Philadelphia Eagles rival report: History repeats itself in Washington
The Philadelphia Eagles and the rest of the NFC East saw a huge shakeup in the division with an unfortunate injury. For Redskins fans, this is a story all-too-familiar.
First and foremost, no one wants to see injuries to other players, not even when that injury affects a rival. Unfortunately, we all know that it’s a component that has long existed in a game that we all love. A season ago, the Philadelphia Eagles lost their signal caller late in the season. In 2018, Philly saw an unfortunate injury to one of their most bitter rivals’ starting quarterback.
Shortly after the Washington Redskins‘ 23-21 loss at home to the Houston Texans, their head coach, Jay Gruden, announced that Alex Smith had fractured the fibula and tibia in his right leg and that he would undergo surgery right away.
No fan of the NFL was able to think of what had just occurred without thinking back to a similar moment that occurred 33 years earlier on the exact same day. On November 18th in 1985, former Redskins quarterback Joe Theismann saw his career end when he fractured his own leg after he was tackled by former New York Giants linebacker Lawrence Taylor.
Theismann was actually in attendance for Sunday’s game, and sent out this tweet:
I feel so bad for him.
— Joe Theismann (@Theismann7) November 18, 2018
As always, there is fallout.
Smith’s injury is a reminder of the violent nature of the NFL. Everyone must, now, come to the realization that, though your heart goes out for Smith, one of the good guys of the NFL, and his family, there’s still six games to be played on everyone’s schedule.
The first-place Redskins must now do what they can to hold on to a slim lead in the watered-down NFC East division. Though the third-place Eagles have lost six times in ten attempts, they’re only two games behind the Redskins for the division lead, and they still have to play them twice.
The second game is the season finale at FedExField.
That one could go a long way in deciding who goes on to the postseason. Yes Eagles fans, it’s been gruesome at times. ‘The Birds’ have often been hard to watch, like they were in Week 11, but numbers don’t lie.
This season is a long way from being over. Philly still has a shot at the postseason. Unfortunately, there may not be much to expect from them if they’re able to make it there.