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Eagles-Redskins scouting report | Paul Domowitch

The Birds will face one of the league's best offensive lines.

Eagles tight end Zach Ertz gains yardage after a catch against the Redskins last December.
Eagles tight end Zach Ertz gains yardage after a catch against the Redskins last December.Read moreYONG KIM / Staff Photographer

WHEN THE EAGLES RUN THE BALL

When discussing last season's run game, Doug Pederson and Frank Reich like to point out that the Eagles finished fifth in "rushing efficiency,'' which is a stat that measures gains by situation, such as first-and-10 and third-and-short. But the bottom line is the Eagles' ground game wasn't very consistent last season. They finished 18th in yards per carry (4.1), 16th in yards per carry on first down (4.1) and 15th on third-and-3 or less. They added 250-pound smash-mouth RB LeGarrette Blount, who had a league-high 18 rushing TDs with the Patriots, in the offseason. But he is coming off a career-high 299-carry season. The Eagles are expected to use a running back by committee, with Blount, 34-year-old Darren Sproles, and Wendell Smallwood all sharing the load. After finishing 27th in yards allowed per carry (4.5) last year, the Redskins have a new line that includes first-round pick Jonathan Allen. They also signed ex-Bills linebacker Zach Brown.

EDGE: Even

WHEN THE EAGLES PASS THE BALL

Carson Wentz's rookie passing numbers weren't very good, but he got invaluable experience, starting all 16 games. He has a big arm and the size and athleticism to slip away from pass-rushers and extend plays. He was sacked just 33 times last season, but nine came in the Eagles' two losses to Washington. A big difference Sunday will be the return of RT Lane Johnson, who missed both Redskins games last year while serving his PED suspension. Eagles WRs had just eight touchdown catches last season, which prompted the offseason signings of Alshon Jeffery and Torrey Smith. The 6-3, 218-pound Jeffery should be very valuable to Wentz in the red zone, where the Eagles finished a disappointing 24th in touchdown production last year. The Redskins' Josh Norman is one of the league's best corners. But their other starter, Bashaud Breeland, is inconsistent, and they lost one of their top pass-rushers, LB Trent Murphy, to an ACL injury.

EDGE: Eagles

WHEN THE REDSKINS RUN THE BALL

Led by OTs Trent Williams and Morgan Moses and RG Brandon Scherff, the Redskins have one of the league's best fronts. They were a pass-first offense last season, running the ball just 37.6 percent of the time, which was the eighth-lowest percentage in the NFL, although they averaged 4.5 yards per attempt. They rushed for 230 yards against the Eagles in their first meeting, and averaged 4.7 yards per carry in the second. Undrafted rookie Rob Kelley replaced Matt Jones as the team's primary ballcarrier in late October. Averaged 4.8 yards per carry in his first three starts, but just 2.8 the rest of the season. Kelley is being pushed by fourth-round rookie Samaje Perine, a 5-11, 233-pound tank with a low center of gravity. The Eagles' run defense was inconsistent last season. They gave up 53 runs of 10 yards or more, the seventh most in the NFL. They held nine opponents under 100 rushing yards, but gave up 150-plus to four others.

EDGE: Redskins

WHEN THE REDSKINS PASS THE BALL

Kirk Cousins was seventh in the league in passing last year (97.2) and was third in yards per attempt (8.1). The loss of vertical threat DeSean Jackson (24.4 yards per catch in last six games) probably will lower that number. The Redskins also let ultrareliable Pierre Garcon (team-high 79 catches) walk. They signed 6-6, 240-pound Terrelle Pryor, who caught 77 passes and had 1,007 receiving yards with the Browns last year in his first season after converting from quarterback. They also have a big target on the other side – 6-2 Josh Doctson, who was their 2016 first-round pick. Cousins was sacked just 23 times last season.The Redskins finished fifth in third-down efficiency (45.2 percent). Slot receiver Jamison Crowder and tight end Jordan Reed both are dangerous third-down threats who the Eagles must neutralize. The Birds beefed up both their pass rush and their coverage in the offseason after recording just 14 sacks and giving up 19 TD passes in the final 10 games.

EDGE: Redskins

SPECIAL TEAMS

For the second time in the last three years, the Eagles' special teams units were ranked No. 1 in the league. They have a solid kicking tandem in P Donnie Jones and PK Caleb Sturgis. Sturgis made 35 of 41 field goal attempts, including four of six from 50-plus yards. They finished second in kickoff coverage and ninth in punt coverage. The average opponent drive start on kickoffs was the 22.7-yard line, the best in the league. At 34, Darren Sproles still is one of the league's top punt returners. He averaged a career-best 13.2 yards per return last year. The Eagles also were the only team in the league with two kickoff returns for TDs. Redskins PK Dustin Hopkins made 34 of 42 field goal attempts, including 10 of 16 from 40-plus yards. P Tress Way was 26th in net average (38.9) and had 55.1 percent of his punts returned. Jamison Crowder is a lethal punt returner, who averaged 12.1 yards per return last season. In two games vs. Eagles, he was held to 5.2 yards per return.

EDGE: Eagles

Domo’s prediction

Eagles 27, Redskins 24

KEY MATCHUPS

–Eagles slot CB Patrick Robinson vs. Redskins slot WR Jamison Crowder: Crowder averaged 17.8 yards per catch against the Eagles last season. Advantage: Redskins

Eagles RT Lane Johnson vs. Redskins OLB Ryan Kerrigan. Kerrigan had 11 sacks last season, including 3 ½ in two wins v. Eagles. But Johnson, one of the best RTs in the league, missed both games while serving a 10-game PED suspension. Advantage: Eagles

Eagles WR Alshon Jeffery vs. Redskins CB Josh Norman. The 6-3 Jeffery is expected to be one of Carson Wentz's go-to receivers, particularly in the red zone. The 6-0, 203-pound Norman is one of the league's best cover guys. Advantage: Even

HOT AND NOT

HOT

–LB Ryan Kerrigan: Had 3 ½ sacks, 7 hurries and two tackles for losses in two games vs. Eagles last season.

–TE Zach Ertz: Had 10 receptions for 112 yards in Week 14 loss to the Redskins.

NOT

–TE Jordan Reed: Was inactive for first Eagles game and played just 10 snaps in the second one.

–OT Lane Johnson: Missed both games vs. Redskins during his 10-game PED suspension. Carson Wentz was sacked nine times in those two games.