Special Preview #2– Week 17
Washington Football Team at Philadelphia Eagles
Washington: No matter the outcome of their season, this is a winning group in my eyes. Head coach Ron Rivera beat cancer earlier in the year and Alex Smith returned to the field after a gruesome leg injury that many thought he wouldn’t come back from. From a football standpoint, I felt they’ve been one of the more consistent teams in an awful division. I like the old-school approach they play with. The offense isn’t explosive or anything but they find ways to push the ball down the field. They don’t need Alex Smith to throw the ball a particular amount of times because that’s not him. What’s truly carried this Washington Football Team has been their defense. I’m excited about them moving forward. I’ll even say they could be a top-five unit for some years to come. Tonight, a nice opportunity could be awaiting them.
Eagles: Each week when you’d think they’d be making some noise, they were disappointing instead. They could never get into a rhythm or show any consistency. Every time I watched Carson Wentz, he was running for his life. Before I could even count to three, he’s in the pocket, then he’s out scrambling for his life. Also, he was turning the ball over way too much. I’ve been saying for years that you play as well as those five guys upfront. Doug Pederson benches him for Jalen Hurts and you saw a spark come from their offense. With a little momentum, they go into Dallas and get pushed around. The Eagles have officially been knocked out of playoff contention. I have a feeling some changes will be made. We’ve seen the last of Carson in Philadelphia. Now, they have a chance to play spoiler tonight with Washington in town.
Washington X-Factor: Logan Thomas– Next to Terry McLaurin, this is their other weapon that can create his own down the field. I remember when he was a quarterback before switching to the tight end position. He’s been another favorite target for Alex Smith this season.
Eagles X-Factor: Jalen Reagor– If he can remain healthy, I’m excited about his future. He’s great in the quick passing game and has the speed and elusiveness to move up the field. Jalen plays with a backyard mindset meaning he’s consistently on the move to extend his route running to make the catch.
Final Thoughts: Game 256. So, this is the scenario. If Washington wins, they are NFC East division champions. If they lose, the Cowboys/Giants will win the division. On the other side, the Eagles have a chance to end their season by playing spoiler. Alex will remain in his lane. Hand the ball off, use your play-action, and most importantly, not lose the football game. Just manage things. I like what the Eagles have done since starting Jalen Hurts. This Eagles offensive line will need to do everything to keep him protected because Washington will bring pressure early and often.
Prediction: Washington 20 Eagles 13
