The Philadelphia Eagles invite the Washington Redskins to Philly for a 1 PM ET matchup at Lincoln Financial Field.
Injuries have been a struggle for the Redskins lately. After losing first round pick Robert Griffin III last Sunday to a dislocated ankle, Washington will rely on fourth round selection Kirk Cousins. He will take the majorly of the quarterback duties the rest of the season. Wide receiver DeSean Jackson also left with a grade one sprain of the AC joint in his left shoulder. However, Jackson will most likely be in uniform as he faces his former team.
"I felt I put it out on the line for them when I played there and I've done what I've done to help that organization win games, so as far as if they congratulate me, if they boo me -- whatever the case may be -- I'm ready for whatever it is," Jackson told the team. "If it's all on me, I'm playing. I don't plan on missing this game."
"We were trying not to make this about Robert when Robert was the quarterback," Head coach Jay Gruden said. "We're going to try not to make this about Kirk now that Kirk's the quarterback. We've got to make this about the Redskins moving forward."
Cousins has look very good this season. Passing with a completion rate of 66.7 and 205 yards. He has thrown two touchdowns and zero interceptions. His main target has been Niles Paul. Paul has 18 receptions for 165 yards and a touchdown. His other target to look is Pierre Garcon who has started slow, 11 catches for only 89 yards and zero touchdowns. This season the run game has held the Redskins above water. Alfred Morris has rushed 36 times for 176 yards and two touchdowns in two games. He averages 4.9 yards per rush.
Cousins struggled last season, completing only 52.3 percent of his passes. He had four touchdowns and seven interceptions in three starts and two games where he appeared late in the game. His team lost all three of his starts.
"If we're comparing last season, the last three games to right now, certainly it's different," Cousins said. "Much earlier in the season, with a lot more to play for, and I think that creates a heightened sense of urgency."
Eagles quarterback Nick Foles will be key if they want to win this week three matchup. Foles struggled early in his first game, but has looked solid ever since. His completion rate (58.5) is low because of week one, but he has 653 yards passing, three touchdowns and two interceptions.
"We really need to get things going," Foles said. "There's a lot of stuff that, even though we won like we did, there's a lot of stuff to improve on. That's the exciting thing for us, we need to improve."
LeSean McCoy and Darren Sproles have carried the ball for the Eagles this season. Sproles has carried the ball 15 times for 97 yards and two touchdowns. McCoy on the other had and rushed 41 times for 153 yards, but only one touchdown. Sproles also leads a poor receiving core. He has 11 catches for 116 yards. He is averaging 15.1 yards per reception. Tight end Zach Ertz has proven he is reliable because he has seven grabs for 163 yards and a touchdown. He continues to add to his already impressive season.
"No one should be patting themselves on the back anywhere," said coach Chip Kelly, whose team has totaled six first-half points. "We're fortunate to be 2-0. We've done a great job of coming back in both games, but there is a lot of work in every aspect of the game that we need to work on. So that's the great thing about this group, they understand that."