Eagles @ Redskins

The 7-7 Redskins are in danger of falling below .500 for the first time since the first week of the season as they play division rivals Philadelphia Eagles today at FedEx Field. Front office Messenger Boy Vinny Cerrato failed to give Head Coach Jim Zorn any vote of confidence during his idiotic radio show on Friday, saying only that the issue of Zorn’s job status has never been discussed. One can scarcely imagine a more obvious lie, but deception is what we’re used to hearing from the Redskins front office so nobody batted an eyelid. Clearly, owner Danny “the li’l General” Snyder is watching the final two games closely and if Washington falls to 8-8 or 7-9, Zorn’s stay in Washington, D.C. could be brief.
Injuries: Don’t expect to see RT Jon Jansen on the field today. He couldn’t practice much this week and is listed as doubtful. TB Clinton Portis suffered back spasms and was very limited in practice. He’s questionable for the Eagles game. 
It will be a cold day at FedEx Field, with temperatures hovering around the freezing point at the 4.15 kickoff and slowly falling throughout the game. Both teams are accustomed to playing in the cold so weather shouldn’t be a factor.
The Redskins have won 2 of the last 3 against Philly, including a come-from-behind 23-17 victory in Philadelphia earlier this season. However, QB Donovan McNabb is a Redskins-killer, having won 8 of his last 11 games against Washington and 5 of his last 6 in FedEx Field. 
EAGLES OFFENSE V. REDSKINS DEFENSE
The key to Philly’s offense is, as it has been for years, TB Brian Westbrook. He hurt the Redskins earlier this year, but not too badly and MLB London Fletcher did a nice job matching up with Westbrook and kept him from doing too much damage. The Redskins will need a similar performance from Fletcher, who is annoyed at being left off the Pro Bowl list yet again. Westbrook is playing his best football of the season so Philly will go to him early and often. Washington has a tendency to get down 10 or 14 points early in games and they have not been able to overcome that against bad teams like Cincinnati, so repeating their 14-point first quarter comeback against the Eagles of earlier this season will not happen. Washington MUST get some early stops.
Washington’s secondary is good and physical, while Philadelphia’s set of wideouts is average and not physical at all. The Redskins need to play the press man-to-man coverage that has caused so much trouble for Philly wideouts in the past. WR Desean Jackson is a threat to make big plays in the passing game, but he’s the only real threat on the outside. WR Hank Baskett is injured and won’t play. CBs Shawn Springs, DeAngelo Hall and Carlos Rogers must get up near the line of scrimmage and muscle up to the Philly wideouts all game. If they do so, they can cause major problems for Philadelphia’s offense. The McNabb-to-Westbrook combination is a potent one, but if that’s all McNabb has got, the Eagles are in trouble.
The Redskins should give the Eagles a dose of their own medicine and blitz the Eagles mercilessly. Washington’s secondary can probably handle those Philadelphia wideouts and the blitz will keep Westbrook occupied as a blocker instead of picking up one first down after another as a pass receiver. 
REDSKINS OFFENSE V. EAGLES DEFENSE
The Redskins can’t score points and that is a problem in a league where scoring points is the key to winning games. QB Jason Campbell has done a good job protecting the ball, but his offensive line doesn’t give him much time to throw and Philly Defensive Coordinator Jim Johnson will throw a constant barrage of blitzes as Washington’s offense to destroy the fragile and injured offensive line and neuter the offense. Don’t bet against the success of that strategy. 
Head Coach Jim Zorn likes to run the ball as much as possible, but the Eagles will use a run-blitz strategy to stifle the Redskins running game and force second-and-long plays that will enable the pass-blitz schemes to create havoc in Washington’s offensive backfield. If Clinton Portis [back spasms] can’t play, it could be an even longer day for the Redskins, as Portis is easily the best pass-blocker among Redskins running backs. 
To thwart this blitz scheme, Zorn will need to change up his tendencies, something he has been unable or unwilling to do. The Redskins should pass more on first down to slow down the run blitzes and get the offense into 2nd-and-short and 3rd-and-short situations, where Philly’s blitzes won’t be as much of a problem. It would help if Washington got some help from its rookie wideouts, Devin Thomas and Malcolm Kelly, but that seems pretty unlikely. Someone besides Santana Moss is going to have a big day in the passing game. Chris Cooley, who has only 1 TD this year and who fumbled in the first quarter last week, needs to make some plays. 
SUMMARY
The Eagles are 8-5-1 and playing their best football of the season. They think they’ve got a track to the playoffs, especially after Dallas’ loss last night. The Redskins are 7-7 and it looks like some players have quit on the season. Washington couldn’t even match the intensity of the lowly Cincinnati Bengals, who had nothing to play for but pride. Perhaps Zorn can motivate his players for the final two weeks of the season, but even if he can, there’s little evidence that the Redskins have enough talent and firepower to match the Eagles. For Washington to win, it’s good defense will have to limit Brian Westbrook and get a score or two on its own. For all its excellent production, Washington’s defense doesn’t make big plays because of its lack of a pass rush. The Eagles are just a better team.
SCORE
Philadelphia 24 Washington 10