Deja Vu For Eagles

Raise your hand if you recognize this description. A dysfunctional team, run by a powermad fool, with a lame duck head coach and a floundering quarterback playing a horrendous brand of football at a critical crossroads in the season. No, it’s not the Raiders. It’s the Eagles next opponent — the Washington Redskins.

As we are all painfully aware, teams like this often reach deep down and deliver a last man standing type of performance when backed into a corner. A primetime audience with all the world watching will serve as extra motivation. No one wants to be embarrassed on Monday Night Football.

It’s put up or shut up time for the ‘Skins. They will either show their fans and the rest of the league that they belong, or they will  head into a bye week facing major changes.

The Eagles have lost three of four versus the Redskins. In those four contests the Birds have averaged only 16.3 points per game. For all his problems, much-maligned quarterback Jason Campbell has played poised football against gang green, with only one interception.

I fully expect the ‘Skins to play a physical, aggressive style of ball. I’m sure they are scouring the tape from last Sunday to see exactly how Raiders defensive coordinator John Marshall schemed the Eagles potent offense. It will up to Reid and Co. to adjust accordingly.

Washington ranks third overall against the pass and 22nd against the run. Common sense would conclude that toting the rock is probably the best way to attack. Unfortunately, Reid believes he’s the smartest guy in the room, so we can expect another pass heavy ratio that will more than likely be ineffective and put the Birds in a position to lose another very winnable game.

Since Westbrook looked pretty spry last game, maybe they should lean on him. In his brilliant career, he has amassed more receiving yards (552) versus the Redskins than any other team. His 703 rushing yards ranks as third most. He also has an 8-4 record against his D.C. rivals.

The Birds are beat-up and reeling. Whatever unbalanced plan devised by Reid better be executed to perfection if they want to exit FedEx Field with a win. The margin for error has evaporated.

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