The Washington Redskins are going to be facing 13 different opponents over the course of the 2017 NFL season. Here is a look at how they match up against the Philadelphia Eagles.
With the NFL preseason set to begin in less than two months, the Washington Redskins are gearing up for what will be a critical season for their team. With Kirk Cousins once again playing on a one year deal and a lot of new faces on the defensive side of the ball, the Redskins are going to have a chance to field a competitive team. They came so very close to making the playoffs last season, but they choked in Week 17 en route to an 8-7-1 record.
The Redskins are playing in the extremely difficult NFC East that should see all four of its teams be competitive in 2017. The division sent two teams to the playoffs in 2016 and nearly sent a third in the Skins. However, the one team that was not in contention last December, the Philadelphia Eagles, will be a dangerous group.
The Redskins are facing off against the Eagles twice during the upcoming season, as they always do with their divisional foes. They will square off in the first game of the year in Week 1, and then will meet again for a rematch in Week 7. The Week 1 contest will take place in Washington.
With all of that said, it is time to take a look at how the Redskins matchup against the Eagles, and what to expect when the two teams collide in 2017.
Eagles Offseason: Offense
The Eagles appear to be a team that has most definitely gotten better during the NFL offseason. One of their major weaknesses coming into the offseason was their lack of talent at the receiver position. The team had utilized Dorial Green-Beckham, Jordan Matthews, and Nelson Agholor as their top options, but that really did not pan out too well. Matthews was competent at times, but the others struggled greatly, Agholor in particular. So the Eagles needed to fix their problem, and they did in free agency.
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Their first move was to bring in a speed element to their offense. Enter Torrey Smith. The former Baltimore Raven had issues with the San Francisco 49ers, as inconsistent quarterback play led him to underperform the lofty contract he was given in free agency. Of course, it should be mentioned that the 49ers overpaid for a No. 2 caliber receiver, but that is a story for another day. The Eagles landed Smith on a more reasonable deal to be their No. 2 guy, and that should give Carson Wentz a solid downfield option.
Then, the Eagles made another terrific move to really solidify their group. They signed Alshon Jeffery to a one year, $14 million contract. He is going to be their No. 1 receiver, and he could really help Wentz to become a more competent quarterback. This also gives the team a three headed monster with Jeffery, Smith, and Matthews at wide-out.
Elsewhere, the Eagles focused on adding talent at the running back position. In the draft, the team selected the NCAA’s all-time leading rusher Donnel Pumphrey. While Pumphrey may lack size (5-foot-8, 169 pounds) he has the potential to become a solid third down back. He can learn from Darren Sproles and possibly become a contributor. He has the heart and toughness to get the job done. The only question is, will he be durable enough?
Also, the Eagles added LeGarrette Blount to their backfield after the draft. The former New England Patriot has seen little success away from the Patriots organization, but led the NFL with 18 rushing touchdowns last year. He will be an upgrade over Ryan Mathews, who could become a cap casualty as a result of the addition.
The final notable offensive move came when the Eagles reacquired Nick Foles to be their backup quarterback. Foles had previously been traded for Sam Bradford. Though he fizzled out with the Rams, he should be a perfect No. 2 option behind Wentz.
Eagles Offseason: Defense
While the Eagles made noticeable improvements to their offense, they were only able to partially upgrade their defense. The team lost defensive line talents in Bennie Logan and Connor Barwin, but replaced them with Timmy Jernigan, Chris Long, and first rounder Derek Barnett. The players they acquired are better suited to run the 4-3 scheme that Jim Schwartz employs, so these additions are lateral moves that could have upside.
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In the back seven, the linebacker corps has remained the same while the secondary is still looking like a major weakness. Many expected the Eagles to target a cornerback in the first round, but they opted to select Barnett instead. As a result, they now have former seventh rounder Jalen Mills and free agent acquisition Patrick Robinson penciled in as the starters. That is not exactly an inspiring duo.
However, the Eagles did add two cornerbacks on day two of the draft. Sidney Jones is the bigger name. Jones was widely expected to be a first round pick before suffering a torn Achilles at his Pro Day. The Eagles nabbed him in the second round, but he may not be ready to play until 2018. Their third round pick, Rasul Douglas, has a good skill set, but he may not be quite ready to be a starter.
Overall, the Eagles defense looks about the same. Until the holes at cornerback are patched, this unit will have to rely on their front seven to help contain opposing defenses.
Redskins-Eagles Matchup: Redskins Offense
The Redskins offense is one that is built well to combat the Eagles defense. While Schwartz’s defensive schemes will always be stingy against the run, the Redskins will be able to use their solid passing attack to take advantage of the deficiencies in the Eagles secondary.
While Josh Doctson and Terrelle Pryor have yet to prove themselves in Redskins uniforms, it is safe to say that they should be able to beat whoever the Eagles march out as their starters at cornerback on opening day. Whether it’s Doctson using his solid size-speed combination or Pryor using his big body to out-jump players, the Redskins should be able to capitalize on that front.
In the running game, Rob Kelley and Samaje Perine will have an easier time finding lanes now that Logan is gone. That is a certainty. At the same time, the Eagles still possess some good interior talent in the newly acquired Jernigan and athletic beast Fletcher Cox. Thus, this will be more of an advantage to the Eagles, though the Redskins could work to have a decent day on the ground.
For the offensive line, the Redskins should be able to block the Eagles edge rushers. Cox and Brandon Graham will test Trent Williams and Morgan Moses, but the two tackles are among the best in the game. They will not be beat, especially in a divisional rivalry game. If they can execute and keep Cousins clean, then the passing game should be in top form in the first game of the season.
Redskins-Eagles Matchup: Redskins Defense
This is where things get a little shakier for the Redskins. The Eagles have a three headed monster at the receiving position. When they matchup, Josh Norman will likely take on Jeffery, the team’s No. 1 guy. After that, things are a bit more unclear.
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Bashaud Breeland is the Redskins No. 2 corner at the moment, but he struggled in 2016. He may have a tough time keeping pace with the speedster Smith, and he will need safety help over the top. If that happens, tight end Zach Ertz could find open space over the middle along with Matthews, who will be battling the unknown Redskins slot corner in the early stages of the 2017 season.
Making matters worse, Blount is the type of runner that the Redskins may have issues with. Because the team lacks a proven nose tackle in their 3-4 front, big backs will be able to power through the first level of the defensive line relatively easily. Terrell McClain and Jonathan Allen may help to slow him down in some cases, but that will most likely be an issue. The Redskins just do not have the depth and talent to compete at that level against bruising backs.
Because of these factors and the solid play of Wentz, the Redskins are going to have a tough time on defense. There is one caveat. If Ryan Kerrigan can pressure Wentz, that may do just enough to disrupt the passing game and get the inexperienced Eagles offense out of rhythm.
Outlook
Overall, this matchup appears to be a wash. I would think that the Redskins would have the upper hand during the Week 1 matchup. The Eagles have a young quarterback and a lot of new offensive playmakers. It may take them some time to gel before they are ready to notch their first win. At the same time, Wentz was hot out of the gate last year, so there is no guarantee on that front.
Thankfully, the Redskins offensive prowess will allow them to get at least one win in their two games. Cousins will play a major role in helping to control game flow and should be able to pick on the Eagles cornerbacks. Again, things should be easier in Week 1 while Week 7 is probably more of a toss up.
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Still, the Redskins should be confident that they can beat the Eagles. While they are better on paper than they were a year ago, playing in Week 1 at home should give the Skins the edge they need to take down their rivals. Week 7 may not go quite the same, but a season split would be nothing to sneeze at for the Redskins.