Eagles vs. Washington predictions

1. How will the Eagles offense do?

Jeff McLane: The man of the moment on the offensive side of the ball has never played in a NFL game. He's never even dressed on Sundays. Rookie Halapoulivaati Vaitai will start in placed of the suspended Lane Johnson at right tackle and it is certain that Redskins defensive coordinator Joe Barry has cooked up a number of blitz packages to pressure the offensive lineman. Doug Pederson can help Vaitai with the occasional extra blocker or chip block, but scheme will prevent him from planting a tight end to his side. You can help guards much more than tackles. So Vaitai will be on a pass protection island for most of the day. He'll see his share of outside linebacker Ryan Kerrigan (50 career sacks) and some Trent Murphy (4-1/2 sacks this season) and Preston Smith. I can't really say how he'll do. Practices have been mostly closed since the start of the season, but the Eagles are claiming that he's improved since the preseason. We shall see.

Carson Wentz has done brilliantly against the blitz (27 of 32, three touchdowns), so he should help counter whatever overload blitz packages Barry sends Vaitai's way. Pederson can also aid the young lineman's cause with a run-heavy offense. The Redskins are last in the NFL in stopping the run per carry (5.1 avg.). I'd expect Ryan Mathews to get an early load, especially after last week's fumble. He'll need a confidence booster. The Eagles stuck with a two-man backfield against the Lions, but we could see a little more of Kenjon Barner and Wendell Smallwood this week. But the rotation will depend on the number of plays.

The Eagles will have to pass some to keep the sticks moving. Josh Norman moves around some, so there is no avoiding one of the best corners in the NFL. The Redskins are down to their Nos. 3 and 4 safeties (Will Blackmon and Duke Ihenacho). The strength of the Eagles passing offense is in the middle of the field with Jordan Matthews and Zach Ertz. I wouldn't be surprised to see Pederson attack in between the numbers. His three-tight end packages weren't particularly productive in Detroit. They could be on Sunday.

Zach Berman: If there's ever been a game for Mathews to show why the Eagles have confidence in him as the lead back, it'll be this weekend – if he plays. Mathews left the facility on Friday with an illness and won't practice. Mathews is averaging 3.3 yards per carry this season, but as mentioned, Washington is allowing 5.1 yards per carry and 130 yards per game. And they haven't faced an elite rusher in the past three weeks – you could argue Mathews is better than the three starting backs they saw – so it'll be time for Mathews to finally emerge. I think it can happen, although I'm curious to see how Vaitai affects the running game. So much attention is being paid to how he'll do protecting Wentz – and rightfully so – but the Eagles have run an NFL-high 29 plays around the right end this season.

As for the passing game, my guess is the Eagles don't test Josh Norman much on Sunday. So don't play Nelson Agholor in fantasy football. But I'd be looking at Ertz, who has had two of his best career games against this defense, and Matthews, who will have rookie Kendell Fuller on him in the slot. (Note – I liked Fuller coming out of Virginia Tech in the draft, so Fuller is a capable cornerback. But you'd rather that matchup than Agholor-Norman). And then I'd expect Wentz to continue playing well. The interception was a bad decision last week, but I thought he was outstanding the rest of the game. The biggest threat that Washington poses is its pass rush, and how Vaitai does against Kerrigan. As long as Wentz has enough time, he'll produce.

2. How will the Eagles defense do?

McLane: Jim Schwartz noted that the battle up front between the Eagles defensive line and Redskins offensive line would be one of the pivotal matchups of the game and it's easy to see why he thought that way. Both units are deep with talent. The Redskins have a Pro Bowl left tackle in Trent Williams and the three-man interior (guards Brandon Scherff and Shawn Lauvao and center Spencer Long) is stout. Fletcher Cox will earn his pay against that group. Connor Barwin and Vinny Curry will have a tough time against Williams, but I like Brandon Graham against right tackle Morgan Moses.

The Redskins can move the ball on the ground with running back Matt Jones (4.1 avg.). They love to run stretch plays. The Eagles' edge setters will have the maintain discipline. But Jay Gruden loves to air it out. He may have fewer reasons to throw the ball with leading receiver Jordan Reed (33 catches for 316 yards and two touchdowns) likely out with another concussion. That would be six in his career. Yikes. The Redskins have two other decent tight ends (Vernon Davis and Niles Paul), but they won't have the luxury of employing their oft-used "13" personnel package.

I'd expect quarterback Kirk Cousins to go at rookie corner Jalen Mills, who is likely to start again with Leodis McKelvin battling a hamstring injury. Mills' speed will be tested by DeSean Jackson. The former Eagles receiver may have lost a half step, but he's still a deep ball force to reckon with. If Schwartz shades coverage toward Jackson, Cousins still has Pierre Garcon and slot receiver Jamison Crowder.

Berman: So much attention this week has gone to Jackson, but I'd be more concerned about the short and intermediate targets. Reed is one of the best tight ends in the NFL, although it doesn't appear he'll play. That's a major break for the Eagles if it happens. Crowder is a skilled slot receiver and is a key target on third down. And then pay attention to Chris Thompson catching the ball out of the backfield. He can be used similarly to how Detroit used Theo Riddick last week. Teams will continue to throw screens against the Eagles all day because of their attack-style defense, so they must diagnose the screen quickly.

The Eagles need to generate a pass rush against Cousins. Barwin will have his hands full against Williams. I'm looking forward to seeing Cox against Scherff, who is playing well this season at right guard. That matchup will be an example of what Schwartz was saying about the two lines being a key to the game.

Jones is a big, physical runner, but the Eagles run defense has played well this season. Jones has topped 65 yards just once this season, but some of that is because of volume – he's topped 17 carries only once. Washington will throw the ball and has the targets to do it. So I'd be more focused on the Eagles' pass defense on Sunday – that could determine the game.

3. Who's a player to watch?

McLane: Even with Norman, I think this is a defense Pederson will want to attack down the field. Eagles receivers haven't done much deep this year. Nelson Agholor, despite marginal improvement this season, has had trouble tracking balls. But he can turn the narrative with a couple of long catches. Wentz needs to take his shots, but what's the point in pulling the trigger if the target is always moving?

Berman: Vaitai is an obvious one and I mentioned Mathews, but how about Rodney McLeod? The Maryland native often thrives when he returns to his home state, with interceptions in his two of three career NFL games in Maryland and three interceptions in a college game at Maryland. McLeod leads the Eagles in tackles and interceptions this season, and he's one of the three NFL defensive backs with 7+ interceptions and 7+ fumbles since 2013. He'll play deep safety when DeSean Jackson goes long, so McLeod's help will be critical in ensuring the Eagles don't get beat over top.

4. What's your prediction?

McLane: The Eagles showed gumption in rebounding from a 21-7 halftime deficit last week. Schwartz's defense dominated in the second half, but the Lions exposed some of the Eagles' flaws (Mychal Kendricks, over-aggressiveness) before the break. Cousins is accurate, but he can be forced into poor throws. The key, per usual, will be getting to the quarterback without relying too often on the blitz. Losing Reed will hurt. He killed the Eagles last December. But I can see the Redskins getting their points. And I think the same goes for the Eagles on the other side of the ball. Wentz will be facing a NFC East rival for the first time, but almost nothing has fazed the rookie and this Redskins defense has holes. I think the Birds bounce back. Eagles 30, Redskins 27.

Berman: This won't be an easy game for the Eagles, but there's a reason why they're favored on the road. Washington rebounded from an 0-2 start with three consecutive wins, and the Eagles haven't won in Landover since 2013. Washington has kept an opponent under 20 points just once this season, so expect points. My guess is they run the ball effectively, Wentz plays well on the road, and the Eagles come home winners before next week's matchup with the undefeated Vikings. Give me Eagles 28, Redskins 24.