This game is no doubt going to be a defensive battle on Monday Night Football.  The Eagles can’t afford to throw the ball every down in this game to have success.  The Redskins will be likely blitzing a little bit more than usual taking a page from the game plan the Raiders used last week to shut the Eagles down.  To slow the blitzing the Eagles must run the ball and throw screen passes to Brian Westbrook and Lesean McCoy.  If the Eagles don’t have any threat of a running game than Donovan McNabb will be a sitting duck like last week.  The Redskins give up 118.0 yards rushing per game so the Eagles would be smart to mix things up better on offense in this game.

It will be interesting to see how new offensive co-ordinator Sherm Lewis plans to attack the Eagles’ D.  The thought here is that Clinton Portis and Ladell Betts will be very busy running the ball against a Eagles’ D that is allowing 103.8 yards rushing per game but only 3.6 yards per carry.  The Eagles will be blitzing from the minute they get off the team bus so look for Jason Campbell to throw a lot of short passes to TE Chris Cooley.  The Raiders’ TE Zach Miller repeatedly torched the Eagles last week so look for Cooley to have a big game.  If the Eagles start to sneak up to stop the running game and the TE look for the Redskins to throw the ball downfield no matter who the QB is.

PREDICTION:  EAGLES 16, REDSKINS 13

The Eagles got some new toys for Donovan McNabb during the NFL Draft and that should make him even better in 2009 than he was in 2008.  While not the runner he once was, McNabb still can run the ball when needed or buy time to chuck it.  McNabb still has a great throwing arm and he’s very sharp on the short stuff.  I’m looking for big things from McNabb in 2009 so Eagles’ fans should give the guy a break.  Kevin Kolb was thought to be the QB of the future for the Eagles a couple of years ago but he looks lost on the football field.  The Eagles even benched McNabb in one game last season and Kolb proved without a doubt that he wasn’t ready for Prime Time.  The #3 QB will be veteran A.J. Feeley who is probably the best quarterback that is number three on the depth chart in the NFL.  He is a solid backup QB who has problems when forced into starting duty.

PROJECTED GRADE FOR THE 2009 SEASON:  A-

The Eagles need 33-year old David Akers to rebound from a rough 2007 season in which he left a lot of points on the field.  Akers played in all 16 games for the Eagles last season and he connected on 24 of 32 (75%) field goal attempts.  Akers also converted all 36 of his extra points.  Akers seems to be starting to look his age and the Eagles can’t afford him messing up in 2008.  Akers has now played in 141 games in his NFL career and he has made 197 of 244 field goals (80.7%).  Akers has also made 308 of 312 extra points (98.7%) in his career.

PROJECTED GRADE FOR THE 2008 SEASON:  C

The Eagles appear four deep with decent TEs for 2008.  It all starts with 28-year old L.J. Smith who has been one of Donovan McNabb’s favorite targets in the past.  He needs to stay healthy to be effective however which he wasn’t very often last year.  Smith played in 10 games for the Eagles last season and he caught 22 passes for 236 yards (10.7 avg) with 1 TD grab.  Look for Smith to rebound with a big season in 2008.  Smith has now played in 73 games in his NFL career and he has caught 194 passes for 2,227 yards (11.5 avg) with 15 TD grabs.

23-year old Brent Celek had a solid rookie season in 2007 for the Eagles.  Celek played in all 16 games for the Eagles last season and he caught 16 passes for 178 yards (11.1 avg) with 1 TD grab.  Look for Celek to have a decent season if he can hold off Kris Wilson and Matt Schobel for playing time.

26-year old Kris Wilson was brought in as a free agent during the offseason from the Chiefs where he was playing a lot of fullback.  Wilson is a good blocker in the running game and he has good hands despite not having the speed to go deep.  Wilson played in all 16 games for the Chiefs last season and he caught 24 passes for 180 yards (7.5 avg) with 1 TD grab.  He also carried the football 3 times for 7 yards (2.3 ypc) last season.  Look for Wilson to get his fair share of the playing time at TE for the Eagles but it will be mostly be on running downs.  Wilson has now played in 46 games in his NFL career and he has caught 42 passes for 345 yards (8.2 avg) with 4 TD grabs.  Wilson has also carried the ball 4 times for 13 yards (3.3 ypc) in his career.

29-year old Matt Schobel appears to have the odds stacked against him as far as playing time goes in 2008.  Schobel played in 15 games for the Eagles last season and he caught 11 passes for 108 yards (9.8 avg) with 1 TD grab.  Unless there is an injury it might be hard for Schobel to move up on the depth chart.  Schobel has now played in 94 games in his NFL career and he has caught 115 passes for 1,260 yards (11.0 avg) with 12 TD grabs.

PROJECTED GRADE FOR THE 2008 SEASON:  C

The Eagles like to move the ball around on offense but the receivers need to start carrying more of the load on offense so that the Eagles don’t overwork Brian Westbrook and cause him to break down.  30-year old Kevin Curtis has stepped up as the #1 WR of the Eagles.  He’s fearless despite being on the small side at 6′0″, 186 pounds and he’s really quick.  Curtis played in all 16 games for the Eagles last season and he caught 77 passes for 1,110 yards (14.4 avg) with 6 TD grabs.  Look for him to have another big season if he can stay healthy.  Curtis has now played in 67 games in his NFL career and he has caught 213 passes for 2,824 yards (13.3 avg) with 18 TD grabs.  Curtis has also carried the football 8 times for 33 yards (4.1 ypc) with 1 TD run in his career.

The Eagles keep waiting for Reggie Brown to live up to his potential.  He has issues with drops that have held him back in his career.  Brown played in all 16 games for the Eagles last season and he caught 61 passes for 780 yards (12.8 avg) with 4 TD grabs.  Brown also carried the football 5 times for 36 yards (7.2 ypc) last season.  Look for Brown to improve his numbers in 2008 as he will maintain his focus all season long.  Brown has now played in 48 games in his NFL career and he has caught 150 passes for 2,167 yards (14.4 avg) with 16 TD grabs.  Brown has also carried the football 9 times for 65 yards (7.2 ypc) with 1 TD run.

The Eagles have not been pleased with the performance of Jason Avant in his first two seasons in the NFL.  Avant has played in 15 games for the Eagles this season and he has caught 23 passes for 267 yards (11.6 avg) with 2 TD grabs.  Avant better come to play this season or he could really take a drop on the depth chart.  Avant has now played in 23 games in his NFL career and he has caught 30 passes for 335 yards (11.2 avg) with 3 TD grabs.

Hank Baskett certainly looks the part at 6′4″, 220 pounds but he’s plays soft for his size.  Baskett played in all 16 games for the Eagles last season and he caught 16 passes for 142 yards (8.9 avg) with 1 TD grab.  Baskett is at a crossroads with the Eagles as they appear to be running out of patience with him.  Baskett has now played in 32 games in his NFL career and he has caught 38 passes for 606 yards (15.9 avg) with 3 TD grabs.

Rookie DeSean Jackson is small at 6′0″, 166 pounds but he’s as fast as lightning.  The Eagles will use Jackson on returns this season but they also have a need at WR and Jackson could earn the #3 job with a good training camp and preseason.  Jackson played in 13 games (10 starts) last season for California and he caught 65 passes for 762 yards (11.7 avg) with 6 TD grabs.  Jackson can certainly get deep and Donovan McNabb still has the arm to get the ball down the field so expect some fireworks between the two this season.  Jackson finished his career at California playing in 37 games (33 starts) in which he caught 162 passes for 2,423 yards (15.0 avg) with 22 TD grabs.

Greg Lewis is also on the small side at 6′0″, 180 pounds but he can really fly.  Lewis played in 15 games for the Eagles last season and he caught 13 passes for 265 yards (20.4 avg) with 3 TD grabs.  Lewis is in a battle for a roster spot but he will have no trouble finding a job if he doesn’t make it with the Eagles.  Lewis has now played in 74 games in his NFL career and he has caught 108 passes for 1,452 yards (13.4 avg) with 6 TD grabs.  Lewis has also carried the ball 6 times for 29 yards (4.8 ypc) this season.

PROJECTED GRADE FOR THE 2008 SEASON:  B-