Eagles-Redskins scouting report
Recent history: The Redskins defeated the Eagles, 20-12, on Sept. 17 at the Linc, and lead the all-time series, 76-65-6.
OFFENSE
Eagles
349.6 yards per game (9th)
Redskins
310.3 yards per game (20th)
Quarterback
Eagles: Donovan McNabb's tentative decision-making has turned the checkdown into a crutch. Take out the Detroit game and he's averaging just 6.4 yards per attempt. His YPA hasn't been that low since 2002, when he averaged 6.3.
Redskins: Jason Campbell appears to be regressing. He's thrown just six TD passes all season, none to a wide receiver. He hasn't completed a 30-plus yard pass in the last 18 quarters. Campbell hurt the Eagles with his legs in the first meeting, rushing for 39 yards and three first downs.
PICK: EAGLES
Running back
Eagles: Brian Westbrook averaged 5.6 yards per carry vs. the 'Skins in Week 2. But they've tightened up their run defense considerably. With injuries at cornerback impacting Washington's coverage ability, Westbrook likely will be used a lot in the passing game to force the 'Skins out of the Cover-2.
Redskins: The Redskins clearly would like to pound the ball on the ground. In their five wins, they've averaged 37 rushing attempts. Clinton Portis is coming off his best game of the season, a 36-carry, 196-yard performance vs. the Jets.
PICK: EAGLES
Receiver
Eagles: The Redskins' corners had success jamming Kevin Curtis and Reggie Brown in Week 2, disrupting their routes and forcing Donovan McNabb to look elsewhere. With the 'Skins depleted at cornerback, Eagles likely will go with a lot of three- and four-wide receiver sets.
Redskins: WRs don't have a TD catch yet. Santana Moss has been slowed by a groin injury, but is starting to get healthy. He had his best game of the season in Week 2 (6 catches, 89 yards) vs. Eagles when he was able to exploit the taller Will James with his quickness.
PICK: REDSKINS
Offensive line
Eagles: Donovan McNabb's lack of mobility and reluctance to get rid of the ball has put added pressure on this unit and it has not responded all that well. The Redskins blitzed McNabb quite a bit in Week 2, and had success, registering three sacks and five pressures.
Redskins: The Redskins are without their starting RT (Jon Jansen) and RG (Randy Thomas). The replacements, Todd Wade and Jason Fabini, have struggled, which has had an impact on both the running and passing game, and forced them to use TE Chris Cooley as a blocker more than they'd like.
PICK: EAGLES
DEFENSE
Eagles
317.4 yards per game (12th)
Redskins
310.6 yards per game (10th)
Defensive line
Eagles: With the Redskins playing backups at both RG and RT, the Eagles need to make hay. LT Mike Patterson and the LE combination of Juqua Thomas and Jevon Kearse should be able to exploit Todd Wade and Jason Fabini with their quickness.
Redskins: Front four has had trouble getting to the quarterback, prompting coordinator Gregg Williams to call more blitzes than he'd like. 'Skins have just seven sacks in last four games. DT Cornelius Griffin, the d-line's anchor, was on the field for just two plays last week because of back spasms.
PICK: EAGLES
Linebacker
Eagles: While this unit has done a good job vs. the run, it has made precious few big plays. No sacks. No forced fumbles. One interception (by MLB Omar Gaither in Week 4). LBs also have struggled in coverage vs. opposing TEs, who have caught four TD passes and averaged 12.9 yards per catch.
Redskins: SLB Marcus Washington has missed three of the last four games, including last week's OT win over the Jets, with a hamstring injury. He'll be replaced by veteran Randall Godfrey if he can't go. WLB Rocky McIntosh has excellent speed and plays well in space.
PICK: REDSKINS
Secondary
Eagles: Sean Considine's season-ending shoulder injury has left the Eagles dangerously thin at safety. CB Lito Sheppard also is questionable after reinjuring his knee. CB Will James' height, which helps him vs. bigger receivers, worked against him in his first meeting with 5-10 Santana Moss.
Redskins: Injuries have weakened the Redskins at corner. Carlos Rogers is out for the season; Fred Smoot aggravated his hamstring late in last week's win over the Jets and may not play. The injuries on the outside probably will prompt the 'Skins to stay in a Cover-2 most of the game.
PICK: REDSKINS
Special teams
Eagles: Eagles have been giving teams a short field to work with. P Sav Rocca is 21st in the league in net average (36.6), and the Eagles are 23rd in opponents' average drive start after kickoffs (28.0). Correll Buckhalter is a lowly 33rd in the league in kickoff returns (20.7).
Redskins: The Redskins have two of the best coverage units in the league. They are first in punt coverage (4.4) and seventh in kickoff coverage (22.1). Kick returner Rock Cartwright is a low-to-the-ground load who is averaging 28.7 yards per return.
PICK: REDSKINS
Hot and Not
HOT:
Eagles: RB Brian Westbrook. Leads all NFL running backs in receptions with 49 and is averaging 4.8 yards per carry.
Redskins: RB Clinton Portis. Rushed for 196 yards and a touchdown last week vs. Jets.
NOT:
Eagles: QB Donovan McNabb. Turned the ball over three times vs. Cowboys and averaged just 5.74 yards per attempt.
Redskins: WR Brandon Lloyd. Has just two catches and was suspended last week for missing a meeting.
Key matchups
1. Eagles LDT Mike Patterson vs. Redskins RG Jason Fabini: Patterson's first-step quickness will be a problem for Fabini, who has replaced injured Randy Thomas. Advantage: Patterson.
2. Eagles CB Will James vs. Redskins WR Santana Moss: Moss gave the taller James fits with his quickness in Week 2. Advantage: Moss.
3. Eagles WRs Kevin Curtis and Reggie Brown vs. Redskins CBs Shawn Springs and Fred Smoot: Curtis and Brown weren't factors in the first meeting. With Smoot nursing a sore hamstring, they need to be. Advantage: Even
What we're watching
Five keys that fans should keep their eyes on:
1. Looking for Davey. The more you see of David Akers on Sunday the worse it will be for the Eagles. Their ineptness inside the 20 - they are 27th in the league in red-zone offense with just 10 touchdowns in 28 trips - is one of the main reasons they are a near-death 3-5. Akers' 21 field-goal attempts (he's converted 17) has him tied for most in the league.
2. The Portis factor. The Redskins' passing game has struggled all season. They are ranked 26th in passing and none of their wide receivers has managed to catch a TD pass yet. Their best hope of moving the football will be giving it to Clinton Portis, who ran the ball 36 times last week vs. Jets for 196 yards.
3. Pressuring Campbell. Step 1 is stopping Portis on first and second down and forcing Jason Campbell into obvious passing situations. Step 2 is getting pressure on him and forcing him into mistakes. The Redskins are without their starting right guard and right tackle. Their replacements aren't very good. The stage is set for Mike Patterson, Juqua Thomas and yes, even Jevon Kearse, to have big days.
4. Secondary is primary. Both teams have injury problems in the secondary. Eagles strong safety Sean Considine is out for the season with a shoulder injury. Cornerback Lito Sheppard reinjured his sprained knee and is questionable. The Redskins lost starting cornerback Carlos Rogers for the season and also may be without his replacement, Fred Smoot (hamstring).
5. The turnover battle. The Eagles' nine takeaways are the second fewest in the NFL. The only team with fewer is the winless Dolphins (eight). And the Eagles have done nothing with those nine takeaways, converting them into a grand total of 16 points. The Redskins aren't much better. Their 13 takeaways tie them for 10th in the NFC. First team to pry the ball loose from the other Sunday might win.
Domo's predition
Redskins 17, Eagles 16
