Philadelphia Eagles RB Darren Sproles rushed for a touchdown and returned a punt for another against the New York Jets in week three. (Getty)
Hey, the Philadelphia Eagles won a football game.
That’s a step in the very right direction for a team that was, just a few days ago, metaphorically crashing and burning with a pair of back-to-back disappointing performances. There were rumors of Chip Kelly’s coaching demise running rampant through the NFL world and the offense had no direction.
Well, the Eagles have, at least started, to right the ship. Philadelphia held on for a 24-17 over the New York Jets last Sunday, despite failing to score at all in the final 30 minutes and seeing DeMarco Murray stranded on the sideline with a hamstring injury.
So, the ship is facing the right direction now. But the big question remains – can the Eagles steer it where it needs to go? They’ll get that chance this week with a NFC East divisional matchup against the Washington Redskins, a team also in need of a little ship-steering direction.
The Redskins are coming off a Thursday night loss to the New York Giants that showcased more shortcomings than achievements, including another big-time injury that could impact the Washington roster for the next few weeks.
Let’s just say both of these teams could use another victory, particularly one in the division. Kickoff is slated for 1 p.m. ET. Here’s everything you need about the the matchup’s betting information, per OddsShark:
Game Info
The Washington Redskins offense sputtered in week three, dropping an NFC East matchup against the New York Giants. (Getty)
Line: Philadelphia -3
Moneyline: Philadelphia -170, Washington +150
Over/Under: 47.5
What To Watch For
Ryan Mathews had a productive first half for the Philadelphia Eagles, including a receiving touchdown. (Getty)
The Washington Redskins are, at least from the outside looking in, a deceptively banged up team. This is, actually, one injured group.
Of course, everyone knows about DeSean Jackson. The wide receiver missed the first two games of the season and is a long shot to play this Sunday afternoon after injuring his hamstring in the opener. According to Redskins coach Jay Gruden, Jackson has started jogging but has yet to fully practice.
“For a guy that runs a 4.25 [40-yard dash], to try and get back to that probably takes some time,” Gruden told The Washington Post. “Knowing DeSean, he’s got a chance to be back sooner than we think. He’s pretty optimistic about how he’s healing right now so we’ll just have to wait and see.
Then, last week, Washington also lost cornerback DeAngelo Hall and guard Shawn Lauvao. Both of them, each key players in their own right, are expected to miss a good chunk of time.
Hall has a Grade 2 partial tear in his right foot and, per Gruden, will miss at least three weeks. The corner, who has faced injury issues in the past and missed last season with an Achilles injury, is expected to meet with a foot specialist to determine if he needs surgery. Lauvao, meanwhile, has a lateral sprain on his left ankle and his return is up in the air until swelling begins to come down.
It’s next man up for the Redskins right now, particularly on the offensive line. Kirk Cousins threw two interceptions against New York last week, as well as tying a career-high 49 pass attempts. But, if Cousins doesn’t have some help, even from an injured offense, he won’t be able to do much of anything under center.