It’s Week 15 on the NFL schedule and the Washington Redskins will be back at FedexField to face the Philadelphia Eagles after splitting a pair of consecutive road games against the Carolina Panthers and Green Bay Packers. The Redskins come into the game with a disappointing 3-10 record and looking for their second straight home win.
The Eagles hit the road with an uninspiring 6-7 record that mystifyingly still leads the NFC East division with the Dallas Cowboys (6-7).
Last week against the Packers, the Redskins hung tough and continued to show that down the stretch despite their problems, they will not be an easy win for playoff-hopeful teams. Young players and a dose of Adrian Peterson have been the formula that has given the Redskins an outlook of the future that gives fans a sense of hope from an effort standpoint.
The Redskins defense will have to continue to be the teams’ bell-cow over the next three weeks. The unit looks to record at least two sacks in their 10th straight game which would be the first time they have done so since the 1990 campaign. It would be the fourth-longest streak in franchise history.
The defense will have to create havoc without mainstay linebacker, Ryan Kerrigan. Kerrigan was placed on IR yesterday which now leads the way for rookie Montez Sweat. Sweat has been playing strong football down the stretch and now will be counted on to provide a burst around the edge of the Eagles offensive line.
What Would a Redskins Win Over the Eagles Mean?
While speaking to the media after a recent practice, Redskins Interim coach Bill Callahan spoke about where Sweat has to improve now that he will be a main piece to the defensive puzzle in Kerrigan’s absence.
“I’ve watched Philadelphia’s young defensive end, 94 [Eagles DE Josh Sweat]. I think we’ve seen a lot of production and elevation and we’ve seen a lot of growth in his game,” Callahan said. “We’re working towards that with Montez. There’s flashes of that we see in his play. I think it’s just a matter of overall consistency down in and down out, being that factor to put the heat on the quarterback like we’re seeing from the young defensive end in Philadelphia. That’s just a growth process, especially being in the 3-4 where you not only have rush assignments, but you have coverage assignments as well. It’s different if you had your hand in the dirt every down and you’re triggered to go off the edge whereas he has multiple assignments, so I think that factors into his growth and also his maturation as well.”
As six-point underdogs, the Redskins can deliver a cataclysmic blow to the Eagles playoff chances with a win.
The winner of the NFC East would still host a wildcard playoff game despite their porous record, however.
The following is a breakdown of the Week 15 game with full media information.
Date: Sunday, December 15, 2019
Gametime: 1:00 p.m. EST
Location: FedexField [82,000] | Landover, Maryland
Television: FOX (TV channel 5 in Washington, D.C. market)
FOX Sports Commentators: Thom Brennaman (play-by-play), Chris Spielman (analyst), and Shannon Spake (sideline)
Radio: Redskins Radio Network (local channel’s in Greater Washington, DC area – The Team 980, 105.9 WMAL, ESPN 630)
Redskins Radio Announcers: Larry Michael (play-by-play), Chris Cooley (analysis) and Rick “Doc” Walker (sidelines)