By Patrick Del Gaone, Sports Talk Philly staff writer 
The Philadelphia Eagles are three-point favorites heading into their first divisional game of the year in the nation's capital. Thus far, 65 percent of wagers have been made on the Eagles according to Vegas Insider. Washington is currently third in the NFC East at 3-2 on the year, while Philadelphia sits alone in second place, boasting a 3-1 record.
Friday’s injury reports gave us a better idea of who will be in uniform on Sunday, and who's unlikely to suit up. With that in mind, here's a look at how these divisional foes stack up.
Redskins Offense vs. Eagles Defense
Jordan Reed tore up Philadelphia’s defense in their Week 16 matchup last season, snagging nine catches for 129 yards and two touchdowns in the decisive Redskins victory. While Washington hasn’t officially ruled out Reed for Sunday’s divisional matchup, all signs are pointing to the star tight end sitting out after suffering his sixth concussion in the last five years.
In 2013, Reed sustained two concussions in a three week span. Given the possibility that Washington doctors may have green-lighted the former Florida Gator prematurely once before, and the serious nature of long-term concussion effects, expect Reed to be sidelined until Week 10 following the team’s bye week.
Filling in for Reed will be former Nebraska Cornhuskers wide receiver Niles Paul and Maryland product Vernon Davis. Both will be utilized in a role similar to Reed’s, emphasizing their speed and pass catching ability for Jay Gruden’s balanced attack.
Among the reasons Washington doesn’t feature any blocking tight ends is the strength and effectiveness of their offensive line. Perennial Pro Bowl left tackle Trent Williams is a mauler with freakish athleticism for a man of his stature. Gruden likes to use trap blocking and quick pulling schemes in order to take advantage of aggressive defenses like the Eagles with a propensity to overpursue at times. When successful, halfback Matt Jones will take advantage of holes the size of a Mack Truck for big chunks of yardage on counter plays between the tackles.
Center Spencer Long and right guard Brandon Scherff are agile enough to pull outside in unison and get downfield ahead of the running back on shotgun sweep plays, much like the handoff sweeps Chip Kelly ran so often.
While Reed likely missing Sunday’s match will certainly plague the Redskins passing attack, quarterback Kirk Cousins is completing at least 69 percent of his passes to each of his top three wide receivers: DeSean Jackson, Pierre Garcon and Jamison Crowder. For Washington to win, they'll need Cousins to complete a high percentage of his passes, and the offensive line to create sufficient push against Philly's ferocious front four.
Eagles Offense vs. Redskins Defense
Through four games, Carson Wentz’s 103.5 passer rating is the second-highest of any rookie quarterback in NFL history (Dan Marino, 103.6). The swashbuckling sensation has received some criticism for launching a bomb downfield in the waning moments of Sunday’s loss at Ford Field, and it will be intriguing to see whether he’ll take a more conservative approach after what many have called an ill-advised pass, or he’ll continue the gunslinger mentality following his first loss as an NFL quarterback.
The Washington defense will undoubtedly attack unknown commodity Halapoulivaati Vaitai, who takes over for suspended right tackle Lane Johnson. Vaitai has long arms, a tenacious on-field demeanor and an exceptional football I.Q. The TCU product will have his hands full with menacing defensive end Ryan Kerrigan lined up across from him. If “Big V” is able to withstand the pressure from Joe Barry’s best defensive lineman, the Eagles should be able to run and pass efficiently against Washington’s lackluster unit.
Redskins’ opponents are averaging 5.1 yards per run, 130 rushing yards per game and have scored eight touchdowns on the ground this season. Moreover, Barry’s unit has yielded over 24 points per game, 5.9 yards per play and just under 69 percent completion percentage to opposing quarterbacks.
The Redskins blitz heavily in passing situations and use unconventional looks, often with six or seven players meandering around the line of scrimmage pre-snap. Against Cleveland, Washington showed seven potential rushers – five of which were lined up outside the tackle box – eventually dropping two of those defenders in coverage. While the pressure didn’t get home, it was enough to force a marginal third-down completion short of the line to gain.
Josh Norman is a tough cornerback who uses his instincts to undercut passes and peel off of his man while reading the quarterback's eyes. The former Carolina Panther plays defensive back much like Allen Iverson played defense in the NBA, with a gamblers mentality that often leads in crafty interceptions, but at times can be a liability when caught abandoning his man, resulting in a “layup” touchdown pass.
Against the Giants, Norman read Eli Manning’s eyes and wandered away from Odell Beckham Jr., allowing “OBJ” to streak down the left sideline all alone. Norman got away with it, and lit up the receiver who made the catch across the middle, but it was a perfect illustration of his feast or famine style of play.
Matchup to watch: Eagles OL vs. Redskins DL
Player of the Game: Darren Sproles
Prediction: Eagles win 23-17
