Washington made a serious move toward the postseason with a critical 10-point victory over Buffalo on Sunday. Kirk Cousins and DeSean Jackson led the way for the Redskins who now find themselves in sole possession of first place in the volatile NFC East. They will look to solidify their hold of the top spot when they face the struggling Philadelphia Eagles in a pivotal clash at Lincoln Financial Field this coming Saturday.
Who will grab the edge in this NFL matchup? Read on below for an in-depth breakdown of this divisional showdown and while you’re at it, you can check out our Week 16 previews of Green Bay vs. Arizona and Carolina vs. Atlanta.
[sc:Football ]Washington Redskins vs. Philadelphia Eagles Preview
Where: Lincoln Financial Field, Philadelphia
When: Saturday, December 26, 8:25 PM ET
Line: Washington Redskins (+3) at Philadelphia Eagles (-3); total: 48.0 – view all NFL lines
TV Broadcast: NFL Network
Betting on the Washington Redskins (7-7)
The Washington Redskins extended their winning streak to two games with a convincing 35-25 victory over the Buffalo Bills on Sunday. It was a fantastic win by the Redskins who moved one game clear at the top of the NFC East standings with an even 7-7 slate.
[sc:NFL240banner ]Leading the way for the Redskins in this important victory was Kirk Cousins. He completed 22-of-28 passes for 319 yards and four touchdowns. It was an incredible performance by Cousins who registered a passer rating of 112.4. Also stepping up big time for the Redskins was DeSean Jackson. He caught six passes for 153 yards and a score.
Their excellent play will serve Washington in good stead ahead of its critical clash with Philadelphia. The Redskins will fancy their chances in this ballgame as they have fared extremely well against the Eagles of late. The Redskins have won their last two meetings with the Eagles. Washington defeated Philadelphia, 23-20, in their first encounter this season.
For Washington to continue that dominance, the Redskins will need Cousins to play a highly efficient game. In the Redskins’ seven wins this year, Cousins has thrown just one interception. Compare that to their seven losses this campaign, wherein he has been picked off a total of 10 times.
The Redskins are 2-4 ATS on the road this season.
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Betting on the Philadelphia Eagles (6-8)
Philadelphia’s playoff hopes were dealt a major blow on Sunday when it suffered a disappointing 40-17 defeat to the Arizona Cardinals. The Eagles simply had no answer for David Johnson who ran for 187 yards and three touchdowns. It was a disappointing loss for the Eagles who are now a game behind the division-leading Washington Redskins in the race for the NFC East title.
The good news for the Eagles is that they still control their own postseason fate. The Eagles (6-8) would win the division crown if they beat Washington (7-7) at home on Saturday and New York (6-8) on the road on January 3. For Philadelphia to pull off that feat, though, it needs to improve on its execution on the offensive end.
Turnovers doomed the Eagles on Sunday, with Philadelphia committing four miscues against Arizona. The onus then is on Sam Bradford to clean up his play against the Redskins. Although he did pass for 361 yards and a pair of touchdowns against the Cardinals, he also threw two costly picks that swung the game in Arizona’s favor. He will need to be efficient against a Washington side that is 17th in the NFL in scoring defense, allowing 23.7 points per game this season.
An encouraging sign for head coach Chip Kelly is the return to form of wide receiver Jordan Matthews. He was Bradford’s favorite target Sunday night, catching eight passes for 159 yards – including a 78-yard touchdown reception in the fourth quarter. He will be licking his chops at the prospect of facing a Washington secondary that has allowed 22 passing touchdowns this season, 12th-most in the NFL.
The Eagles are 3-4 ATS at home this season.
Writer’s Prediction
Philadelphia (-3) edges past Washington, 24-21.
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