Redskins vs. Eagles preview: Are you good enough to bury a team?

Oct 12, 2011

Look, you know it, I know it, and judging from the very testy press conferences happening in and around Philadelphia since Sunday Andy Reid knows it too: this Philadelphia Eagles team is one more ugly situation from imploding in upon itself, likely forcing Reid out of town and causing a real panic situation for Philadelphia fans who also just watched their loaded Phillies team fail to advance in the MLB playoffs. There’s no small irony in the fact that the Eagles face the Washington Redskins this week, led by Coach Mike Shanahan — Mike is certainly no stranger to being successful in a town for a long stretch, having a few rocky years and getting run out of town for under-performing along with a dose of “sometimes we all need a change.” If the Redskins have their way, the two can commiserate on the phenomenon at midfield after the Redskins effectively end the competitive portion of the 2011 Philadelphia Dream Team’s season.

While it’s nice, from the perspective of the Washington Redskins, that the Eagles are having such a rough time this season none of their previous 4 losses in a row can mask some key facts: 1) The Eagles have more talent. 2) The Eagles are much more desperate. 3) The Eagles, both individual players and their recent history, have proven to be a resilient group while the Redskins have not, in over a decade, shown the ability or inclination to beat an opponent when they’re down and give a knockout blow.

So this game quickly becomes a barometer for two teams and their season: Are the Redskins really good enough, really ready, really capable of smothering a division foe and making themselves a clear-cut player in the race of a division title this year…already? Are the Eagles going to roll over and end it, here and now, not even halfway through the season?

If you’re in need of optimism as a Redskins fan, stop reading here, because I don’t think the Skins have the horses to pull it off. While their last game was a must-in from the standpoint of proving they have improved, I don’t see where this team has the makeup or the talent (yet) to really end the hopes of a team more talented than them, with extra motivation and frustration to take out on someone. This week’s game feels more like an expected loss: one where you just know you don’t quite have it, especially at the all-important QB position, to keep pace with an Eagles team sure to play as if their life depends upon the outcome. Anyone who remembers last year’s 59 to 28 beatdown on Monday Night would have a tough time arguing that the Redskins have as much talent as the Eagles (although they have gotten closer).

Prediction: It won’t be as bad as last year, but we’ll have to wait a little longer for the Eagles hopes to fade and the Redskins will hover closer to the .500 mark in their encouraging progression from loserville to contender. Eagles 27 Redskins 23.