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The football team of Washington has already secured its fourth consecutive losing season entering “Sunday Night Football” against the Philadelphia Eagles. But that doesn’t matter in the worst division of the NFL, the NFC East, where a losing record is still good enough to finish the year on top.
That mediocrity makes this team Washington 6-9 in control of their own destiny. A victory and Washington takes division in head coach’s first year Ron Rivera, wins the franchise’s top spot in the playoffs since 2015 and hosts a playoff game next weekend. A defeat? The division title is for the winner of the game Cowboys-Giants held that same day.
A victory in Washington it would be a win for the quarterback Alex Smith, who regained his starting job after a gruesome ankle injury nearly resulted in a leg amputation. Offside for a season and a half, the almost certain Player NFL Comeback of the Year saved the offense after a poor game from the 2019 first-round pick, Dwayne Haskins. Haskins, after a disastrous start last weekend against the Carolina Panthers, was released this week to end a difficult two-year tenure with the franchise.
Speaking of rocky, the Eagles They are stumbling into one of the worst seasons in franchise history just three years away from winning a Super Bowl. The 4-10-1 record has come with the expulsion of the former first-round pick Carson Wentz, whose future with the team is in doubt despite a recent $ 128 million four-year contract extension. A dysfunctional offense, one of the worst offensive lines in football, and inconsistent play on defense have put the head coach’s job in jeopardy. Doug Pederson despite its recent success.
But the Eagles They won’t be easy to convince on Sunday night. The second round recruit Jalen Hurts, making his fourth start as a quarterback, has shown flashes of brilliance despite stumbling a bit last weekend against the Cowboys. The corridor Miles Sanders he can break a defense for an 80-yard dash at any time. And Smith may be without some important offensive pieces in full force, like the running back. Antonio Gibson and talented catcher Terry McLaurin.
Can Washington find a way to do it, sweeping Philadelphia for the first time since 2016? Or the Eagles will they be surprised and send both teams home for the winter?
Hora y Canal Eagles vs Washington
Start: Sunday, January 3 at 5:20 pm PT / 8:20 pm ET in the United States. 7:20 pm in Mexico.
TV: NBC in the United States. ESPN in Mexico.
Spread: Washington -3
Three things to keep in mind
1. Which Philadelphia offense will appear?
It seems like a lifetime ago Eagles They started last week’s game against the Cowboys with a 14-3 lead. The offensive continued at its upbeat pace since Jalen Hurts assumed command.
So what happened? The Eagles, after relying on the race early, they gave it up and quickly stalled. Nine of his 29 rushing plays occurred in the first quarter of the game. As the Cowboys came back, taking the lead, penalties also forced the Eagles to a series of second and long situations, then third and long. Hurts was under pressure, sacked three times, fumbled and threw the first two interceptions of his short career in the NFL.
In the end, Eagles they were eliminated in the second half and lost the game 37-17. Despite 342 passing yards, the season high, Hurts he had problems in terms of offensive efficiency. The answer, it seems, is quite simple looking at how Carson Wentz imploded in the second half against Washington in September. Get Miles Sanders involved, take big risks in the passing game (see: 81-yard TD to DeSean Jackson vs. Dallas) and limit turnovers. The 26 giveaways from the Eagles are the third most important in the NFL and they contribute to an ugly turnover margin of minus nine (T-29). And his 101 penalties, including 25 false starts, are second in the NFC only to the Arizona Cardinals.
Pederson indicated that a minor injury may have affected Hurts’ performance in the second half. It is something to be aware of and take advantage of the bets if the defense of Washington seems effective from the start.
“The second half, it changed a bit defensively,” he said. Pederson on the Cowboys performance of Hurts. “He was struggling with a bit of stiffness in his lower body as the game went on, and I think it got a bit of a kick for him to throw the ball late in the game. But he is a fighter, he is a warrior and he stood his ground there until the end.
2. Chase Young / Washington Defensive against the Eagles offensive line
Young continues to terrorize opposing defenses on his way to NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year honors. His 6.5 sacks, four forced fumbles and nine quarterback hits are a recipe for trouble against a dysfunctional offensive line. Wentz and Hurts have been caught 62 times, the worst of the NFLwhile the O line has struggled with injuries and ineffective performances.
Washington, meanwhile, has led the team on defense, entering this game in fourth place overall in the NFL and third against the pass. It is a good situation for Young lead the way as the team seeks its first postseason offer in five years. There is a reason why Rivera anointed him as the captaincy left by Dwayne Haskins.
An important statistic to keep in mind: Washington ranks second in the NFL on limiting fourth-down conversions, keeping teams at a 36 percent success rate. The head coach of the Eagles, Doug Pederson, is known for his gambling propensity and will likely remain aggressive with nothing but pride at stake. Hurts he has shown his ability to be effective in those situations, going 6 of 10 in the last three games as a starter. Can Young buckle up the defense of Washington and win those important battles in the trenches?
3. Can Rivera and Alex Smith overcome the problem?
For me this is the largest x factor. So much Rivera as Smith they are nice stories. One is surpassing his accomplishments amid a battle with cancer and his first season as the team’s coach. It was assumed that Smith he would never get this far after the devastating ankle injury that should have ended his career.
The problem is that Cinderella masks the pumpkin in which both men still live. Rivera he inherited a team with young players and is still developing his offensive talent. Defense is good enough, but only up to a point; you still have to score to win games in the NFL. SmithDespite all the experience he brings, he is little more than an effective game manager. His 79.0 quarterback rating ranks 16th in the NFC and is just 6.2 points higher than Wentz, who is on the bench and is probably out of Philadelphia.
In a game where the offense of the Eagles has improved a lot, it is likely that Smith need to bring more to the table. He has not thrown more than one touchdown pass in a game since returning as a starter. What if wide receiver Terry McLaurin (high ankle sprain) can’t go Sunday night? Or is it severely limited? Smith he has to find another weapon or make it himself. Chances are, 17 points and a turnover-free performance are not enough to win here.
Philadelphia Eagles vs Washington en VIVO
The talk in Philadelphia is that Doug Pederson has spent the week advocating to keep his job while the owner of the Eagles, Jeffrey Lurie, reflects on important changes. A loss would leave this team with just four wins, tied for the fewest of any team in the United States. Eagles in this century.
But since Hurts was inserted as a starter, the team has been competitive and has shown some life against quality opponents. A victory in the final would bring their record to 2-2 and allow Pederson argue that Carson Wentz’s struggles at QB were the biggest problem, not the coach and / or roster selection. There is a lot to play for.
While Alex Smith and Ron Rivera They should finish the storybook Washington you don’t have all the pieces yet. Another bad offensive start like the one in the last two weeks, both losses, and Philadelphia has enough at home to do work.
Prediction: Eagles 28, Washington 24
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