Die Hard Sports Fan

While it is unclear if he intended to provide material for the Redskins locker room wall, Donovan McNabb provided enough motivation in one statement to fuel the remainder of this season, especially when the Eagles come to D.C.

I was embarrassed these last two weeks. I mean [to lose] to two teams we shouldn’t have lost to. There is no way that you can look at this game and say that, and not taking anything away from them, but there is no way that this team is better than us. - Donovan McNabb

How pathetic!

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As one might expect after beating both the Cowboys and the Eagles, and both on the road, people are starting to sit up and take notice that this Redskins team is more than originally met the eye. And, why shouldn’t they. The Eagles defense was rated as one of, if not the best against the run. They were only allowing less than 60 yards rushing per game.

Clinton Portis and company ran for over 200 yards today!!

Listen to how the ESPN crew spins it.

What will be interesting now is what I was hinting at earlier this week. Now that the Redskins have shown that they are a team that can not be taken lightly, and given the fact that the Giants have played a relatively soft schedule to date, who will be on top of the Power Rankings this week.

The Redskins should be the rated Top Beast in the NFC East!

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Before anyone gets too excited, this is clearly a joke on my part to lightly address the numerous times I had to listen to the game announcers tell us that Antwaan Randle-El has a perfect QB rating. This of course follows Randle-El’s touchdown pass to Chris Cooley today.

So, yes, let’s all acknowledge Randle-El’s prowess for throwing a TD on the trick play. But really, do we need to hear about his QB rating.

I think not.

Jason Campbell didn’t have a high QB rating today. But, he continued to make the plays to keep the Redskins in the win column. More importantly, he didn’t have any turnovers, even though there were very good opportunities for the Eagles to get a couple of interceptions from balls bouncing off of the receiver’s hands, including Cooley’s. In fact, by my count, Randle-El had three dropped passes, alone.

The Eagles did a wonderful job taking Santana Moss out of the game. Again, by my count, he had two balls thrown his way. The first went incomplete after a hard hit. And the second was caught, yet nullified by a penalty by Devin Thomas. So, it was as if the Eagles dared us to beat them in some other manner. Well…

How’d we do, Philly?

Hail to the Redskins!

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Before anyone gets too excited, this is clearly a joke on my part to lightly address the numerous times I had to listen to the game announcers tell us that Antwaan Randle-El has a perfect QB rating. This of course follows Randle-El’s touchdown pass to Chris Cooley today.

So, yes, let’s all acknowledge Randle-El’s prowess for throwing a TD on the trick play. But really, do we need to hear about his QB rating.

I think not.

Jason Campbell didn’t have a high QB rating today. But, he continued to make the plays to keep the Redskins in the win column. More importantly, he didn’t have any turnovers, even though there were very good opportunities for the Eagles to get a couple of interceptions from balls bouncing off of the receiver’s hands, including Cooley’s. In fact, by my count, Randle-El had three dropped passes, alone.

The Eagles did a wonderful job taking Santana Moss out of the game. Again, by my count, he had two balls thrown his way. The first went incomplete after a hard hit. And the second was caught, yet nullified by a penalty by Devin Thomas. So, it was as if the Eagles dared us to beat them in some other manner. Well…

How’d we do, Philly?

Hail to the Redskins!

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The Redskins win again. The entire team, especially the defense, played GREAT. But, pay special attention to Clinton Portis. He was, once again, running violently.

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The Redskins came into Lincoln Financial Field and out muscled the Eagles to walk out of Philadelphia with another big NFC East victory.

1^st Quarter

The Eagles received the ball first to open the game.  The Eagles took the ball and marched down the field, with authority.  The Eagles set the tone early, equally mixing up the run and the pass.  The Eagles capped of the 80-yard drive with a Brian Westbrook Touchdown run putting the score at 7-0, Eagles. 

The Redskins took their first possession and right away were pressured by the Eagles swarming defense.  The Redskins were forced to punt and rookie sensation WR DeSean Jackson fielded the punt, starting his return to the right, and then turned direction, headed back left and was gone, a 68-yard Touchdown punt return.  The Eagles now led 14-0.
Being down 14-0, Washington took their 2^nd possession and after a few plays, were forced to punt again.  This time, DeSean Jackson waived his hand in the air and took the fair catch.  For the 3^rd Eagles possession, they were on the move yet again.

The Eagles 3^rd possession stalled though and David Akers missed a 50-yard field goal that was just shy to the right.  The score remained 14-0, Eagles.

2^nd Quarter

The Redskins opened up the 2^nd quarter with a few big pass plays to TE Chris Cooley who for the day would kill the Eagles.  The Redskins were forced to settle for a Shaun Suisham field goal, cutting the Eagles’ lead to 14-3.

The Eagles went three and out and Punter Sav Rocca boomed the ball to the Redskins where the Eagles downed the ball inside the 5-yard line.  The Redskins’ running game go things into gear with RBs Clinton Portis and Ladell Betts taking charge, moving the ball down the field.  The Redskins were finally stopped and settled for another Suisham field goal.  The Eagles now led 14-6. 

After a poor kickoff by Suisham where he sent the ball out of bounds, the Eagles started at their own 40.  The Eagles blew the opportunity to move the ball and went three and out.

The Skins took over at their own 18 with less than 1 minute left in the half.  The Skins moved the ball quickly down the field and got into field goal range as time in the half ran out.  Suisham kicked his 3^rd FG of the game and the score was 14-9 at the half.

3^rd Quarter

The Eagles and Redskins exchanged a few possessions until the Redskins struck for the first time with a Touchdown, where Redskins WR Antwaan Randle El took a reverse from Campbell but then fired a strike to a wide open Chris Cooley who walked into the end-zone for the TD.  For the first time of the game, the Redskins took the lead with the score now 16-14.

4^th Quarter

The Redskins moved the ball again on the Eagles defense, taking the ball to the 4-yard line where RB Clinton Portis scooted in for the score.  The Redskins increased their lead to 23-14.

The Eagles got the ball back inside their own 10 after a blocking in the back penalty by WR Jason Avant.  The Eagles went to work right away moving the ball down the field, mostly thanks to a head’s up play by WR Reggie Brown.  Brown caught a pass from QB Donovan McNabb, was on the ground but still untouched.  He smartly got up and rumbled for 40 yards down into Skins’ territory.  Later, Brown caught another McNabb ball down to the Skins’ 2-yard line.  The Eagles Red Zone offense failed again where Westbrook was stuffed two straight times and the Eagles settled for a David Akers field goal, cutting their deficit to 23-16.

With 7:18 remaining in the game, the Redskins received the ball and ran out the clock.  The Redskins won 23-16.

Wrap-Up

• Redskins QB Jason Campbell had zero turnovers. 
• Eagles WR DeSean Jackson was held to 1 catch for 8 yards.
• Redskins TE Chris Cooley had 109 yards and 1 Touchdown.
• The Redskins were without starting CB Shawn Springs, LB Marcus Washington, and T Stephon Heyer.

NFL.com Game Center post game is attached.

With that said, “E-A-G-L-E-S!!  EAGLES!!”

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The Eagles started the game with very high energy. Donovan McNabb took his team the length of the field to score early. The Eagle defense held the Redskins offense to two three-and-out series to start the game. After a quick second touchdown on punt return by Desean Jackson, the Redskins settled down. By half-time, they cut the Eagles lead in half after a trio of field goals by Shaun Suisham. After finally taking the lead towards the middle of the third quarter, the Redskins never looked back as they continued to impress on both sides of the ball.

1st Quarter -

Redskins start off the game with an strong special teams effort, but it was immediately forgotten as Brian Westbrook popped off a 16 yard run after catch on a screen pass from Donovan McNabb. The Eagles proceeded to march down the field with short passes and the running of Westbrook. One play, a double reverse to Desean Jackson would have been a touchdown if not for the tackle by The Predator, Chris Horton. Three plays later, Westbrook fights through some arm tackles on the Redskins defense and get the first touchdown of the game.

After a three and out series by the Redskins offiense, and a questionable non-call, Desean Jackson out runs the Redskins special teams for a touchdown.

Towards the end of the first quarter, the Redskins find a way to stop the Eagles, mostly by the inaccuracy of McNabb and the wide right field goal attempt by David Akers.

2nd Quarter -

To start the second quarter, the Redskins get a first down, the first of the game. They followed that up with their first points of the game; a field goal by Shaun Suisham.

Westbrook had left the game midway through the first quarter, but made his return in time for the Eagles first possession of the second quarter. Carlos Rogers dropped an interception, which may have turned the momentum. Still, the Eagles are forced to punt one play later. Antwaan Randle-El allowed the punt to bounce, expecting it to touchback in the endzone. Instead, the Eagles cover the ball and give the Redskins terrible field position on the two yard line.

After running the ball out from deep in their own territory, the Eagles dial up the blitz and sack Jason Campbell for a loss of 16 yards on the missed pickup by Ladell Betts. Still, they find a way to keep the drive alive on a nice strike to the rookie Devin Thomas. Later, on the same drive, on third and six, Campbell attempts a quick pass only to have it batted down at the line of scrimmage. Suisham makes the field goal from 48 yards.

After forcing the Eagles to a three and out series, Washington takes the ball with under two minutes to convert another field goal by Suisham.

Halftime Score: Eagles, 9-14

3rd Quarter -

Both defenses of the teams came out strong to open the third quarter. The wake up call came on a violent run up the middle by Clinton Portis; a tremendous run for 10+ yards. Devin Thomas had a nice pickup on a WR screen to bring the ball inside the Eagles 20 yard line. On the next play, Randle-El took the reverse, faked the run and threw down the field to Chris Cooley for a touchdown. Redskins take the lead.

On the Eagles next possession, they go three and out and give the ball back to Redskins. After a third dropped pass for the game by Randle-El, he leaves the game with an apparent hand injury. The Redskins rookie WR, Devin Thomas commits his third offensive pass interference to negate the first pass reception of Santana Moss. Because of that penalty, the drive stalls.

The Redskins defense stops the Eagles again for three and out. On the resulting punt return by Randle-El, a penalty against the Eagles gives the Redskins the ball at midfield. A monster run by Portis takes the ball all the way inside the Eagles 10-yard line. While Portis is resting on the sideline, Betts takes the ball down inside the five yard line for 2nd and goal.

4th Quarter -

After an incompletion, on third and goal, Portis walks into the endzone for a touchdown.

The next series by the Eagles featured Westbrook and a catch and run by Reggie Brown. After marching deep into Redskins territory, the Redskins make a goal line stand to force the Eagles to kick the field goal.

On the next series by the Redskins, they pick up two consecutive, critical third downs to run the clock down to under three minutes. On yet another critical third down, the offense wastes a down on a broken play, which set up a fourth and one at the Eagles 39-yard line. Clinton Portis takes the hand off up the middle, pushes the pile ahead for the first down!

The Eagles without a time out remaining, run out the clock to win the game.

Score: Redskins, 23-17

Wrap Up -

• Jason Campbell was 16 of 29 for 176 yards.
• Clinton Portis rushed 29 times for 145 yards and a TD.
• Chris Cooley had 8 receptions for 109 yards and a TD.
• Six different Redskins caught passes today, except for Santana Moss.
• Redskins defense held the Eagles, the sixth ranked offense in the league, to only 196 yards passing and 58 yards rushing. 

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The Washington Redskins will face the Philadelphia Eagles at Lincoln Financial Field.
TV Info:
Game: Washington Redskins (3-1) @ Philadelphia Eagles (2-2)
TV: FOX (Joe Buck, Troy Aikman)
Radio: ESPN 980 (Larry Miller, Sonny Jurgensen, Sam Huff, Rick “Doc” Walker)
Time: October 5, 2008; 1:00 p.m. ET

Game Notes:

• Jim Zorn is 3-1 in his first four games as head coach. He is aiming to lead the Redskins to their third winning season in the last four years. He is looking to become the seventh Redskins head coach to record a winning record in his first year at the helm.

• Like Philadelphia Eagles head coach Andy Reid, Jim Zorn made the jump from quarterbacks coach to head coach.

• The Redskins are tied for the NFL lead with a +6 turnover ratio. They have intercepted five passes and recovered two opponent fumbles, while the Redskins’ lone turnover was a fumble on a punt return.

• Washington is the only NFL team without an offensive turnover and Jason Campbell is the only starting quarterback to have not thrown an interception.

• In playing the Giants, Saints, Cardinals and Cowboys in the first four weeks, the Redskins have faced the NFL’s fourth-, third-, fifth- and second-ranked offenses, respectively. They have held each of those teams to their lowest scoring and yardage output of the season.

• Jason Campbell has been one of the NFL’s best quarterbacks in 2008, his first season in the West Coast offense at the pro level. In the last three games, he has posted QB ratings of 108.4, 112.2 and 104.1, the first time a Redskins quarterback has had three straight games with a passer rating higher than 100.0 since Mark Rypien did it in games 13-15 in 1991.

• Santana Moss’s 27 catches are tied for third in the NFL and tied for first among NFC wide receivers. In addition to his receiver yards, Moss has a 27-yard rush, giving him 448 total yards from scrimmage, a figure which ranks sixth in the NFL.

• Clinton Portis is tied for fourth in the NFL and tied for second in the NFC with 369 rushing yards. His 86 carries are the third-most in the league.

• The line: Philadelphia is favored by 6. Over/under is 42 1/2.

Injury Report:

Redskins - Out of Game: DE Jason Taylor (Calf). Doubtful: T Stephon Heyer (Shoulder). Questionable: LB Marcus Washington (Hamstring), CB Sean Springs (Calf). Probable: DE Andre Carter(Non-injury related), OG Randy Thomas (Toe).

Eagles – Doubtful: WR Kevin Curtis (hernia), DE Victor Abiamiri (wrist). Questionable: RB Brian Westbrook (ankle), TE L.J. Smith (back). Probable: QB Donovan McNabb (chest), S Quintin Demps (knee), RDT Dan Klecko (hand).

Quote of the week:

“I play on a defense. I’m trying to hit him…And if I’m on the Redskins, I’d have the chance to get back at him two times a year for the 22 years he’s been punishing me since I was a baby.” –CB Byron Westbrook on his brother, RB for the Eagles, Brian Westbrook

Open Thread:
Please feel free to comment below or in the tag board in the sidebar to chat with Redskins fans from around the world.

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The Washington Redskins will face the Philadelphia Eagles Sunday afternoon at Lincoln Financial Field in Philadelphia.
TV & Radio Info:
Game: Redskins (3-1) at Eagles (2-2)
TV: FOX (Joe Buck, Troy Aikman)
Radio: 610 AM WIP All Sports Radio (Merrill Reese, Mike Quick)

Time: 1:00 p.m. ET

Game Notes:

• Last Regular Season Meeting: The Eagles beat the Redskins in Washington, 33-25.
• The Eagles have not allowed a touchdown at home in over 3 games.
• The Redskins have yet to turn the ball over on offense this season.
• OG Max Jean-Gilles will replace injured OG Shawn Andrews.
• Current Eagles players K David Akers and DE Chris Clemons started their NFL careers with The Redskins.
• Eagles QB Donovan McNabb is 10-5 all time against The Redskins.
• The Eagles are 12-5 when RB Brian Westbrook rushes for over 100 yards.
• RB Brian Westbrook grew up as a Washington Redskins fan.
• Eagles Punter Sav Rocca currently ranks 1^st in the NFL with a 44.1 net punting average.
• Eagles Head Coach Andy Reid is 2 wins shy of 100 career wins.
• Eagles Safety Brian Dawkins is 1 interception short to tie Eric Allen and Bill Bradley for the franchise lead in career interceptions of 34
• The Eagles lead the NFL in sacks (17)
• The Line: The Eagles are favored by 6.  Over/Under is 42

Injury Report:

Redskins - Out of Game: DE Jason Taylor (Calf). Doubtful: T Stephon Heyer (Shoulder). Questionable: LB Marcus Washington (Hamstring), CB Sean Springs (Calf). Probable: DE Andre Carter(Non-injury related), OG Randy Thomas (Toe).

Eagles - Doubtful: WR Kevin Curtis (hernia), DE Victor Abiamiri (wrist). Questionable: RB Brian Westbrook (ankle), TE L.J. Smith (back). Probable: QB Donovan McNabb (chest), S Quintin Demps (knee), RDT Dan Klecko (hand). 

Quote of the Week:

 ”The last few days have made me more optimistic.  I can feel myself getting better.  That’s what counts.  I am feeling very motivated right now.” - Eagles OG Shawn Andrews
Please feel free to comment below or in the tag board in the sidebar to chat with Eagles fans from around the world.

With that said, “E-A-G-L-E-S!!  EAGLES!!

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The Washington Redskins offense we saw that Thursday night that opened up the 2008 NFL Season against the New York Giants is forgotten and long gone.  After that week, out of no where, QB Jason Campbell and the rest of the Skins offense has gone through a metamorphosis, if you will, and has evolved into one of the NFL’s most consistent and steady offenses. 

Week 1, Campbell looked lost.  Campbell came into the season with a lot of pressure, due to learning yet another system in his young career.  However, this time, after 4 weeks, it looks like he has mastered the beginning stages of his journey into his new offensive education.  In 4 games, he has yet to turn the ball over.  He looks cool and collective; progressing through his reads and calmly getting rid of the ball or dumping it off to a short receiver when being hurried.  It looks as if the game has slowed down for him and he can see things before they happen.

With that said, the Eagles defense will bring an entire new test to his journey of learning Redskins Head Coach Zorn’s offense.  The Eagles rotate an almost an infinite amount of Defensive Ends and Tackles to wear down opposing Offensive Lines and get constant pressure on the other team’s Quarterback.  If the Redskins focus too much on pass rusher DE Trent Cole, then it will free up a Juqua Parker or even a Darren Howard.

The Redskins offensive weapons could present dangerous challenges to the Eagles defense.  If TE Chris Cooley is allowed to run free, underneath, and around the line of scrimmage, he could become Campbell’s safety valve, and help the Skins keep McNabb and company off the field.  To date, the Eagles have not been the greatest at shutting down the other team’s Tight End.  Cooley has the advantage as I don’t believe anyone on the Eagles can consistently cover him and effectively make him a non-threat.

WR Santana Moss is a speedster but a quality possession receiver as well who can take a 3-yard underneath pass and turn it up field for bigger gains.  Although he is dangerous, and will have his moments, I think CBs Asante Samuel, Sheldon Brown, and Lito Sheppard will be able to keep his involvement and productivity relatively low.  If the Eagles pass rush and blitz packages can get to Campbell often, it will help limit Moss’s effectiveness.  Moss isn’t the big, strong, and physical receiver that causes more issues for this core of CBs.  However I do expect him to come up with one or two big plays, even one for a long TD if he sneaks by a CB, deep down field.  I can’t expect the Eagles trio of CBs to completely take him out of the game.

The goal for the Eagles should be a steady list of the following combination:  Stay true to their position and hold their gaps to frustrate RB Clinton Portis.  Send the world and blitz to try to confuse Campbell on third and long passing plays.  Be mindful of the underneath routes run by TE Chris Cooley and WR Santana Moss.  The Eagles need to force the Skins into 3^rd and longs, by taking away the run and the short passing game.  If they are successful in the aforementioned, I like their odds, more times than not.

Tomorrow- Die Hard Sports Fan’s version of the Redskins-Eagles Pre Game notes and comments.

With that said, “E-A-G-L-E-S!!  EAGLES!!”

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