This is it…the final game of the Eagles 2011 season… Hard to believe we are here after surviving the ball of confusion known as The Lockout… but here we be. Certainly we are at a time of combined sorrow and joy for our team…sorry we couldn’t have stolen two more victories from underrated teams like Arizona and Seattle…and joyous that nobody on our roster has suffered a career-threatening injury prior to today.
There are a lot of big playoff-determination games today, but sadly this is not one of them. However, it still matters to me— I’ve decided I’d rather have an 8-8 record after this one to save face rather than finish 7-9 with an improved draft choice position in 2012. Call it fan ego or false pride, but I need an 8-8 to get through the winter and help me deflect the criticisms and boasts of friends and relatives and co-workers who are just waiting in the shadows to mock me for my support of the Iggles.
WASHINGTON (5-10) At PHILADELPHIA (7-8)
Sunday, 1 p.m., Fox
OPENING LINE — Eagles by 9
RECORD VS. SPREAD — Washington 7-8; Philadelphia 7-8
SERIES RECORD — Redskins lead 80-68-5
LAST MEETING — Eagles beat Redskins 20-13, Oct. 16
LAST WEEK — Redskins lost to Vikings 33-26; Eagles beat Cowboys 20-7
REDSKINS OFFENSE — OVERALL (16) RUSH (26), PASS (14)
REDSKINS DEFENSE — OVERALL (13), RUSH (19) PASS (11)
EAGLES OFFENSE — OVERALL (3), RUSH (5), PASS (10)
EAGLES DEFENSE — OVERALL (8), RUSH (14), PASS (8)
In last three games, Eagles have held opponents to 36 points, 683 total net yards, 12 for 45 (26.7 percent) on third downs and 1 for 6 on fourth downs. Their 16 sacks are their highest three-game total since also posting 16 in first three games of 2006 season. … Rookie K Alex Henery has connected on 14 consecutive field-goal attempts, which is fifth-longest streak in team history. Henery is 22 for 25 this season (88 percent), which is second-highest percentage in team history behind David Akers‘ 88.2 percent (30 for 34) in 2002. … QB Michael Vick needs 32 yards passing to reach 3,000. It would be his second consecutive season with 3,000 yards passing and 500 yards rushing. Only Randall Cunningham had more — three times from 1988-90. … Redskins 2-9 since 3-1 start. A 20-13 loss to Eagles started six-game losing streak. … WR Jabar Gaffney needs 81 yards receiving for his first career 1,000-yard season. … QB Rex Grossman (2,895 yards) needs 299 yards passing to set a single-season career high. … LB London Fletcher leads NFL with 163 tackles, but wasn’t named to Pro Bowl. … Grossman has thrown at least one interception in 11 straight starts. … Washington has committed at least one turnover in 29 straight games, longest active NFL streak.
I like our chances in this one. It would be nice to go out with a W… but the Redskins organization is thinking the same way. Jobs are on the line… Thus I turn it over one last time in 2011 to our Smart Phans for the game commentary… Livefyre brings us the honest views of this game (without censorship) from the Phans who can give us a “bigger picture” look at the finale of this crazy 2011 season…
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