Game Preview, Week 7: Redskins at Eagles
by Steve Thomas and Sean Conte
The Redskins are coming off of their big win in week 6 over the San Francisco 49ers, and now have to march into Philadelphia to face the Eagles in the second “must win” game in a row. You may recall that the Eagles won handily over our beloved Redskins by a score of 30 – 17 in week 1. Now, of course, they are in sole possession of 1st place in the NFC East; therefore, a loss on Monday Night Football – which, frankly, has mostly been a house of horrors for our beloved men in burgundy and gold – gives the Eagles the tiebreaker over Washington for the season, and also puts them two games up. So…..this game means about as much as any week 7 NFL game can possibly mean. Throw into the mix the fact that the Eagles have one of the most statistically highly rated offenses in the league, and we have a receipe for a tough game. As everyone should know, Redskins – Eagles game have a tendency to mostly be hard-fought games even regardless of records, and with so much on the line here on Monday Night Football, no less, it’s a virtual certainly that this week’s contest is going to be brutal. Oh, yeah, and we found out this week that prized rookie defensive tackle Jonathan Allen is out for the rest of the year with a Lisfranc injury. Can’t lie to you – this one’s going to be tough. Here are the numbers and our thoughts:
Game time & location: Monday, October 23, 8:30 p.m. ET, Lincoln Financial Field, Philadelphia, PA; Gates open 7:00 p.m. ET (earlier access to premium seating and facilities); parking lots open 3:30 p.m.
Television: ESPN
Television announcers: Sean McDonough, Jon Gruden, Lisa Salters
DC-area radio: ESPN 980
Redskins radio network: http://www.redskins.com/media-gallery/radio-network.html
Eagles radio network: http://www.philadelphiaeagles.com/schedules/tunein.html
Satellite radio: XM: 81/88 Redskins broad./Nat’l broad.); Sirius: 81/88 (Redskins broad./Nat’l broad.); internet: 831 (Redskins broad.)
Redskins roster: http://www.redskins.com/team/roster.hml
Redskins depth chart: http://www.redskins.com/team/depth-chart.html
Eagles roster: http://www.philadelphiaeagles.com/team/roster.html
Eagles depth chart: http://www.philadelphiaeagles.com/team/depth-chart.html
All-time head-to-head record vs Eagles: 85 – 75 – 6 (last 10: 6 – 4)
Last meeting: L, September 10, 2017, 17 – 30
Early odds: Eagles, -6.5
SEAN’S 5 KEYS TO THE GAME
Keep Kirk on His Feet
Kirk Cousins has been sacked 8 times this year. 4 of those came against Philadelphia. My Hog Sty colleagues seem to call that “opening day jitters” and excuse it. Gee, I wish I could claim opening week jitters in my job that I also work and practice for year-round! Seems to me like a defensive line with the likes of Tim Jernigan and Fletcher Cox is one to look out for. Pressure was a consistent problem in our first matchup with Philly; let’s see if we can hold the line in front of Kirk this time around.
Speaking of Lines…
Brandon Brooks and Jason Peters are nasty. I wouldn’t have high hopes for the defensive line this week, considering Jonathan Allen is now out with a season-ender. This is bound to make a noticeable impact on our defensive gameplan, particularly in terms of interior pressure. Compounding this problem is the fact that Washington’s secondary is banged up. An inability to pressure the quarterback may lead to long runs and passes both – particularly with a susceptible secondary.
Keep Wentz from Pumpkin-Carving this Defense
Philadelphia’s 30 points in opening week were its second-highest point total so far this year. Wentz was a big part of that, throwing roughly 40 times for over 300 yards and two touchdowns. Considering the aforementioned banged up secondary, pressure questions along the line, and a tough Philadelphia offensive front, things don’t bode well in terms of keeping Philly’s offense in check. Playing a mixture of both tight man-coverage and zone schemes should help limit the outputs of receivers Alshon Jeffrey and Torrey Smith.
Maintain Momentum, Be Aware of Theirs
One of the reasons thrown out for Philadelphia’s strong rushing defense statistics this year is the fact that they score quickly and force teams to play catch-up through the air. Momentum does a lot of a team psychologically; Philly’s coming off 4 straight wins and a heck of an 11-day mini bye week. They’re rested and confident. We need to strike early and consistently to maintain energy this week.
Don’t Stall
This is related to the previous point about momentum. Up 17-0 with just seconds left in the half last week, most people probably thought this one was out of reach for San Francisco. Then Hyde scored on a quick goal-line run, and the Redskins came out lethargic in the 3rd quarter, allowing the Niners to score 10 points without answering with any of their own. This can’t happen. We nearly dropped the San Francisco game and we did drop the Chiefs game for this exact reason.
SEAN’S 3 KEY MATCHUPS
Zach Ertz Vs. Redskins DBs and LBs
The Redskins have never been good at covering tight ends, and Ertz is a dynamic and athletic matchup nightmare. He put up about 100 yards on us in week one, possibly a symptom of over preparing for Philly’s receivers. He has since emerged as Wentz’s favorite target. There’s no reason to forget about him.
Redskins Defensive Line vs. Philly’s Offensive Line
This is where the magic will happen — or won’t. What can I say that hasn’t already been said? We’re at a severe disadvantage here, and if we can’t contain the run or frazzle Wentz, Philly will do to us what it has done to the other 5 teams it beat this year.
Fletcher Cox vs. Brandon Scherff
Scherff, as one of the stronger interior lineman in the league, and Fletcher Cox, as one of the better DT’s, are a marquee matchup this week. Cox sacked Cousins had took a fumble to the house in week one. Work’s cut out for you, Scherff.
B-B-B BONUS MATCHUP: Chris Thompson Vs. Everyone
With the way we use Chris Thompson these days, it’s a little tough for other teams to keep up. Lineman, linebackers, and DB’s will probably all have to pitch in to contain Washington’s speedy little swiss army knife of a player. Bad as it may be for the team, I love watching Thompson’s crazy level of play this year.
SEAN CUTS TO THE CHASE
I can’t even remember what I predicted score-wise on the show this week. I think I said Philly would score 28 points against this bruised-and-battered Washington defense. I’ll stick with that, and add that it won’t be close. 28-14 Philadelphia.
OFFICIAL INJURY REPORT (as of Friday (active roster only)) (starters in bold)
LP – limited practice FP – full practice DNP – did not practice
NIR – not injury related Q – questionable O – out
| Redskins | Eagles |
| T T. Nsekhe, core muscle; Thurs: DNP; Fri: DNP; Sat: DNP; game: out | DT B. Allen, foot; Thurs: LP; Fri: FP; Sat: FP |
| T T. Williams, knee; Thurs: DNP; Fri: DNP; Sat: DNP; game: Q | CB R. Darby, ankle; Thurs: LP; Fri: LP; Sat: LP; game: Q |
| LB R. Anderson, back; Thurs: LP; Fri: FP; Sat: FP | LB J. Hicks, calf; Thurs: LP; Fri: LP; Sat: FP; game: Q |
| CB B. Breeland, knee; Thurs: LP; Fri: LP; Sat: LP; game: Q | DT T. Jernigan, ankle; Thurs: LP; Fri: FP; Sat: FP |
| G T. Catalina, concussion; Thurs: LP; Fri: DNP; Sat: DNP; game: O | DT F. Cox, calf; Thurs: FP; Fri: FP; Sat: FP |
| S D. Everett, hamstring; Thurs: LP; Fri: LP; Sat: LP; game: Q | DE B. Graham, shoulder; Thurs: FP; Fri: FP; Sat: FP |
| RB R. Kelley, ankle; Thurs: LP; Fri: LP; Sat: LP; game: Q | T L. Johnson, concussion; Thurs: FP; Fri: FP; Sat: FP |
| S S. McClure, knee; Thurs: LP; Fri: LP; Sat: LP; game: Q | RB W. Smallwood, knee; Thurs: FP; Fri: FP; Sat: FP; game: Q |
| CB J. Norman, rib; Thurs: LP; Fri: LP; Sat: DNP; game: O | DT D. Vaeao, wrist; Thurs: FP; Fri: FP; Sat: FP |
| LB M. Foster, shoulder; Thurs: FP; Fri: LP ; Sat: LP; game: Q | LB M. Kendricks, hamstring; Thurs: not listed; Fri: LP; Sat: FP; game: Q |
| CB F. Moreau, shoulder/hamstring; Thurs: FP; Fri: FP; Sat: FP | |
| S M. Nicholson, shoulder; Thurs: FP; Fri: FP; Sat: FP | |
| S D.J. Swearinger, NIR; Thurs: not listed; Fri: DNP; Sat: FP |
TEAM STATISTICS
Redskins:
This is another week in which the rankings for accumulating stats such as points, total yards, and the others are fairly skewed due to the Redskins’ early bye week, so you should take those numbers with a grain of salt. What we can deduce from the Redskins team statistics is that, first, the Redskins have remained fairly balanced between run and pass, especially as compared to prior years, with 158 pass attempts to 149 rushing attempts. Not to mention, starting running back Robert Kelley has been out for the past two games, so if he comes back this week, it’s possible that we might see more carries thrown his way. Regardless, some of the things that Washington’s offense has excelled at thusfar this season: time of possession (5th), yards per play (5th), passing yards per attempt (2nd), and yards per game (6). The fact that third-down back Chris Thompson is both the leading rushing and leading receiver isn’t necessarily a good thing, because it demonstrates just how little production the Redskins have gotten from their wide receivers this season. That will need to change in order for the Redskins to remain successful.
Defensively, although the same caveat as to the accumulating stats applies on defense as well, the fact that the Redskins are ranked even in the low teens by many measures this far into the season – rushing yards per game (8th), yards per game surrendered (12th), rushing yards per attempt (14th), passing yards per attempt (15th), sacks (12th even despite the bye week) – is nothing short of a minor miracle considering how poor this defense was a year ago by statistical measures. Unfortunately, the Redskins will need every bit of this new-found ability, despite the loss of Jonathan Allen, in order to stop the Eagles, who represent a varied, capable, and highly rated offense.
Record 3 – 2 (Away: 1 – 1; NFC East: 0 – 1, 2nd)
All-time franchise record: 589 – 574 – 28
Offense
| Offensive rankings | 20 (points) (trend +2) / 19 (total yards) (trend +7) / 6 (yards per game) (trend +2) / 5 (yards per play) (trend +1) / 19 (passing yards) (trend +6) / 2 (passing yards per att.) (trend +3) / 14 (rushing yards) (trend +1) / 16 (rushing yards per att.) (trend -10) |
| Points for | 117 |
| Yards per game | 374.2 |
| Passing
|
158 att (31st); 105 comp; 66.5% comp per. (5th); 8.4 Y/A; 1257 net yds; 9 TD; 2 Int |
| Passing leader | Cousins (158 att, 1334 yds (14th), 66.5% comp perc., 9 TDs / 2 Int (22nd), 106.4 QB rating (3rd) |
| Receiving leader | Thompson (340 yds (8th), 18 rec (81st), 2 TDs, 18.9 Y/C); Reed (142 yds, 18 rec (81st)), 0 TDs, 7.9 Y/C) |
| Rushing | 149 att (15th); 614 yds; 4.1 Y/A; 122.8 Y/G; 3 TD |
| Rushing leader | Thompson (36 att (41st), 175 yds, 2 TD, 4.9 Y/A, long 61) |
| Sacks surrendered / rank | 8 / 4 |
| Ave time of possession / rank | 31:58 / 5 |
| 3rd down conversion rate / rank | 40.6 / 12 |
| TD percentage in red zone / rank | 46.67% / 24 |
Defense
| Defensive rankings | 10 (points) (trend +1) / 5 (total yards) (trend -2) / 12 (yards per game surrendered) (trend -3) / 12 (yards per play) (trend +6) / 10 (passing yards) (trend -5) / 15 (passing yards per att.) (trend +4) / 5 (rushing yards) (trend even / 14 (rushing yards per att.) (trend -1) |
| Points against | 113 |
| Yards per game surrendered | 316.0 |
| Opponent’s passing | 179 att (5th); 110 comp; 61.5% comp perc. (13th); 6.9 Y/A; 1140 net yds; 6 TDs; QB Rating 81.8 (9th) |
| Opponent’s rushing | 110 att (2nd); 440 yds; 4.0 Y/A; 4 TD; 88.0 Y/G (8th) |
| Sacks / rank / Sack leader | 15/ 12 / Smith (4.5) |
| Tackles leader | Brown (31) |
| Int / rank / Int leader | 5 / 13 / Fuller (2) |
| Opponent 3rd down conv rate / rank | 40.3% / 20 |
| Opponent TD percentage in red zone / rank | 61.54% / 26 |
Special Teams
| Kick returns | 18.6 Y/R (30th), 5 returns, long 24 yards, 0 TDs |
| Punt returns | 5.0 Y/R (27th), 9 returns, long 18 yards (22nd), 0 TD |
| Kick return defense | 19.6 Y/R (6th), 7 returns, 0 TD |
| Punt return defense | 8.4 Y/R (17th), 8 returns, 0 TD |
| Punting | 44.6 Y/P (23rd) |
Turnovers (lost by O / recv’d by D / net / rank): 9 / 8 / -1 / 16
Penalties (total accepted # / rank): 28 / 2
Eagles:
There’s no sense in sugarcoating it: the Eagles, as much as Redskins fans hate the franchise and its obxnoxious, classless fanbase, this offense is putting up some impressive numbers – 5th in points scored, 3rd in total yardage, 1st in time of possession, 1st in 3rd down conversion, 4th in red zone efficiency. Second year quarterback Carson Wentz has posted a 99.6 quarterback rating for the year, which isn’t off-the-charts spectacular, but is a quality number. Maybe the biggest thing: new running back LeGarrette Blount is having the best year of his career from a yards per carry perspective, and is a real challenge for a Redskins defense that is all of a sudden without its best defensive lineman for the rest of the year. Also, the fact that tight end Zach Ertz is Wentz’s favorite target should give Redskins fans pause considering that tight end coverage has been an achilles heel for Washington for a long time.
Fortunately for the Redskins, the Eagles’ defense isn’t posting the same sort of numbers as is the offense. This a defense that does not get run on very much – in fact, Eagles’ opponents have had only 105 rushing attempts, which is the fewest in the NFL. Philadelphia is surrendering 3.8 yards per carry, which is good, but not at the level one would expect of a team that opponents seemingly refuse to run against. The Eagles pass defense also is not quite a bad as the total passing yards surrendered (ranked 30th) suggests – they are only 18th in passing yards per attempt and have had more passes attempted against them than any other team in the NFL (249). The Eagles defense doesn’t have a glaring, noticable weakness from a statistical standpoint, but it also isn’t posting tremendous numbers with the exception of 3rd down conversion rate (3rd). The Redskins should have opportunity to move the ball and score if they play well.
Record: 5 – 1 (Home: 5 – 0; NFC East: 2 – 0; 1st)
Offense
| Offensive rankings | 5 (points) / 3 (total yards) / 3 (yards per game) / 8 (yards per play) / 5 (passing yards) / 7 (passing yards per att.) / 5 (rushing yards) / 6 (rushing yards per att.) |
| Points for | 165 |
| Yards per game | 383.2 |
| Passing | 207 att (10th); 126 comp; 60.9% comp per. (25th); 7.7 Y/A; 1504 net yds; 13 TDs; 3 Int |
| Passing leader | Wentz (207 att, 1584 yds (5th), 60.9% comp per., 13 TDs / 3 Int, 99.6 QB rating (7th)) |
| Reception leader | Ertz (405 yds (9th), 34 rec (8th), 4 TD, 11.9 Y/C) |
| Rushing | 182 att (4th); 795 yds; 4.4 Y/A; 132.5 Y/G (5th); 3 TDs |
| Rushing leader | Blount (70 att (21st), 390 yds (8th), 1 TD, 5.6 Y/A (4th), long 68 yds) |
| Sacks surrendered / rank | 16 / 18 |
| Ave time of possession / rank | 34:22 / 1 |
| 3rd down conversion rate / rank | 50.6 / 1 |
| TD percentage in red zone / rank | 63.16% / 4 |
Defense
| Defensive rankings | 14 (points) / 23 (total yards) / 20 (yards per game surrendered) / 26 (yards per play) / 30 (passing yards) / 18 (passing yards per att.) / 2 (rushing yards) / 12 (rushing yards per att.) |
| Points against | 122 |
| Yards per game surrendered | 339.2 |
| Opponent’s passing | 249 att (32nd); 157 comp; 63.1% comp per. (18th); 7.0 Y/A; 1641 net yds; 9 TD; QB Rating 85.7 (14th) |
| Opponent’s rushing | 105 att (1st); 394 yds; 3.8 Y/A; 4 TD |
| Sacks / rank / Sack leader | 14 / 15 / Graham (4.0) |
| Tackles leader | Mills (28) |
| Int / rank / Int leader | 6 / 11 / Douglas/Mills/Robinson (2) |
| Opponent 3rd down conv rate / rank | 32.88% / 3 |
| Opponent TD percentage in red zone / rank | 50.0% / 12 |
Special Teams
| Kick returns | 22.7 Y/R (11th), 6 returns, long 27 yards, 0 TDs |
| Punt returns | 16.0 Y/R (2nd), 9 returns, long 76 yards (4th), 0 TDs |
| Kick return defense | 21.6 Y/R (15th), 16 returns, 0 TDs |
| Punt return defense | 5.6 Y/R (8th), 10 returns, 0 TDs |
| Punting | 45.7 Y/P (16th) |
Turnovers (lost by O / recv’d by D / net / rank): 7 / 11 / +4 / 6
Penalties (total accepted # / rank): 45 / 26
* Statistics courtesy of www.pro-football-reference.com, www.nflpenalties.com, www.nfl.com, www.teamrankings.com, www.espn.com, www.sportingcharts.com