Eagles vs. Redskins: RG3 Again Defines Efficiency as Washington Stays Alive

I don't know how it happened, but the Washington Redskins crushed the Philadelphia Eagles to stay alive in the NFC playoff race. I mean, I shouldn't be shocked by the final score of 31-6 when you consider just how terrible the Eagles are, but this game was one big anomaly. 

How did the Redskins put up 31 points despite looking out of sync on offense for much of the day? How did Robert Griffin III throw four touchdown passes despite completing only 14 overall? And meanwhile, Alfred Morris wasn't able to find very many holes and the 'Skins actually lost the time of possession battle. 

The Redskins simply weren't challenged whatsoever coming off their bye. It was an effortless victory in a matchup that the Eagles would have lost handily to every other team in the NFL (and maybe even some of the nation's best college squads, too). 

Of course, you can't blame the 'Skins for that—Griffin did what he needed to do and made zero mistakes, with the offense letting the ball hit the ground only once all day. He became the first rookie ever to post a perfect passer rating as Washington twice benefited from Eagle turnovers inside their own red zone. 

It's exactly what the Redskins needed. Essentially, another week off for one of the league's most banged-up teams as they prepare for the most important game of their season—Thanksgiving Thursday in Dallas. A win there would move the 'Skins just a game-and-a-half back of the division-leading New York Giants, who have their hands full with a much more difficult schedule to finish the season. 

The Redskins essentially let the Eagles beat themselves Sunday. Credit goes to Mike and Kyle Shanahan for a very smart, safe game plan, and to Griffin for another near-flawless game. He's thrown only three interceptions all season, which is phenomenal when you consider that his rookie opponent from Sunday, Nick Foles, already has as many picks on only 78 pass attempts.

But the story this week is that the Eagles are crashing and burning in an epic way. The Redskins merely maneuvered their way through the train wreck. On to Dallas.