As Washington's First Opponent With A Win, Philly Favored Over 'Skins

NFL News - October 20th, 2009 - Written by John

The good news is that the Washington Redskins won't have the pressure of being favored.

For the first time all season, the Redskins are playing a team with a win on it's record. Through six weeks, every single opponent Washington has faced has been winless, making their 2-4 record seem that much more demoralizing.

The bad news, is this week they face a very good Philadelphia Eagles team. With a vendetta. On national television. They are underdogs this week on Monday Night Football, where the Eagles are surrendering seven points, with an even payout of -110 across the board according to BetUS Sportsbook. The over/under for the game is 37 1/2.

It is somewhat of a curious over/under because the Eagles have scored at least 33 points three times this year. But they were stunned last week, only putting up nine against the Oakland Raiders after four other teams had scored at least 23 against Oakland. Donovan McNabb looked inconstant at best, throwing for 269 yards and no touchdowns. His main dilemma was finding enough time in the pocket to move the offense. He was sacked six times, knocked down another eight times and harassed every other play. History signals a possibility that the two teams will hit the under. The match-up has been under in 11 of the last 13 times.

The Redskins have also played poorly against heavy underdogs. They have been favored in three of their four losses, recently losing to the Kansas City Chiefs in Week Six. Quarterback Jason Campbell was benched at halftime after completing only nine of his 16 passes. After the game, head coach Jim Zorn was promptly stripped of play calling duties, turning them over to assistant Sherman Lewis. This Monday Night Football will be the first time Lewis, who's previous job was MC at a bingo hall, has ever called plays. Washington is averaging less than 14 points this year, and haven't scored a touchdown in two of their three home games.

Clinton Portis finally got going last week, breaking the century mark for the first time this year. He had previously been critical of the team's blocking scheme, but something finally clicked against the Chiefs. He had 105 yards on 15 carries and broke off a season-long 78 yarder in the third quarter.

It's the opposite for the Eagles. The passing game has been the most effective facet of the offense, carrying a struggling rushing attack. McNabb and Kevin Kolb have a combined 1,354 yards through the air, which would be 13th best in the league if it all came from one player. McNabb has only started three games due to a rib injury and has far fewer attempts than any other starter in the league. But his 93.8 rating is 6th best in the NFC and will likely be good enough to be successful against Washington's secondary.

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