The Eagles Host the Redskins this Sunday

The Eagles welcome the Redskins to Lincoln Financial Field this Sunday at 1:00 P.M. in the second game of their 2009 season series. Philadelphia comes into this game at 6-4, 1 1/2 games behind Dallas in the NFC East after the Cowboys won their traditional Thanksgiving Day game this year against the Oakland Raiders 24-7. The Redskins are 3-7 after losing to Dallas last week in a tough 7-6 battle.

In the first meeting back in week seven the Eagles relied on some big plays to beat Washington 27-17. In that game WR DeSean Jackson scored in the first quarter on a 67 yard end around run. Later in the second quarter he scored again, this time on a 57 yard pass from Donovan McNabb. The defense also helped as LB Will Witherspoon, who was just acquired that week from St. Louis intercepted a Redskin QB Jason Campbell pass and returned it 9 yards for the score. They led this game 27-7 at the half and then hung on in the second half for the win.

While you would think this should be an easy win for the Birds as these teams are headed in different directions, the Redskins have a way of keeping the games in Philly very close and are more than capable of pulling off the upset. All one needs to do is look back to week 16  last season when the Eagles were riding a three game winning streak and desperately needed a win at home to make the playoffs. Washington came into the Linc and completely shut the Birds down in a defensive 10-3 upset.

On paper the Eagles win just about every match-up against the Skins on offense. They are ranked 7th in points per game averaging 26.6 and 11th in yards per game with 354.7. The Redskins are ranked 29th only managing 14.6 points per game and 24th in yards per game with 309.6.

Defensively the Redskins have the advantage as they are only giving up an average of 17.8 points per game which is 7th best in the league and only 290 yards per game which has them ranked third. The Eagles' defense is giving up an average of 20.4 points per game, 14th in the league and 305.1 yards per game, ranking them 8th.

This game will come down to momentum. The Eagles need to use the home field advantage by jumping on the Redskins from the start to open up an early lead. The longer they allow this game to stay close the better chance Washington has to pull off an upset. I think last week's heart breaking loss to the Cowboys in a game they should have easily won will have a lingering effect on this team, but you do not want them hanging around in this one late into the 4th quarter.

This game begins the stretch run for the Birds as they need every win they can get to position themselves for the post season. They cannot afford to fall too far behind the Cowboys given the fact that Dallas already has won the first game between the two. While it may not be pretty and may be a little tougher than expected, look for the Eagles to pound out a win against their division rival on Sunday.