Domo's Eagles-Redskins scouting report
Recent history: The Eagles won both games last season. Washington leads the series, 81-73-6.
WHEN THE EAGLES RUN THE BALL
The Eagles are going to run the ball regardless of the circumstances. They trailed Jacksonville by 17 points going into the third quarter, were 14 points down to the Colts midway through the third quarter, and still are averaging 30 rushing attempts per game. LeSean McCoy, who won the league rushing title last season, is averaging just 3.7 yards per carry. He had five double-digit-yard runs against the Colts, but gained two or fewer yards on 14 of his other 15 carries. Fifteen of his 41 carries in the first two games have gone for zero or negative yards. Darren Sproles will get most of his touches as a receiver and punt returner, but has been effective as a runner in the first two games, averaging 6.5 yards per carry with two touchdowns. The Redskins are fourth rushing yards allowed per game (70.0) and fifth in yards allowed per carry (3.2).
EDGE: Eagles
WHEN THE EAGLES THROW THE BALL
The Eagles have been a tight end- and running back-centric passing offense in the first two games. Just 48 percent of Nick Foles' attempts, 32.7 percent of his completions and 37.5 percent of his passing yards have been to wide receivers. TE Zach Ertz is a major matchup nightmare for opponents. He is big and fast with Velcro hands, and is averaging 23.3 yards per catch. He already has a league-high six receptions of 20 yards or more. Even with two starters missing from their offensive line, the Eagles' screen game also has been very effective, particularly with Darren Sproles. Even though he's thrown for 653 yards in the first two games, Foles has not been nearly as sharp as he was a year ago. The Redskins have a dangerous pass rush led by linebackers Ryan Kerrigan and Brian Orakpo and ex-Cowboy DE Jason Hatcher.
EDGE: Eagles
WHEN THE REDSKINS RUN THE BALL
The Redskins' offensive bread and butter is their stretch run game with Alfred Morris. When that is working, it opens things up for the pass. Morris, who has rushed for nearly 2,900 yards the last two seasons, is third in the league in rushing with 176 yards. He is averaging an impressive 4.9 yards per carry. The Redskins' offensive line isn't as athletic as the Eagles', but it's a good fit for their zone-blocking scheme. FB Darrel Young is a reliable lead blocker. Morris' backup, Roy Helu, has 71 yards on 12 carries. The Eagles, who play a two-gap 3-4 scheme, have a solid run defense. They were fourth in the league in yards allowed per carry last season. They had problems with the Colts' unbalanced line in the first half Monday night, but made adjustments for the second half. If ILB Mychal Kendricks can't play (calf strain), it will hurt the Eagles both against the run and the pass.
EDGE: Eagles
WHEN THE REDSKINS THROW THE BALL
The Redskins lost starting QB Robert Griffin III last week when he suffered a dislocated ankle against Jacksonville. His replacement, Kirk Cousins, doesn't have Griffin's arm strength or mobility, but he played well last week, completing 22 of 33 passes for 250 yards, two TDs and no interceptions. Cousins made three starts last year and didn't play particularly well, throwing seven interceptions in 155 attempts and averaging just 5.5 yards per attempt. The Redskins' best vertical threat, ex-Eagle WR DeSean Jackson, injured his shoulder last week, but is expected to play. Jackson is averaging just 9.0 yards per catch, which is 8 yards below his career average. The Redskins' other starting wideout, Pierre Garcon, also has a single-digit yards-per-catch average (8.1). TE Jordan Reed (hamstring), who had 45 catches last season, isn't expected to play. The Eagles have just three sacks, but have been getting pressure on the QB.
EDGE: Eagles
SPECIAL TEAMS
The Eagles' Cody Parkey has a strong leg, as evidenced by the 53- and 54-yard field goals he made in the final preseason game, and the fact that nine of his 13 kickoffs have resulted in touchbacks. His 36-yard field goal with no time left beat the Colts, but he missed a 38-yarder earlier in the game. PR Darren Sproles had a pair of 22-yard returns in the Week 1 win over Jacksonville, but was held in check last week by the Colts. KR Nolan Carroll has had just two return opportunities, neither of which went for more than 24 yards. He should get some return opportunities against PK Kai Forbath, who had the third-worst touchback percentage in the league last year. Forbath is an accurate kicker. P Tress Way has the league's fourth-best gross average (49.4), but only the 18th-best net (38.8). Six of his nine punts have been returned. WR Andre Roberts is handling both the PR and KR duties.
EDGE: Redskins
INTANGIBLES
So far, the officials haven't tried to slow down the Eagles' tempo offense. The Birds are averaging a play every 22.2 seconds, which is the fastest pace in the league. It clearly took its toll on Jacksonville and Indianapolis, who were outscored 58-10 in the second half.
EDGE: Eagles
Domo's prediction: Eagles 24, Redskins 10
KEY MATCHUPS
1. Eagles RT Andrew Gardner vs. Redskins LOLB Ryan Kerrigan: Gardner is making just his second career start. Kerrigan, who had four sacks last week against the Jaguars, is one of the league's better edge rushers. Edge: Redskins
2. Eagles TE Zach Ertz vs. Redskins safeties Ryan Clark/Brandon Meriweather: Ertz is averaging 23.3 yards per catch. It's suicide to try to cover him with a linebacker. Clark and/or Meriweather probably will draw the short straw. Edge: Eagles
3. Eagles CBs Cary Williams/Bradley Fletcher vs. Redskins WR DeSean Jackson: Williams and Fletcher both will get a crack at their former teammate, who is nursing a shoulder injury. Edge: Even
HOT AND NOT
Hot
Eagles: RB Darren Sproles. Had a career-high 152 receiving yards and a 19-yard touchdown run against the Colts.
Redskins: OLB Ryan Kerrigan. Redskins had 10 sacks in their win over the Jaguars, and Kerrigan had four of them.
Not
Eagles: WR Riley Cooper. Has just five catches for 37 yards in the first two games. Has just one receiving first down.
Redskins: WR DeSean Jackson. Is averaging just 9.0 yards per catch, eight yards below his career average. Has an injured shoulder.
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