Eagles vs. Redskins: Michael Vick, Donovan McNabb and 10 Intriguing Subplots
Tonight's Eagles vs. Redskins clash on Monday Night Football is one of the most widely anticipated games of Week 10.
With two teams both in the playoff hunt squaring off, this one would be exciting enough, but with all of the underlying storylines between these two teams, things get much more interesting.
From the former franchise quarterback of one club suiting up for the other, to Philly's new quarterback continuing to blaze his comeback trail, to a pair of coaches eager to snag a win, we're bringing you the 10 biggest storylines of tonight's Monday Night clash.
10. These Teams Aren't Fond Of One Another
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The Lowdown: If these teams were 0-8 and 1-7 at this point in the season (they've played once, so they couldn't both be winless, unless they drew), this one would still be an intense matchup. Why? The Eagles and Redskins flat out don't like one another. Like every NFC East matchup, Washington and Philly is one of the NFL's oldest and bitterest rivalries.
Why You Should Care: Rivalry games like this are always a big deal for the teams involved, and they always come out firing on all cylinders.
9. Who's Running The Ball In Washington?
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The Lowdown: Washington is currently dealing with a pair of injured running backs. Clinton Ports has been out since Week 4 (a game against the Eagles, no less) with a groin injury, and backup Ryan Torain is nursing a hamstring injury. Torain is expected to start, but hamstrings have a nasty habit of lingering, and there's not much else left in the stable in D.C. Third-string runner Keiland Williams is healthy, but it remains to be seen just how effective he'll be if and when Torain needs a break, or re-injures himself.
Why You Should Care: The Redskins' offense has been dependent on the run game to keep the passing game from shutting down completely this season. If Torain gets hurt and Williams struggles, it'll be interesting to see whether Washington can find enough offense through the air to make up for it.
8. Strong Pass Rushes and Shaky Offensive Lines
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The Lowdown: Both the Eagles and Redskins have excellent pass rushes, that feature blitz heavy packages in 2010. Both teams also have shaky offensive lines, with the sixth and seventh-most sacks allowed this year. Eagles' quarterback Michael Vick should help alleviate the pressure on Philly's offensive line, but he's been sacked 14 times this season. Redskins' quarterback Donovan McNabb has some mobility left, but he's no better, getting sacked 23 times in 2010.
Why You Should Care: The Redskins didn't sack the dynamic Vick once in Week 4, and the Eagles only got McNabb once. It should be fun to see whether either team can use their strong pass rushes to contain the other's passing game.
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7. Ball Hawking Secondaries
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The Lowdown: The Eagles have the second-highest total of interceptions (13) of any team in the NFL. The Redskins are averaging better than an interception per game this season. With Redskins quarterback Donovan McNabb having thrown 8 picks this year, and Eagles passer Michael Vick struggling with his control his entire career, we could see a lot of interceptions in this one.
Why You Should Care: Picks can change the face of a game in an instant. With two defenses who are this boom-or-bust, every time the ball is thrown, it should be an exciting play.
6. Andy Reid
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The Lowdown: Reid's 12-8 against the Redskins since becoming Eagles head coach in 1999. He's one of the men who made the decision to trade former Pro Bowler Donovan McNabb to the Redskins prior to this season, and so far, he's come out on top. However, his Eagles fell to McNabb's new team in Week 4, and another loss would be tough for Reid, and Eagles fans, to swallow.
Why You Should Care: The fact that Reid green-lighted the McNabb trade is going to hang over him if the Eagles lose this game to Washington, even if Philly ultimately make the playoffs. It means the Redskins got the better of the deal, and for a trade like that, you never want to come out on the bottom.
5. Mike Shanahan
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The Lowdown: Shanahan's first year in the nation's capital has not gone according to plan. The Redskins are 4-4, the offense is sputtering, the defense struggles to contain anyone, and Shanahan's decsion making has come under fire.
First, there was the Albert Haynesworth saga during training camp; now, Shanahan has drawn heavy criticism for benching newly-acquired franchise quarterback Donovan McNabb for the final 2 minutes of the Redskins' eventual loss to the Detroit Lions.
The head coach still has yet to give a convincing reason why McNabb was benched in that game, and it's a decision that could cost him down the road.
Why You Should Care: This game is Mike Shanahan's chance at redemption. A win puts the Redskins level with Philly in the division, and silences critics who claim that the coach is causing trouble.
4. Michael Vick's Comeback Tour Continues
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Why You Should Care: Eagles quarterback Michael Vick appears to have re-captured the spark that made him the most exciting player in football before his prison sentence and suspension from the NFL.
He's throwing the ball better than he ever has, is slashing and dashing through opposing defenses, and has helped ignite a Philly offense that has looked stagnant at times under former starting passer Kevin Kolb.
Remember when Eagles head coach Andy Reid forced Donovan McNabb to stay in the pocket and play like a traditional passer? Now, the Eagles are running Vick all over the field, and Reid's still at the helm. Think that doesn't frustrate McNabb? Think again.
Why You Should Care: Vick is still one of the NFL's most exciting players, and he's running the offense exceptionally well. The Redskins did a decent job of keeping Vick contained before he got hurt in Week 4, and it should be fun to see if they can do it again.
3. The NFC Wild Card Race
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The Lowdown: The NFC Wild Card race is wide open right now. Virtually every team in the conference is still in the playoff hunt (save perhaps the Cowboys, Panthers and Vikings), and Philly and Washington are leading the charge for the Wild Card. However, both teams need a win this week to help keep their postseason dreams bright. Philly sits a game out of the Wild Card, while Washington sits two games out.
Why You Should Care: Playoff races make for thrilling games, and these two teams both need a win in a bad way. Expect them both to come out with an edge.
2. Donovan McNabb Vs. The Eagles, Part Deux
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The Lowdown: In case you haven't heard, current Redskins quarterback Donovan McNabb was a Pro Bowl quarterback with the Eagles from 1999 through 2009. The fact that McNabb was an Eagle adds a level of intensity to this game that wasn't there before, as McNabb tries to prove that his old team shouldn't have traded him, and the Eagles try to show that they made the right decision. Washington won the first meeting, but McNabb didn't exactly light them up. What will happen this time?
Why You Should Care: This subplot kicks the intensity of this contest up four notches. It's not as tense as their Week 4 clash in this regard, but it's still a very tangible factor in this contest. Can McNabb prove his former team made a mistake trading him, by beating the Eagles twice this year?
1. The NFC East Race
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The Lowdown: With the Giants surprising loss to the Cowboys on Sunday, the NFC East race has suddenly blown wide open. A win puts the Eagles into a tie for first with New York, while a Redskins victory puts them in second place, with two games against the Giants coming over the next seven weeks. Both teams know what's at stake, and both teams really want a victory this week.
Why You Should Care: This game will go a long way towards determining the NFC East title. Both teams are in the thick of the hunt, and need a victory to keep pace. When there's that much on the line, you can expect things to get nasty.
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