Les Bowen's Eagles-Redskins prediction
I'm not going to do a lot of parsing of this or that matchup. You saw what the Eagles did in Cincinnati. You know how the last three games have gone, the team a little less competitive each time out.
I'm not going to do a lot of parsing of this or that matchup. You saw what the Eagles did in Cincinnati. You know how the last three games have gone, the team a little less competitive each time out.
Yes, Jordan Matthews and Ryan Mathews are back, and at home, the offense might be able to get in gear before the fourth quarter. But the Redskins' offense, against this floating-face-down defense? Washington ranks first in the NFL in pass completions of 25 yards or more, with 37, and the Eagles have given up more 20-plus-yard completions, 47, than any team in the league.
It would be a blessing to Eagles fans if Washington coach Jay Gruden elected to run the ball, the way he did at home in October (230 yards on 33 carries). I think the Eagles stand a much better chance of stopping that than they do from keeping Kirk Cousins from setting passing records. Cousins is 320-for-474, 67.5 percent, 21 touchdowns, eight interceptions, only 16 sacks and a 99.6 passer rating. You can't focus on one target - 59 catches for Pierre Garcon (714 yards), 59 for Jordan Reed (630 yards), 58 for Jamison Crowder (767 yards), 39 for DeSean Jackson (644 yards).
The Redskins lost the last two weeks, road games at Dallas and Arizona. Maybe they're headed down the tubes, too. But I expect the Eagles to bring them back to life, as they have the Packers and Bengals the past two games.
Prediction Redskins 31, Eagles 16
@LesBowen
Blog: philly.com/Eaglesblog