Domowitch's Eagles-Redskins scouting report
Recent history: The Redskins defeated the Eagles on Oct. 16, 27-20. Washington has won the last four and leads the series, which began in 1933, 85-73-5.
Recent history: The Redskins defeated the Eagles on Oct. 16, 27-20. Washington has won the last four and leads the series, which began in 1933, 85-73-5.
Domo: Eagles-Redskins scouting report
WHEN EAGLES RUN THE BALL
The Eagles have been outscored in the first half of the last six games, 86-47. That has made it difficult to run the ball as much as Doug Pederson would like. They are 17th in the league in run-play percentage (39.5). But over the last six games, that percentage has plummeted to 34.7. Last week, against a defense that had one of the league's worst run defenses, they ran the ball just 19 times because the Bengals scored the first six times they had the ball. Oft-injured Ryan Mathews, who missed the last two games with a sprained knee, is expected to return. Rookie Wendell Smallwood has shown some promise, but has averaged just 2.3 yards per carry on first down in the last three games. QB Carson Wentz has been more willing to run lately. He has four rushing first downs in the last three games. He had just six in the first nine. The Redskins are 29th in opponent rush average (4.6).
EDGE: Redskins
WHEN THE EAGLES PASS THE BALL
Carson Wentz is coming off his poorest overall performance of the season. He attempted an ungodly 60 passes, threw three interceptions and averaged just 5.1 yards per attempt. After an impressive first month, Wentz has a 70.1 passer rating in his last eight starts, which is the lowest in the league among starting quarterbacks during that period. He should get his best receiver back this week - slot Jordan Matthews - which will help, assuming he has time to get the ball to him. Wentz was sacked a season-high five times in a Week 6 loss to the Redskins, which was rookie RT Halapoulivaati Vaitai's first pro start. With Vaitai injured, LG Allen Barbre will take his best shot at stopping Ryan Kerrigan. The Redskins have not been very good vs. the pass lately. They've given up nine TD passes in the last four games and have a 66.7 opponent completion percentage in the last six.
EDGE: Even
WHEN THE REDSKINS RUN THE BALL
The Redskins had their best rushing performance of the season in their Week 6 win over the Eagles, with 230 yards. They had 10 rushing first downs and seven runs of 10 yards or more, including 45- and 57-yard runs. Matt Jones, who had 135 of those 230 yards, has been replaced by undrafted rookie Robert Kelley. In his first three starts, the 6-foot, 228-pound Kelley rushed for 87, 97 and 137 yards. He had 20-plus carries in all of those games. But the Redskins have run the ball just 37 times in the last two games and Kelley's production has dropped off. The Redskins will get a big boost up front with the return of Pro Bowl LT Trent Williams, who spent the last four games serving a drug suspension. Since that 230-yard, Week 6 debacle, the Eagles have been very good against the run. In their last seven games, they've held opponents to 3.6 yards per carry.
EDGE: Eagles
WHEN REDSKINS PASS THE BALL
Kirk Cousins completed 52.9 percent of his passes in the first game vs. Eagles, his lowest completion percentage of the season. In the five games after that, he had a 72.0 completion percentage. But in last week's loss to Arizona, it dropped to 56.8, when the Redskins threw the ball on nine of their first 10 offensive plays. Cousins is tough to sack. He gets the ball out quickly and also is mobile. He's been sacked just 16 times. Cousins' deep-throw accuracy has improved. He's sixth in the league in completion percentage on 20-plus yard throws and fourth in 20-plus yard attempts. TE Jordan Reed is one of the league's best pass-catching TEs. He missed last week's game with a shoulder injury. Jamison Crowder is a dangerous slot receiver. He has seven TD catches and is tied for seventh in the league in third-down catches with 20, one behind Reed.
EDGE: Redskins
SPECIAL TEAMS
The Eagles are first in the league in KR average (30.6) and fourth in PR average (12.9). They have returned two kickoffs for TDs, including an 86-yarder by Wendell Smallwood vs. Redskins in Week 6. PR Darren Sproles is averaging 13.7 yards per return. The Eagles' coverage units have been outstanding. They are first in the league in KO coverage (17.9). They are only 23rd in punt coverage, but have held opponents to 7.0 yards per PR since giving up a 65-yard TD to the Bears' Eddie Royal in Week 2. Caleb Sturgis has made 25 of 30 FG attempts. Four of his five misses have come in the last five games. P Donnie Jones is just 22nd in net average (39.3), but has had just 34 percent of his punts returned. The Redskins' Jamison Crowder is the league's top PR (15.4). He had an 85-yard TD return vs. Baltimore earlier this season. PK Dustin Hopkins is just 9-for-14 from 40-plus yards.
EDGE: Eagles
INTANGIBLES
This game still means something to the Redskins, who are fighting for a playoff spot. The Eagles are realistically, if not yet mathematically, out of the postseason hunt.
EDGE: Redskins
Domo's prediction: Eagles 30, Redskins 27
KEY MATCHUPS
1. Eagles RT Allen Barbre vs. Redskins OLB Ryan Kerrigan: Barbre has moved over from LG to replace injured Halapoulivaati Vaitai, who was dominated by Kerrigan in the first meeting. ADVANTAGE: Redskins
2. Eagles DT Bennie Logan vs. Redskins LG Shawn Lauvao: Lauvao probably is the Redskins' weakest o-line link. Logan played well against him in the first meeting until injuring his groin. ADVANTAGE: Eagles
3. Eagles S/NCB Malcolm Jenkins vs. Redskins SWR Jamison Crowder: Crowder has seven TD catches and 20 third-down receptions. ADVANTAGE: Redskins
Hot and Not
HOT
EAGLES: WR Paul Turner. The undrafted rookie had six catches for 80 yards in just his second NFL game.
REDSKINS: WR Jamison Crowder. The Redskins' slot receiver has four TD catches in the last five games.
NOT
Eagles: CB Leodis McKelvin. Gave up numerous catches, many of them deep balls, in loss to Bengals
Redskins: RB Matt Jones. Rushed for 135 yards vs. Eagles, but has been inactive for the last five games.
@Pdomo Blog: philly.com/Eaglesblog