Football is back. The Redskins suit up for regular season action in just a few days.
It all feels like a blur now. Free agency. Draft season. Organized team activities. Minicamp. Training camp. Preseason. Roster cuts. All of that is in the rear view mirror now, and on Sunday, the Washington Redskins go toe-to-toe with the Philadelphia Eagles, in an early regular season divisional clash.
With Jay Gruden coaching for his job, and with twenty years of mediocrity weighing on Washington, the burgundy and gold will be facing pressure to compete, and Gruden can’t afford to do anything else, other than hit the ground running.
That said, how realistic is such a feat against the daunting Eagles squad? Here’s a preview of the matchup, complete with breakdowns of offensive and defensive matchups, and a score prediction at the very end. The regular season is almost here. Will the Redskins make a good first impression?
Redskins offense vs. Eagles defense
I’ll be candid here. This matchup does not bode well for the Redskins.
The core of the mismatch rests on the offensive line, the engine of the modern offense. As much as I like to acknowledge Ereck Flowers‘ redeeming qualities, he’s not ready to face a defensive interior that consists of Fletcher Cox and Malik Jackson. Pressure will be consistent from the left center, and from the far left, where an acclimating 36-year old Donald Penn may find himself facing long odds against efficient edge rusher Brandon Graham.
Elsewhere, the Eagles boast a stellar linebacker duo in Nigel Bradham and Zach Brown; Brown was a Redskins starter for much of last year, and he’ll likely come into this matchup with a chip on his shoulder, and a better defensive scheme to utilize his talents. There’s also the Eagles secondary, a reliable unit that features upstart cornerbacks Rasul Douglas and Avonte Maddox, versatile chess piece Malcolm Jenkins, and veteran safety Rodney McLeod, among others.
The Redskins would, in theory, need to beat Philadelphia with superior scheming. But they’ve already displayed a desire to field a run-first offense, which means, more likely than not, they’ll find themselves in a surplus of second and third-and-long situations, not because of Derrius Guice, but because of the inconsistency of their offensive line and the predictability of their game plan. Against a stalwart Eagles defense, clinging to an identity may see the Redskins fall behind early, and the offense isn’t built to come back from behind.
Even at its highest moments, there has been uncertainty surrounding the Redskins 2019 offense. Against the Eagles, they’ll ultimately find themselves in a position where they need Case Keenum, never one to carry a unit, and still gaining chemistry with his young receivers, to bring them back from a deficit. With this supporting cast, against the unit in Philadelphia, that’s a lot easier said than done. Washington’s offense will struggle mightily in Week 1, but by extension, they’ll know what to work on for Week 2.
Redskins defense vs. Eagles offense
From the start of the offseason, it was well known that the Redskins would be a defense-oriented team. Their defense is their strength, and even after Reuben Foster went down with a torn ACL, that didn’t change. It speaks to just how uncertain things are on the offensive side of the ball, but Washington’s defense is good enough to turn some heads, either way.
Just how good Washington’s defense is remains to be seen. Some have postulated that the unit has top ten, or even top five, potential, but for now, simply reverting to top sixteen feels like a more reasonable assumption. The Redskins defensive front is the team’s greatest strength, and against the Eagles journeyman left guard Isaac Seumalo, Washington’s fearsome interior trio should be able to generate some pressure. Jason Kelce versus Daron Payne will be a can’t-miss heavyweight matchup one spot to the right.
Ryan Kerrigan and Montez Sweat have the traits to trade blows with Philadelphia’s impressive tackle duo, but how the second and third levels of the defense perform will truly be key. Philadelphia has a massive array of offensive weapons. From running back to tight end, they’re stocked to the brim with dangerous, versatile talent, and Washington’s back segment will have a tough challenge ahead of them.
Tight ends Zach Ertz and Dallas Goedert represent a striking mismatch against Washington’s unproven linebacking core, and in the secondary, Josh Norman, Quinton Dunbar, Landon Collins, and Montae Nicholson will face a skill position group with size and speed alike. Overall, Philadelphia still has the edge in this head-to-head, but Washington’s defensive front can at least make this a respectable fight.
Score prediction
The Redskins have potential, in the sense that every NFL team has some untapped potential, in any capacity. But the Redskins still have a number of glaring flaws that this Eagles team will waste no time in exposing and exploiting.
The Redskins coaching situation is still not optimal, and as friendly as Jay Gruden and Greg Manusky may make themselves appear in the offseason, last year showed that they both need to change their philosophies, and it seems as though neither has done so.
The roster, meanwhile, is deficient in areas where the Eagles can easily throw them off balance, such as the battle in the trenches, and the Redskins don’t have the dynamic firepower at quarterback or receiver, to offset their shaky foundation.
The Redskins promising young defense will hold its own against the Eagles offense for the most part, and give fans plenty to remain excited about, but Washington’s offense will hinder the team’s competitive potential, and render them inert for three quarters. There might be a garbage time spike in production, as the Redskins break out of their rut, in an act of futility. But there will be no winning in Week 1 for Washington.
Final Score: Eagles 26, Redskins 13
Have thoughts about Washington’s 2019 regular season debut against the Philadelphia Eagles? Feel free to voice your thoughts in the comments section below!