SOW| Redskins Hope Eagles Game Signifies A Shift In NFC East Power

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Let’s be honest we didn’t see this coming…at all. In the last two weeks leading up to Sunday’s game we have been painfully reminded over and over again that the Eagles drubbed the Skins 59-28 last time they met on Monday Night Football. But nobody and I mean NOBODY (the above Eagle fan included) saw Sunday’s match-up with Philly Shaping up like this.

The Redskins are 3-1 and sitting pretty on top of the NFC East, and for the most part healthy coming off the bye week (Chris Cooley had his ailing knee drained again and is uncertain for Sunday’s game).

Philadelphiaon the other hand is a beaten and broken team entering Sunday’s game.

Starting left Tackle Jason Peters has all but been ruled out again with his hamstring injury and yesterday 2nd string left tackle King Dunlap missed practice with back spasms. Defensive End Trent Cole has not practiced this week with his calf still bothering him and DT Cullen Jenkins (who many thought was on his way toWashington this off-season) Missed Wednesday practice altogether and was limited during Thursday.

In a game wherePhiladelphiavirtually has to win to keep there season alive and miss total collapse, these injuries are the last thing they need.

A loss to the Redskins virtually ensures that the “Dream” season for Philly can be ruled a nightmare. Since 1990 out of the 100 teams who have made the playoffs, only 5 of them have started 1-4 and made the post season. None of those 5 teams started 0-5. Zero…ever.

Truthfully it is very early in the season and and there is a chance Philly turns this thing around. But the fact is the Eagles are 3 losses away from post season elimination, and the biggest disappointment of a season I have ever seen. Sunday, the Redskins have a rare opportunity to step on the throat of a division rival and turn the East into a three team race.

We know the Skins have not been the best team in the East for the better part of 20 years. In fact if they can beat Philly on Sunday it will be the first time since 1999 that the Redskins have been first in the division this late into the season.

Since 1991 the Redskins have visited the playoffs a grand total of 3 times (‘99, ‘05, and ‘07). In 05 and 07 they got in winning games late in the season and never had the division in hand. Sadly we have not seen a New England orIndianapolislike season in the last few years, with the Skins battling for a division early and letting players rest late in the year.

Philly on the other hand has been the most dominant team in the East winning the division six times since 2000. After last years NFC East Championship season expectations in Philly were as high as they could be but so far it’s just not been the case.

A lot of people questioned promoting an Offensive Line Coach into a Defensive Coordinator, but Andy Reid typically gets a pass on moves that seem nuts do to his winning track record.

Sadly for Andy that hasn’t quite worked out.

This Eagle defense is not very good. Even after signing big time Free Agents like Cullen Jenkins and Nnamdi Asomugha, the 15th ranked overall Defense has definitely left people worried.

Philadelphia’s inability to stop the run has earned them the 30th ranked run defense in the league, but that is just one of there problems. The offensive line is also pretty bad, Mike Vick though he loves to scramble has literally been running for his life and forcing passes leading to turnovers in bunches. Vick threw 3 interceptions in last week’s game alone.

I expect Jim Haslett to dial it up early and often for this one. Philly has not seen a pass rush like the Redskins have with guys like Orakpo, Kerrigan and Landry. You have to imagine that those three are going to be an absolute nightmare for Vick.

Don’t let the stats and standing lie to you though, this Philly team is DANGEROUS. They have the fastest team in the league and are explosive at every offensive skill position.

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