The anticipation heading into week four is a bit underwhelming as the Eagles are still an absolute mystery. The win against the Jets stopped the losing streak, and there plenty of positives to take away from the defensive side of the game. The number one factor that was going to make or break the season still remains as quarterback Sam Bradford was unimpressive, which is the biggest storyline leading to the matchup against the Redskins.
There is a very good chance that the weather could dictate how the Eagles attack on offense once kickoff rolls around on Sunday. If the rain becomes problematic, it’s likely Chip would lean heavily on the run game. Prior to the pending forecast being announced, I felt that Sam Bradford would finally have the opportunity against an average defensive secondary to really showcase his throwing accuracy and arm strength.
OFFENSE
The Redskins will look to run early and often with veteran Alfred Morris and rookie Matt Jones. This is a team that is committing to the rushing attack, but they have some receiving threats that also need to be accounted for. Garcon has the ability to create separation and rack up yards after the catch and will need to be accounted for. Jordan Reed is an athletic tight-end that will test the middle of the Eagles defense and is often a safety blanket for quarterback Kirk Cousins. The Redskins are not a team relying on the big play to move the chains with Desean Jackson out of the lineup; it’s a ball control offense that tries to minimize mistakes.
The Eagles were finally able to establish the run last week, and will look to do so with their number one running back DeMarco Murray who appears on track to return from the injury that sidelined him week three. The Eagles will certainly look to counter the 1-2 punch of the Redskins back field with their 1-2-3 punch of Murray, Mathews and Sproles. Sam Bradford will face the weakest secondary to date as an Eagle, and he needs to play better. Zach Ertz had a tremendous outing the last time these two teams met, and although the Redskins have made changes in both coaching and their roster, Ertz needs to be featured as does Agholor. Sunday can’t be another afternoon of wheel routes to running backs and starring down Jordan Matthews.
DEFENSE
The Redskins have a big defensive line that is going to test the offensive guards of the Eagles. Matt Tobin and Allen Barbre must play like NFL starters; Jason Kelce is likely to have his own issues as an undersized center with a 350 pound nose tackle Terrance Knighton looking right at him. Their secondary is without their best player, but that doesn’t mean much if the Eagles don’t modify their passing attack.
Will the Eagles defense once again hold the opposing running back to under 100 yards? I can’t expect the Eagles to hold the Redskins to under 100 yards rushing total for the team, but they must limit the big runs. Morris is a guy who looks to run through you, whole Jones has the ability to make guys miss in the open field. I really liked the way the front seven played last week, disrupting throws at the line of scrimmage because they knew what type of quarterback they were facing. Cousins is much better then Fitzpatrick, but I believe the players who were on the Eagles defense last season recall how Cousins carved them up pretty good, and that’s all the motivation needed to ensure it doesn’t happen again.
PREDICTION
There hasn’t been enough shown by the Eagles to give me the feeling that the score of this game could get out of hand. I do believe the weather is going to impact this football game, but it won’t dictate how the coaches call their plays. I think this is the game where Bradford has enough moments to gain some of his confidence back and gain some of the trust back from the Eagle fan base doubting his future with the team. The defense continues to play well, and another great game by rookie linebacker Jordan Hicks.
-Agholor surpasses his entire 2015 total in receptions, by hauling in six catches for 54 yards and a touchdown.
-The Eagles rack up 35 rushing attempts as a team
-Byron Maxwell records an interception
Eagles 24 Redskins 17
Keys to the Game
1) Protect the Ball/Win the Turnover Battle .. Redskins have only forced 1 Turnover this Season and sit at a -5 in the Turnover Battle while the Eagles are a + 2
2) Minimize the Redskins Rushing attack who are averaging close to a 150 Yards per Game .. Force the game in the hands of QB Kirk Cousins
3) Bradford must make some Plays down the field to stretch the Redskins Defense out, Utilize the TE’s more to expose the middle of the Field
4) Get a Big Play from Special Teams whether it’s Sproles, Huff or possibly a Block Punt/Kick…
5) Have a Solid Day from new Kicker Caleb Sturgis, who concerns me…
The worst part of this team at the moment ,is that you can’t put your finger on its pulse.Normally there is a false sense of bravado or an air of confidence that I’ve often felt no matter who the opponent and what the circumstances.This team I find myself unsure of what my expectations are from week to week.Nobody is rushing out to buy jerseys for the holidays ,unsure who ,may be the starters come the holidays.I don’t like uncertainty when it comes to my football team ..that was my one constant week after week.This year ,week to week is filled with hopes and doubts..and prayers..I want my birds back..
The Eagles will beat Washington and continue to progress. Bradford will get better and better as the season progresses and he has a better grasp of the offense and knocks off more of the rust…our defense will shut down Washington’s running attack and we will score on special teams…21-7 Eagles!
Eagles are a year or two away from serious contention. They will win this weekend 20-17. Fear the Cardinals!!!!
The Eagles will beat the Redskins b/c Kirk Cousins is the gift that keeps on giving.
I don’t think they will look good in the process. But a win is a win. And in this division, where everyone kinda sucks, everyone really truly counts, since I don’t think you’ll need too many to take the division.
Getting ready to Watch Clemson vs Notre Dame which should be a good game.. Watching closely at QB D Watson and some of the OL from Notre Dame
UCLA/Arizona State, Florida/Miss and Texas A&M/Miss State should be some good Games..
Top 10 ranked teams Mississippi, Notre Dame, Georgia and UCLA all get picked off yesterday.
Yes!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
the Phillies lose both games in a double header today plus Cincinnati Reds beat Pittsburgh. Phils worst team in Major League Baseball.
Hallelujah, The reward first overall pick in 2016 draft. Choice between best College pitcher or Best High School pitcher. Yeah!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Tsj me and you on same page cousins will throw his picks like he always does
Exactly.
Eagles lose this game and Ima be feeling some kind of way.
They should have eough turnovers to make up for any deficiencies on offense. They should have more than enough opportunities to put points on the board.
Colts QB Andrew Luck is out for Today’s Game due to shoulder injury
Matt Hassleback to Start for the reeling Colts
A lot of short passes…dump offs, wheel routes, dinking and dunking and running the ball on both sides today as the wind will be a factor so that plays into Chip’s and Bradford’s hands. Both teams are strong defensively. The Skins always play the Eagles tough and I believe this will be a low scoring game. These two teams will split this year…due to the Washington’s cb situation and no DJax I will pick the Eagles to win today.
Bills Shutting Down RB L McCoy
Giants WR suffers another Setbackwith his Calf Injury and may end up missing significant time as the Giants worked out WR’s Wes Welker & HakeemNicks this week
Redskins release DL Frank Kearse yesterday and Acticated a CB from their Practice Squad meaning that banged up CB Chris Culliver is unlikely to Play today verse the Eagles
That’s Giants WR Victor Cruz who remains out
Panthers LB Luke Kuechley out for his 3rd Game In a Row for Concussion as he’s been unable to pass the NFL Protocol yet which is not a good sign moving forward..
Redskins have no passing attack, and when they do, their QB enjoys giving the ball to the other team. Their secondary is made up of 3 guys plucked from the street.
They’ve got a lame duck coach at odds with the owner.
They will have a stadium which will be 1/3 filled with Birds fans.
If Eagles don’t win this, then they have to seriously start thiniking about Goff.
Vinnie I have been saying the Eagles need to target Goff since last year. The problem now is that he is playing himself into the #1 over all draft choice, definitely top 5, the Eagles will probably be in that mid-round pick area.
Inactives List today — Kiko, Thad Lewis, Hart, Maragos, Smith II, Thornton, Vandervelde
The Jets are about to go to 3-1, not bad for a team that had a so called train wreck of an off season…culture is important, but, talent wins in the NFL!
More evidence that last week was a total donut game for the Jets (as I predicted) And even then Birds struggled until punt return and Marshall donut inspired brain fart.
Need to go 3-13 (or worse) to get Goff who will be #1 qb and maybe #1 overall.
If Eagles get to 2-2 with very winnable games against NO and Dallas coming up…..then obviously the division title is the goal….
If Eagles get to 1-3 2 or 3 games behind GB, Carolina, Atl….do they start thinking about that first overall pick????
So strange.
I agree with your entire post.
To answer your question, yes I would, but Kelly will not, so no the Eagles will not!
I said…”ah, they’re just going to run a draw…..”
And they do.
And the Eagles rush 3 and have just one LB on the field.
And it goes for 40.
Fuck u billy davis 3 and long and you give up a 1st down again……he is so bad on 3rd and long its a guarantee he will do this every game
Well that was a productive first series…short pass for a drop, run for no yards, then a sack…great series.
Matt Tobin stinks.
Brandon Bair is out with a groin injury. Maxwell and Kendricks are questionable to return.
We are in qb hell… No question about it
Once again, the receiving corps stinks! Skins have dbacks from 2nd unit and off the street playing, these receiver must step up.
Assuming The WRs aren’t wide open?
I am going off of what commentator said, that no wideouts were open on the play.
5 offensive plays and 1 punt in the entire 1st qtr.
But look on the bright side, great tempo.
The count down for Bradford starts this week if he can’t move the offense.
Let’s go Sam!
The Chip Kelly hurry up offense…3 and out, 3 and out!
Jason Peters out of game, Dennis Kelly in. Eagles dropping like flies….sports science!!!
Eagles WRs were only open when Foles was the QB. When its Vick or Bradford, they are all covered.
Bradford has had all day 3x and won’t pull the trigger.
Anybody that blames Davis and the d is showing their ignorance!
As was stated the day of the trade… There is one thing hat matters this season, is Bradford a stud or a dud…. Gentlemen, we have our answer
If this was a fight…they’d stop it…
Bradford is so bad
Butt fumble to the rescue..that’s ha d to say with a straight face .
My 8 year old as last play happened (illegal contact on Skins). When Bradford had about 5 seconds before taking a sack (negated)
“He takes so long to throw the ball.”
This is week 4, no more excuses, talk about rust, gelling..etc, this offense is trash!!!
Offense sucks and bradford is cooked the guy wont throw the ball
Oh a screen on 3rd and 13….
Announcers, “Redskins are swarming to the ball….”
Of course they are!!
As I said 3 weeks ago….it must be pretty fucking easy to play defense on a field 50 yards wide but only 10 yards deep!!!!!!!
Most defenses have anything from 500 to 5000 square yards to defend.
Play against Bradford, and its 500 square yards max.
Sam Bradford is 2-5 for 11 yards…great production!
Every defensive line tee’s off on the offensive line becuase we go on the same snap count EVERY TIME. Chip is so concerned about his beloved tempo that he refuses to allow his QB to make checks at the line to audible out of a bad play or alter the snap count. He is putting his players at such a disadvantage on every play.
Last year, with no oline…Eagles O scored 34, 30, 37, 21 34, 30……
So screw the snap count.
Bradford is a POS QB who cannot throw. He has been a POS QB for 6 years.
Kelly has made 5 QB decisions and they have all been wrong, and at this point I want them to go 1-16, fire Kelly, and pick Goff.
I just wanna know why he won’t throw the ball
Don;t you think. Seriously. That 1st play next drive, the Eagles have to send 4 flys and Kelly has to order Bradford…”You must throw it as far as you can. Just once.”
Its f-ing ridiculous why he won’t throw it.
…..unless its a screen to a RB.
BRADFORD SUCKS. PUT MARK SANCHEZ IN AND TRY TO SAVE OUR SEASON. FIRE CHIP KELLY IF WE DON’T MAKE THE PLAYOFFS. WE SUCK…
My 8 year old:
“Bradford is bad…can they trade back?”
If only.
Wait until you see the difference with Sanchez. If Kelly ever gives up on the experiment.
If Bradford can not get anything going by the 1st drive in the 3rd QRT, you have to pull him.
Bradford is a “Whore of a quaterback”. Our season is done if he stays in. It’s so pathetic to watch this SOB. Now another TD for the skins and we’re playing from behind again? Fire Chip Kelly.
Pleeeeeeeease put in Sanchez!!!!!
This is the chip Kelly bubble wrap game .He MUST take off his GM Pride hat and coach Sanchez to a win .The continuous 3 and out finally dominoes into his defense.The TOP matters ..Sam looks like a gimp ,a pimp and is now officially passed the puss test ..terrific …howie said revenge ,we’ll call it..very much lies at the webbed feet of the 3 and out genius..
Eagles are scoreless in 8 of 13 play quarters!!
Handling this GM conflicted coach is a huge part of any comeback ..
In done with bradforf im on the sanchez bus…..im gonna have to deal with skins fans all week long…..fuck my life
I have to give you more 8 year old updates (and I swear I have said nothing”
He’s “acting”
“I’m in the pocket. I have a lot of time. I won’t throw it. tackled.” and he falls to the floor.
Its the only thing keeping me from throwing a bottle through my tv.
BTW – I thought Rowe made a good play, though it doesn’t matter.
Oh, and TV talking heads yapping and yapping and yapping about oline. Ridiculous.
OMG