster should produce significant yardage this week (only three of the last games against the Skins have resulted in less than 100 rushing yards for the Birds).

Donovan McNabb, who got his first ever career start in 1999 against the Redskins (winning 35-28 with only 38 passing yards), should pick his game back up and play consistently on Saturday. No one understands better than McNabb the importance of Saturday Night's game, where the Eagles look to take their 12-1 prime time (and 14-2 after a loss) record under Reid to an even better mark and resume their momentum heading into the playoffs. McNabb will bounce back from last week's subpar outing as he did against the Redskins earlier this season after Limbaugh's racially toned comments. He knows well that the Redskins are +4 on the season in turnovers (vs. the Eagles' +2), and that two of Washington's turnovers came from his own hand in Week 5 (one by Trotter and the other by the solid CB, Fred Smoot). To be sure, McNabb will not produce a 300 yard game (he has only topped 200 yards in two of the eight games he's started against Washington), but he should be accurate and avoid turnovers this weekend.

This game will also provide an opportunity for the Emmons-less Eagles run defense to pick up some confidence, as the Redskins this year have only produced 105 yds/game on the ground. While Carlos Emmons has had some huge games in the past against Washington (leading the team in tackles in 2001 against the Skins, forcing a fumble and recovering one for a touchdown in 2002), the presence of two of our pro bowl defensive backs (all of whom were absent in week five), should be more than enough to stop the Skins this week.

Despite the last close matchup in Philly, the Eagles should cover the spread this weekend. Under Reid, the Eagles have averaged a point margin over the Redskins of 5.9 points. With one of the league's best red zone offenses (Philly: 61% efficiency) matching up against one of the worst red zone defenses (Washington: 60% opponent efficiency), the Eagles will win decisively. And, fans, enjoy watching Spurrier drop to 0-4 against Reid and the Eagles.