Eagles Wake-Up Call: Gameday Predictions


As we count down to kickoff, here’s a roundup of Eagles-Redskins predictions to get your day started.

SI.com’s Peter King predicts a 27-16 Redskins win:

Regardless of QB, I like Washington. Robert Griffin III was 14 of 15 the last time these teams met, and Kirk Cousins shredded the Browns on the road last week. Sort of a sad day in Philadelphia, with Andy Reid coaching his last game in the city. I know Eagles fans are desperate to send Reid packing, but whatever happens in the game, they should cheer Reid when he leaves the field. I know. Fat chance.

Mike Tanier of SportsOnEarth.com goes with Washington, 30-20:

Speaking of Vick, he is running the Eagles scout team and may not even dress this week. No one in Philadelphia has any illusions that he will fetch two second-round picks from some over-generous trade suitor. After all, the Redskins already have a quarterback.

Elliot Harrison of NFL.com goes with the ‘Skins, 34-17:

The Washington Redskins stay relevant in the NFC East race, or better yet, stay atop the division by beating the downtrodden Philadelphia Eagles. Redskins fans are going to hate me for picking their team, as the reverse jinx had been working well: I kept picking against the Redskins, they kept winning. On the other side of the ledger, LeSean McCoy is expected to get the start at tailback, but he’ll have a reduced workload. Translated: McCoy will get two carries, down from his customary five. Seriously, Eagles fans, what kind of chance will McCoy get to carry his team to victory?

Peter Schrager of FoxSports.com goes with the upset – Eagles 27, Redskins 23:

In a season lost to injuries, blowout losses, and a host of fired assistants and front office personnel — the Eagles will naturally play an enormous role in deciding the NFC East division champion this season. With games against the Redskins this Sunday and the Giants in Week 17, Philly — somehow, some way — can not only play spoiler, but be the most important NFC East team in these final two weeks. Andy Reid’s troops gave a great effort in Tampa in Week 14, but failed to give much of an effort in Week 15 vs. Cincinnati. This may seem crazy, based on Washington’s current five-game winning streak, but I think the home crowd gets behind the young Eagles, the defense avenges their embarrassing early season loss in Washington, and Philly finds a way. Spoiler? Sure. For Redskins fans, they can also be the Grinch.

Mike Florio of Pro Football Talk has the Redskins, 24-14:

It’s likely the final home game for Eagles coach Andy Reid.  And Reid surely would love to spoil Washington’s chances to get to the postseason.  Of course, Reid also would have loved to have had the kind of year that would have made Sunday’s game not his final home game.

Brian McIntyre of Yahoo Sports goes with the Redskins, 27-17:

Barring a setback, Robert Griffin will start for the Redskins on Sunday, but it will be difficult for him to top his performance from his first meeting with the Eagles. The No. 2 overall pick of the 2012 NFL draft completed all but one of his 15 pass attempts for 200 yards and four touchdowns in a 31-6 blowout at FedEx Field, a win that kick-started the Redskins’ five-game winning streak that has them sitting in first place in the NFC East entering Week 16 action.

WHAT YOU MISSED

Tim takes a look at the LeSean McCoy-Bryce Brown combination.

My cheat sheet has 15 things you should know about the Eagles-Redskins matchup, including what it means for the Birds’ draft positioning.

WHAT THEY’RE SAYING

Paul Domowitch of the Daily News talked to Donovan McNabb about how he felt when the Eagles told him he was going to be traded:

“I was pissed,” he said. “I explained that to them. I felt like there was no reason for me to be traded. I thought it was more financial than just kind of moving on. I can understand if a player’s not playing well. You kind of want to transition to the younger guys. But we were playing well.

“There was no full explanation of why. I knew it had to do with me having 1 year left on my deal. Peyton Manning had 1 year left. Tom [Brady] had 1 year left. We were all slotted in the financial aspect of what we were going to receive. Hey, things didn’t work out and I move on.”

Ray Didinger of CSNPhilly.com disagrees with Andy Reid’s decision to play McCoy today:

My question: what’s the point? There are two games left in the season. Why put McCoy back on the field and risk him taking another shot to the head? With all the bad luck this team had with injuries do you really want to risk a player like McCoy at this point?

The Eagles need to see more of Brown anyway. Reid keeps talking about how the kid hasn’t played much football and he needs more experience to learn how to protect the ball. What better time than now? Give him these two starts and see if he can carry the football 20 to 25 times in a game without fumbling. Let’s see if his first two games were just a tease.

COMING UP

We’ll be live-chatting at 1 from the Linc. Be sure to join us. Oh, and Happy Festivus to all the Birds 24/7 readers out there. Don’t forget to bring the aluminum pole if you’re traveling today!

Follow Sheil Kapadia on Twitter and e-mail him at skapadia@phillymag.com.
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