Eagles-Redskins Scouting Report

Recent history: The visiting team won each game last season, with the Eagles routing the Redskins at FedEx Field, 59-28. Washington leads the series, 79-69-6.

OFFENSE

Eagles: 446 yards per game (3rd)

Redskins: 356 yards per game (15th)

Quarterback

Eagles: Michael Vick needs to do two things better than last week: protect the football; convert on third down. Vick's lack of trust in his protection is becoming more obvious every week, and it's causing him to make some poor decisions. Vick was 4-for-9 with two interceptions on third down vs. Buffalo.

Redskins: Rex Grossman has a strong arm, but his decision-making frequently is poor, particularly when under pressure. He's thrown just one more career touchdown pass (46) than interception (45) and has a career .546 career completion percentage. Forty-six percent of his completions have been to RBs and TEs.

Pick: Eagles

Running Back

Eagles: LeSean McCoy was the NFL's second-leading rusher after three games, but has had just 20 rushing attempts the last 2 weeks. The Eagles used two-TE sets on 34.5 percent of their plays in Games 1-3, but only 14.8 percent the last 2 weeks. McCoy has converted just nine of 16 short-yardage plays (2 yards or less).

Redskins: Ryan Torain and Tim Hightower both are big between-the-tackles runners who are going to be no picnic for the Eagles' undersized LBs to bring down. Torain lost his starting job in preseason because of a broken hand, but rushed for 135 yards vs. Rams 2 weeks ago in Washington's last game.

Pick: Eagles

Receiving

Eagles: WR Jeremy Maclin is second in the league in receptions with 32. He's been the Eagles' only consistently productive red-zone receiver with five catches, three for TDs. No other WR or TE has more than two red-zone receptions. TE Brent Celek has been targeted 21 times this season, but has just nine catches.

Redskins: Eagles have given up 49 catches for 570 yards and six TDs to opposing RBs and TEs. Redskins have two very good pass-catching TEs in Chris Cooley and Fred Davis and will attack the Eagles with a lot of two-TE sets. WR Santana Moss is 32 and doesn't have explosive speed, but is adept at finding the holes in zones.

Pick: Eagles

Offensive Line

Eagles: The Eagles have given up just five sacks in the last four games, but that's more a testament to Michael Vick's escapability. With injured LT Jason Peters out until after the bye, the Eagles are going to have to give his replacement, King Dunlap, some help on explosive edge-rushing LB Brian Orakpo.

Redskins: The Redskins have put together an athletic line that is a good fit for Mike Shanahan's one-cut running game. Addition of RG Chris Chester and the move of Will Montgomery from RG to C has significantly strengthened this unit. OTs Trent Williams and Jammal Brown both are former first-round picks.

Pick: Redskins

DEFENSE

Eagles: 352 yards per game (15th)

Redskins: 297 yards per game (6th)

Defensive Line

Eagles: The wide-nine pass rush has helped the Eagles notch 15 sacks, but the gaps it creates have contributed to the defense's struggles vs. the run. It's also made them susceptible to the screen. The absence of RE Trent Cole, who is expected to miss his second straight game with a calf injury, weakens the pass rush.

Redskins: The 'Skins made two significant summer acquisitions to this unit, signing ex-Cowboys DE Stephen Bowen and ex-Giants DT Barry Cofield. Bowen is a solid pass-rusher who forces the offense to play the OLB honest. Cofield is a smart player who uses his hands well to get off blocks.

Pick: Eagles

Linebacker

Eagles: The Eagles weren't in their base defense much last week as the Bills spread them out with three-WR sets and ran. Redskins favor running out of two-TE sets, so at least the Eagles will have all three of their LBs on the field. Whether in base or nickel, MLB Jamar Chaney has to do a better job of getting off blocks.

Redskins: OLBs Brian Orakpo and rookie first-rounder Ryan Kerrigan are a dangerous 1-2 edge-rushing punch. They've combined for 5 1/2 sacks. Orakpo is an explosive upfield rusher who is going to be a handful for fill-in LT King Dunlap. . Kerrigan was a 4-3 end in college and still is not totally comfortable in coverage.

Pick: Redskins

Secondary

Eagles: Despite the presence of three Pro Bowl corners, opposing QBs have 11 TDs and a 104.3 passer rating vs. Eagles. Juan Castillo's insistence on playing more zone coverage and less man has only managed to minimize the impact of his three corners. The fact that none of them can play the slot very well also has been a problem.

Redskins: The Redskins will get nickel corner Phillip Buchanon back following his four-game PED suspension. CBs DeAngelo Hall and Josh Wilson can make big plays, but also can give them up. Redskins have allowed just three TD passes. SS LaRon Landry is a big hitter, but still isn't all the way back from a 2010 Achilles' injury.

Pick: Even

Special Teams

Eagles: The return game has contributed little. Rookie Dion Lewis is averaging just 21.1 yards on KRs and DeSean Jackson is averaging just 6.4 yards per PR. Rookie P Chas Henry is 26th in the league in gross average (41.3) and 23rd in net average (37.2). Rookie PK Alex Henery missed two sub-40-yarders vs. 49ers.

Redskins: PK Graham Gano already has had two FG attempts blocked. Ex-Eagles P Sav Rocca is sixth in the NFL in net average (41.0) and has dropped 12 of 21 attempts inside the 20. Coverage units both are ranked in the top 10. KR/PR Brandon Banks is a home run threat every time he has the ball in his hands.

Pick: Redskins

DOMO'S PREDICTION: EAGLES 24, REDSKINS 21

KEY MATCHUPS

1. Eagles OTs King Dunlap and Todd Herremans vs. Redskins OLBs Brian Orakpo and Ryan Kerrigan: Herremans should be able to handle rookie Kerrigan, but Dunlap is going to be overmatched vs. Orakpo on the other side. Advantage: Redskins

2. Eagles MLB Jamar Chaney vs. Redskins RBs Ryan Torain and Tim Hightower: Chaney's difficulty in getting off blocks has been a real problem for the Eagles as far as stopping the run. Advantage: Redskins

3. Eagles WRs Jeremy Maclin and DeSean Jackson vs. Redskins CBs DeAngelo Hall and Josh Wilson: Maclin has 31 catches in the last four games. Jackson is averaging nearly 20 yards per catch. Advantage: Eagles

Hot and Not

HOT

Eagles

WR DeSean Jackson. Has 11 catches for 257 yards in the last two games.

Redskins

RB Ryan Torain. Rushed for 135 yards and a TD on 19 carries in his first game back from a hand injury.

NOT

Eagles

CB Asante Samuel. Has just one interception. It's the first time he hasn't had at least two picks in first five games since 2006.

Redskins

TE Chris Cooley. Has just seven catches for 66 yards after catching 77 passes last season.

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