Game 2: Redskins (1-0) at Eagles (0-1)

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The Washington Redskins travel up the road to play the Philadelphia Eagles, this one is big, Monday Night Football, 8:30 pm ET on the national stage, ESPN. The Eagles are 0-1 after losing a game they should have won on the road in Green Bay and the Redskins are 1-0 after a good effort against a Dolphins team that is not expected to contend for anything.

Curly R aside part one: with no Redskins game on Sunday was anyone else able really to enjoy an obsession-free day of football? I really enjoyed watching the Giants and Eli Manning (lol) get the crap beat out of them by the Packers and those throwback Steelers uniforms with the banana yellow helmets? Oofuh, better to stick to the present day.

Oppo research: Donovan McNabb will start his 100th game for the Eagles tonight. It so happens that his first pro start was against the Redskins on 14 November 1999, a game I happened to be at. And while Dono and the offense were not terrific and the special teams sank the Eagles last week (yes even in 2007 you need someone to return punts) the Eagles defense was stout, allowing the Packers only 3.4 yards per carry and 46 yards rushing. Expect the Redskins to be a better test for the Eagles D than the Packers but they are stingy.

Defensive coordinator Jim Johnson is going to throw the kitchen sink at the Redskins tonight in an effort to keep them off balance, prevent a rhythm and test the 8 Ball. His defenses have consistently been superior.

Starting cornerback Lito Sheppard is out for this game so expect the Redskins to test his side of the field and replacement William James who used to be known as Will Peterson when he was with the Giants before going into the defensive back protection program. In other Eagles news, backup quarterback AJ Feeley has hand problems (non-throwing), has had surgery and they don't want to use him so if Dono has a problem or loses another knee we might see rookie Kevin Kolb. The Eagles fans are frustrated, questioning Andy Reid's playcalling, his commitment to the team, Andy's game management and whether he favors Mormons when selecting players.

Eagles fans take their team so incredibly seriously that if the team loses tonight the fire Andy Reid banners will start coming out.


Home cooking: Breaking down the units, man mountain Todd Wade aka 8 Ball starts at right tackle in place of the injured Jon Jansen. The Redskins dialed in the running game in the second half and overtime last week and this is a crucial test for the 8 Ball.

We know Jason Campbell has a big arm. But does he have Mark Rypien disease, characterized by an inability to throw an intermediate pass with touch. Love to see Jason go deep but need something reliable between the screens and the bombs.

Clinton Portis and Ladell Betts are all good to go. I like where the Redskins are at tailback.

Santana Moss might come back this week, Antwaan Randle El had Santana's back last week. I have come to expect 0% from Brandon Lloyd so maybe Reche Caldwell will get in for a play or two. Dude caught 71 last season, Brandon caught 23. Brandon and Antwaan could not be more different.

Defensive line continues to be an issue though what I thought was the main team weakness was not exposed last week. See below for more on the defensive line.

I love my Redskin linebackers. Apparently London Fletcher gave a dual-purpose (offense and defense) motivational speech at halftime of the Dolphins game that helped catalyze an inspired second half performance. Encore, London.

In the defensive backfield, things are all good, I don't give a crap who 'starts' as long as they can hold teams to less than two touchdowns. I'm not ready to call the 2007 Redskins defense a replay of the 2004 Redskins defense but I like what I see so far.

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What the WaPo said: power running, Dono vs. Redskins corners TBD, throw it deep but look for the blitz, account for Brian Westbrook out of the backfield.

Reserve guard Stephon Heyer and kicker Shaun Suisham got the profile treatment this week, Stephon for his success story rising from undrafted player to top reserve in the pros (and almost starter this week) and Shaun for fulfilling his dream of kicking a game winning field goal. Conflatulations Shaun, now get your head in the game. Stephon is right tackle Randy Thomas' little buddy this season. Shaun is Canadian and NFL Canada has run two pieces by our own Mark Solway from the thehogs.net on Shaun, one from 15 August and one after last week's winner.

Moving on, the upshot of the Shawn Springs mystery is that the Redskins have three solid defensive backs and depending on what you read and when either Fred Smoot and Shawn Springs are dinged with hamstrings or they are just fine, we don't know who will start but it really doesn't matter, all three (including Carlos Rogers) will get lots of playing time. The Redskins want to win this game and if they think it's close they will push these guys.

In some alarming defensive line news it looks like Philip Daniels will not be able to go (op. cit. and op. cit.) with his foot injury which will force Demetric Evans into the starting job. I never got a read on Demetric in the preseason but the depth chart below Demetric starts to run into rookies. Pierson Prioleau looks like he's good to go so depth at safety does not drop off much.

Curly R part two: I love that Clinton Portis' mother is still planning (op. cit.) on attending the game at Eagles Stadium even after getting doused with beer there in 2005. Two observations: she is probably more vocal than I at the games (at Eagles Stadium I sit in respectful silence and root for the Redskins on the inside for fear of physical injury) and if she gets into it with Eagles fans she can always go sit on the Redskins sideline, an option not afforded to me and even my sponsor, lifetime Eagles fan, season ticket holder and Curly R reader/lurker Wilbert Montgomery has said if I go off the reservation I'm on my own.

Jason Campbell counts Donovan McNabb has a mentor and this is a good thing. Dono trains hard every year and Eagles fans are lucky to have had him. I hope Jason can take one lesson from Dono: winning makes everything good in the world. And if you can't win, make progress.

Desmond Bieler has a handy list of things NFC Beast teams can do to return the division to its dominant position in the league.

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The Cowboys are already 2-0, having beat down the Dolphins. The Giants were terrible, are 0-2 staring down the barrel of 3-13. The Redskins need to win this game to stay on the lead lap. The Eagles will be bringing it hard tonight.



Other previews: Washington Post Redskins Gameday (PDF). The Redskin Report (statalicious). Post Game Heroes. Iggles Blog, Bleeding Green Nation (always good to have an opposing point of view).



As we have for every Eagles-Redskins game but one since 1999, lifetime Eagles fan, season ticket holder and Curly R reader/lurker Wilbert Montgomery and I will be at the game, this will make 16 of the past 17 and 14 straight. Talk amongst yourselves.

This is a gameday open thread.