Redskins at Eagles -- Week 16
Where: Lincoln Financial Field, Philadelphia (grass compound, outdoors)
When: Sunday, 1 p.m. (Fox)
Spread: Redskins by 6.5
Forecast: Partly cloudy; temperatures in low-40s; 10 percent chance of rain; wind from the SW at 10 mph.
Records: Redskins (8-6, NFC East 3-1); Eagles (4-10; NFC East 1-3)
Past results: Two most recent meetings -- Nov. 18, 2012: Redskins 31, Eagles 6. Jan. 1, 2012: Eagles 34, Redskins 10. Series record: Redskins lead 80-71-6.
What matters: The is probably Andy Reid’s last home game as coach of the Eagles and fans will be watching the end of an era. The game itself means little to the Eagles, who are only playing for pride and to make a good impression for next season. It will be interesting to see what kind of reaction Reid gets from the fans, to see whether they remember the six division titles, 10 playoff victories and five NFC Championship game appearances, or if they remember the last two seasons, when the Eagles failed to make the playoffs and eventually sank to the bottom of NFC East.
Who matters: As has been the case since Reid named rookie Nick Foles as his starting QB for the rest of the season, it’s all about Foles’ development and whether he will be the QB in 2013 and beyond. Foles has looked good at times and not so good at times and last week’s 34-13 loss to Cincinnati was one of the not-so-good times. And the last time Foles faced the Redskins, in his first NFL start six weeks ago, he was terrible. So the Eagles still don’t know what they have yet at this position and Foles can either ease their minds or give them ulcers in the final two weeks of the season. And that decision, of course, will impact this franchise for years.
Key matchup: Eagles MLB DeMeco Ryans vs. RB Alfred Morris. QB Robert Griffin III gets most of the headlines with the Redskins and deservedly so, but another Redskins rookie has also made his mark this season. Morris was a low draft pick (sixth round) from a small school (Florida Atlantic) who has made a big impact (1,322 rushing yards, third most in the NFL). To illustrate how much the Redskins depend on Morris -- he has 280 carries and the running back with the second highest number of carries, Evan Royster, has 19. And Morris’ running sets up everything else on the Redskins offense, including RG III. Ryans is the Eagles’ main run-stuffer and if he can neutralize Morris the rest of the defense can focus on Griffin.
Injuries of note: FB Stanley Havili (hamstring) is out and his replacement, RB Chris Polk, is doubtful with a toe injury. So, Emil Igwenagu, who was signed off the practice squad last week, will start at FB. … RB LeSean McCoy missed the last four games with a concussion and he’ll be limited on Sunday.WR Jeremy Maclin has a sore back that limited him in practice this week, but he will play.
Connections: Eagles defensive coordinator Todd Bowles was a Redskins defensive back in the late 1980s and early ‘90s and was a member of their Super Bowl XXII champions. … Redskins special teams coach Danny Smith was an Eagles assistant under coach Ray Rhodes from 1995-98.
Inside stuff: The Eagles’ defense has played much better since Reid fired defensive line coach Jim Washburn and the Eagles junked Washburn’s Wide-9 formation and went back to a more standard defensive front. That has really helped the secondary, who don’t have to react quite as quickly and are able to read patterns, etc., a lot better. It’s also helped the linebackers because the holes they have to fill aren’t as big now. When Eagles fans look back on the last two painful years, they’ll see that going to the Wide-9 was a huge mistake that eventually was one of the reasons Reid and his staff will probably be fired.
Stats you should know: The Eagles have won four games this season; all of them were by two points or less and all of them were come-from-behind in the fourth quarter. … Since becoming a starter three weeks ago, DE Brandon Graham has recorded four sacks. … Foles needs 152 yards to tie John Reeves as the Eagles; all-time rookie passing leader. Reeves, a first-round pick in 1972, had 1,508 yards as a rookie. … The Eagles have now gone eight games without an interception.
Looking ahead: There is just one game left in what has been a disastrous season for the Eagles, and it won’t be an easy one. They travel up the Jersey Turnpike to play at the Giants. Depending on what happens this week, the Giants could be playing for the division title or a wild-card berth.
Prediction: Redskins 28, Eagles 20
For more up-to-the-minute news and analysis on the Philadelphia Eagles from blogger Kevin Noonan, follow @CBSEagles.