Eagles-Redskins Week 14: What They're Saying

As the Eagles enter the final quarter of the regular season, their odds at playing beyond Week 17 are less than slim.

Losers of three straight, the Eagles (5-7) are two games back of the Falcons for the second wild card position with four other teams in front of them for that sixth and final spot.

The Eagles will square off with one of those teams Sunday, as they welcome the Redskins (6-5-1) to the Linc. 

After taking down the Packers in dominating fashion in Week 11, the Redskins have dropped two consecutive games to put them on the outside looking in of the current playoff picture. 

Washington came out on top of the teams' first meeting, taking down the Eagles and their stagnant offense, 27-20, in Week 6.

To learn more about the Redskins heading into Sunday, here's what they're saying about the Eagles' Week 14 opponent.

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Silver lining
As the Redskins have an endured an up-and-down 2016 season, the play of their offensive line has been steady throughout. 

Washington's five-man front has played a big role in the Redskins' No. 2 passing offense, as Kirk Cousins has only been sacked 16 times this season. That offensive line has been effective in run blocking as well with the Redskins averaging 109.5 yards on the grounds per game, which is good for 11th in the league. 

According to Liz Clarke of The Washington Post, the Redskins' offensive line, which has combatted a number of injuries and a four-game suspension to Trent Williams, may be the unit to propel them to the postseason.

"Amid the late-season push to make the playoffs, Redskins fans are embroiled in debates over quarterback Kirk Cousins’ value and whether wide receiver DeSean Jackson or Pierre Garcon has made the stronger case for being brought back in 2017," Clarke wrote. "Drawing far less notice is the offensive line’s contribution to one of the NFL’s more entertaining and productive offenses — a unit that, despite team’s defensive shortcomings, just might pave the Redskins’ way to the playoffs after a two-game slide has left them 6-5-1."

DC on the hot seat
A glaring issue during the Redskins' current two-game slide has been their defense's underwhelming performance. Washington has surrendered 31 points and 350-plus yards of total offense in both of its two most recent losses. 

For the season, the Redskins' defense ranks in the bottom half of the league at No. 20 in points per game (24.6). They have also struggled mightily in critical situations, boasting the worst red zone defense and third-worst third down defense in the NFL.

According to Jerry Brewer of The Washington Post, defensive coordinator Joe Barry shoulders a fair share of blame for the defensive struggles and, as a result, should be coaching for his job over the final four weeks of the season.

"It’s possible, despite the woeful statistics and maddening performances, to conclude that a second-year coordinator with inadequate personnel deserves patience," Brewer wrote. "Washington requires either upgrades or further player development at every level of the defense – the line, the linebackers and the secondary. It desperately needs help at defensive tackle, inside linebacker and both safety positions. How can Barry be expected to make a gourmet meal with these ingredients? It’s a valid question that will complicate the front office’s postseason evaluation of Barry and his unit. But the thing is, the bar is much lower, and Barry is still burning the grilled cheese."

Generating pressure off the edge
These team's first meeting is infamously remembered in the minds of Eagles fans as Halapoulivaati Vaitai's disastrous debut at right tackle. Carson Wentz was hit early and often by the Redskins' pass rush, with Ryan Kerrigan bringing down the rookie quarterback twice in the first half.

While Vaitai won't be playing Sunday, Kerrigan, who in the midst of one of the best seasons of his career, will. The Redskins' defense that has failed to make plays over the last couple weeks could use a big performance from Kerrigan against the Eagles, which is why John Keim of ESPN.com had him as a player to watch Sunday.

"He leads the Redskins with 10 sacks, the second time in his career he’s reached double figures (he had 13.5 two years ago)," Keim wrote. "Kerrigan remains the same player he’s been in the past: a guy with good skills and a terrific motor. Some of those sacks have occurred because of other players' pressure, and because he’s often near the quarterback, he will cash in on those plays. But impact plays have been missing; Kerrigan has 18 forced fumbles, but only three in the past two seasons. Fellow outside linebacker Trent Murphy has been the biggest surprise with eight sacks -- two more than he had in his first two seasons combined. But Kerrigan, who mostly plays on the left side, remains the Redskins’ best overall outside linebacker."

Predictions
The Redskins are slight favorites on the road according to Vegas (plus 2½) and are even more heavily favored by national experts.

ESPN: Eight of nine experts picked the Redskins

CBS Sports: Seven of eight experts picked the Redskins

FOX Sports: Four of five experts picked the Redskins

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