Patrick Wall, Style Editor
Monday Night Football features division rivals with a lot to prove tonight as the Washington Redskins play host to the neighboring Philadelphia Eagles.
Last week was forgettable for both teams. The Eagles’ normally potent offense sputtered against the Raiders’ defense and could not muster a touchdown in an embarrassing 13-9 loss in Oakland.
Playcalling was largely to blame, as the Eagles ran the ball only 12 times all game.
“[The] Raiders out-coached us and they outplayed us in every phase of the game,” Eagles Head Coach Andy Reid said after last week’s game. “[They] did a heck of a job and we didn’t. And it hurts.”
Play calling has also been an issue for the ‘Skins. General Manager Vinny Cerrato stripped Head Coach Jim Zorn of his play calling duties following last week’s 14-6 home loss to the then-winless Chiefs.
Washington’s locker room has been a somber place in recent weeks. Several players openly questioned the team’s direction last week.
Cornerback Carlos Rogers made news when he called out team owner Daniel Snyder, saying that everyone in the organization was responsible for the team’s struggles, starting with Snyder.
Redskins quarterback Jason Campbell will be starting on Monday, even though he took a seat at halftime for veteran signal caller Todd Collins.
The Redskins swept the Eagles last year, and have won three of their past four meetings. In Week 16 of last season, the Eagles needed to beat Washington to secure a playoff birth.
In dramatic fashion, Washington’s LaRon Landry and Fred Smoot stopped wide receiver Reggie Brown at the goal line as the Skins won, 10-3.
Anyone who follows the NFC East knows that statistics do not mean a whole lot in division games.
“Whenever you play a team like this, you know that you are going to get their best and you’re going to compete at a high level,” Eagles quarterback Donovan McNabb said last Thursday.
“You want to match their intensity and come out with the best results.”
Monday night’s showdown looks to be a low-scoring affair. Both teams are in the top five in total defense and passing defense.
The Eagles may have to rely on running back Brian Westbrook, who has seen his workload decrease this season with the addition of rookie LeSean McCoy.
For Washington, the switch in play callers might work in running back Clinton Portis’ favor. Portis is seventh among running backs in total yards with 447 yards and a rushing touchdown.
Portis is Washington’s second all-time leading rusher, less than 1,000 yards behind the great John Riggins.
In the end, Monday night is about getting the win.
“We are playing against a team that really doesn’t care what happened in the past couple of weeks, because I am sure they are trying to forget what happened in the previous weeks,” McNabb said Thursday.
“When you play against a team that you see twice a year, for your first opportunity you want to kind of make your mark and you want to kind of set a statement. That goes for both teams,” said McNabb.
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