The preseason is finally over, and the scores at long last will count. The Washington Redskins will travel to Philadelphia on Sunday to take on the Eagles, their NFC East divisional foes.
Both the Redskins and Eagles are on very different paths at the start of the season, with the former hoping to stay competitive for as long as they can, and the latter dreaming of a Super Bowl run.
Ahead of the game, we took the time to sit down with Glenn Erby, the Managing Editor of USA Today’s Eagles Wire. Here is our conversation.
Redskins Wire: It feels like the Eagles have found a real sweet spot in the NFL hierarchy ahead of this season — they’re projected to finish near the top of the league, but they’ve managed to remain out of the majority of headlines this offseason. How do you think the season will ultimately play out for Philly, and what are some realistic expectations you have heading into Week 1?
Glenn Erby: Despite all the huge names on the roster, this is a low-maintenance team when it comes to high-profile players avoiding the trappings of being in the spotlight. Things will start and end with Carson Wentz and his health. As long as Wentz is healthy, I project the Eagles to win 11-12 games, win the NFC East and secure home-field advantage in the first two rounds of the playoffs.As far as week 1, I wouldn’t be shocked if the Eagles started slow but still figure out a way to fight off the Redskins initial onslaught.
RW: The Redskins picked up a couple former Eagles off of the waivers this week in Wendell Smallwood and Treyvon Hester. What can we expect to see from them this year, and why do you think they were ultimately cut from the Eagles?
GE: Smallwood and Hester are both talented players, they just didn’t fit in Philadelphia anymore. I think with Jay Gruden and Adrian Peterson on the outs, Smallwood is a guy that could find himself a place in the Redskins running back rotation behind Guice and Chris Thompson.
RW: We all know about the top-end talent in Philadelphia, but who else are you really excited about? Who had a great camp with the Eagles, and who are a couple of players that Washington fans should start to pay attention to ahead of Sunday?
GE: I’m really excited about JJ Arcega-Whiteside and his ability to win matchups all over the field, especially in the red zone. Although he’s only a rookie, the former Stanford star has some veteran qualities when it comes tracking the football and winning the jump balls.
T.J, Edwards had a great camp for the Eagles at linebacker and it’ll be interesting to see how long it takes him to adjust to the NFL game.This week Redskins fans should pay attention to Avonte Maddox and Miles Sanders especially.
RW: The Redskins aren’t exactly projected to be a great team this season, but they still have some nice players, especially on the defense. What do you think the Eagles will need to do in order to really excel in this game and play up to expectations?
GE: The Eagles need to be strong up front on offense, especially inside the interior of the trenches. Jonathan Allen, Daron Payne, and Matt Ioannidis along with Ryan Kerrigan, can really give the Eagles a challenge upfront. Philadelphia will need to establish the run early, allowing Carson Wentz and the rest of the offense to ease into the season opener.
