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The Philadelphia Eagles need to win and get help to keep playing

in Hier könnt Ihr Umfragen erstellen und Posten 24.09.2019 07:56
von zhangzk • Gaser Lehrling III | 167 Beiträge

All the Washington Redskins can do now is play spoiler.It’s do-or-die for the Eagles (8-7) when they visit the Redskins (7-8) on Sunday. A victory coupled with a loss by the Vikings (8-6-1) at home against the Bears (11-4) gives Philadelphia the final wild-card spot and the NFC’s No. 6 seed. A loss sends them on an early vacation.Article continues below ...“It’s tough not to control your own destiny but at the same time http://www.oaklandraidersteamonline.com/hunter-renfrow-jersey , if you focus on everything else that is going on and we have a slip-up because we’re not focusing on our jobs, it’s really not going to matter,” Eagles tight end Zach Ertz said.The Eagles didn’t expect to be in this position after winning their first NFL championship since 1960. They were the clear favorites in the NFC East and thinking repeat, but inconsistency and injuries plagued them from the start.The Redskins were surprise division leaders when they opened 6-3. But they’ve lost five of six after starting quarterback Alex Smith and backup Colt McCoy went down with season-ending injuries.“We have to set our goals high and we have to try to figure out a way to beat Philadelphia and focus on what they do and try to come up with a plan to best put our players in a position to make plays and win the football game,” Redskins coach Jay Gruden said.“That’s the only thing we can do right now moving forward. Are we sick about the position we’re in? Yes we are. There’s 15, 16 other teams that are in the same boat, and I expect they are going to go out and compete the last game of the year also. It’s no different here.”The Eagles have been resilient, rebounding after a 41-point loss to the Saints dropped their record to 4-6. They won two in a row only to suffer a disappointing overtime loss at Dallas and learning afterward that Carson Wentz would be sidelined by a back injury.Then Nick Foles stepped in and led Philadelphia to consecutive victories over 10-win teams. Foles, the Super Bowl MVP in the victory over New England, was outstanding in an upset win at the Los Angeles Rams and sensational in a comeback win over Houston.Now, he has to do it again and it may not be enough.If the Vikings win, the Eagles are eliminated. The playoff-bound Bears still have a chance to earn the No. 2 seed so a first-round bye is enough incentive for coach Matt Nagy to play his starters at Minnesota.The Eagles can only focus on the Redskins.“All we can control is our preparation and what we do on a day-in-and-day-out basis getting ready for the game, staying in the moment http://www.seattleseahawksteamonline.com/marquise-blair-jersey , controlling what we can control,” Foles said.Here’s some things to watch for when the Eagles try to complete a season sweep against the Redskins:YOUNG AND OLDUndrafted rookie Josh Adams has emerged as Philadelphia’s leading rusher while Redskins veteran Adrian Peterson became the oldest player to rush for 1,000 yards in a season since John Riggins did it in 1984 for Washington.TRENCH BATTLESThe Eagles have one of the top offensive lines in the NFL. Right tackle Lane Johnson has dominated opponents lately, including J.J. Watt. Right guard Brandon Brooks was selected for his second straight Pro Bowl. The Redskins are also strong upfront. Their starting defensive linemen — Jonathan Allen, Daron Payne and Matt Ioannidis — have combined for 20½ sacks. Linebacker Ryan Kerrigan leads the team with 12.MIGHTY MOUSEDarren Sproles had 76 yards receiving in Philadelphia’s win against the Texans, including a 37-yard touchdown catch on fourth-and-2 on the offense’s opening drive. The speedy and diminutive Sproles has played four games in a row after missing 10 with a hamstring injury. He could be playing his last NFL game. The 35-year-old had planned to retire after this season, but isn’t certain after missing so much action.SCRAMBLER JOSHScrambling quarterbacks have given Philadelphia trouble this season. Deshaun Watson had 49 yards rushing last week. Washington’s Josh Johnson has run for 116 yards on 20 carries.RECORD-SETTERErtz broke Jason Witten’s single-season record for most receptions by a tight end. He has 113 and counting. Ertz has caught more passes (68) against the Redskins than any other team in his six-year career. NAPA, Calif. (AP)Charles Woodson took a break from overseeing his winery in the Napa Valley to visit the Oakland Raiders training camp Thursday. Peyton Manning was there, too, while in the midst of a speaking tour.The two future Hall-of-Famers were all over the place, chatting with players and coaches and going over techniques as the Raiders went through their 2 1/2-hour workout.For Woodson, it was a step back in time. The nine-time Pro Bowl defensive back spent 11 seasons over two stints with the Raiders and was a rookie in 1998, Jon Gruden’s first year as an NFL coach.Now retired and an analyst for ESPN http://www.seattleseahawksteamonline.com/cody-barton-jersey , the 41-year-old Woodson was a little startled when he walked onto the practice field and heard music blaring from a far corner.”I don’t remember that ever happening,” Woodson said, grinning. ”I was just telling somebody, everybody’s talking about Gruden’s been out of the game, he’s out of touch. Actually he’s not. He’s got a DJ. I think he’s fitting right in.”Although his beard is filled with more gray than ever, Woodson – who last played in 2015 when he earned Pro Bowl recognition as a safety – still looks physically capable of playing in the NFL.Not long after Gruden was hired in the offseason to return to the Raiders, he joked that he might try to convince Woodson to come out of retirement.Woodson laughed at the thought but said Gruden isn’t much different than he was when he first coached the Raiders 20 years ago.”I remember coming in seeing a young fiery Jon Gruden and he seems to have that same thing going on,” Woodson said. ”It’s going to be great for the players to have a guy with that kind of energy back on the sidelines. I think it’s going to be a fun year. It’s going to be a process, of course. You have to get guys to buy into what you’re selling. If they do that they’ll be fine.”One player not in camp is defensive end Khalil Mack, who is holding out in a contract dispute.Woodson was in a similar position in 2004 and 2005 when he held out in training camp looking for a new deal. Each year, the Raiders hit him with the franchise tag.Woodson said he has spoken with Mack and encouraged the 2016 Defensive Player of the Year to stay in shape while negotiations continue.”He’s a young guy that’s trying to get paid and I don’t fault any man for that,” Woodson said. ”Now, every team’s going to have their limits of what they feel they can do and what they won’t do. You have to navigate that. He’s a smart enough guy http://www.seattleseahawksteamonline.com/phil-haynes-jersey , he’ll figure it out.”I just told him, `Whenever you come back. I don’t know what happens with your deal, if you get a new deal or if you’re playing on the same deal, when you come back come back ready.’ You don’t want anybody saying anything crazy about your conditioning and all of this sort of thing.”Manning attended camp while in the Bay Area for a speaking engagement in San Francisco. He phoned Gruden to ask if he could come out to practice then spent the afternoon chatting with Derek Carr and quarterbacks coach Brian Callahan.”Being a football junkie, Jon and I kind of speak the same language,” Manning said. ”I know he’s happy. Good for football that he’s back in the game.”Gruden put both men to work.Woodson spoke to the players during a team meeting while Manning sat in during the quarterbacks meeting, watched film and offered his own tips.Manning specifically spoke at length with Carr, Oakland’s veteran quarterback who is learning his third system in four years.”I really like Derek,” Manning said. ”He is very engaged and obviously trying to learn a new system, which is a challenge. But one thing about Jon Gruden is he loves football so everybody playing for him better love it too. When your QB loves it, and you can tell Carr does, it shows.”—

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