Cousins feeling settled as Redskins starting QB

What will the Eagles defense try to do to slow down the Redskins offensive attack on Saturday and how would the Redskins be best served attacking the Eagles defense? That should be an encouraging sign for the Eagles, who will have the opportunity to move the ball against Washington.

The Redskins (7-7) are the only. But building trust, confidence and, as simple as it sounds, better chemistry – especially among Cousins and his receivers – has allowed the team to get hot in all phases at the right time.

Agholor, who was shut out last Sunday by Patrick Peterson, will be covered by Bashaud Breeland. A loss, and their season will essentially come to an end, as their finale against the New York Giants would be rendered nearly meaningless. The Redskins might not be able to take advantage of that (3.69 rushing yards per play, 29th).

It hasn’t been a broken line of success for Cousins from the first Eagles game to this one.

-Redskins DE Jason Hatcher vs. Eagles LT Jason Peters.

The Eagles would be thrilled to strike up the running game. When Gruden saw Washington ranked in the bottom two or three of virtually every preseason ranking, he decided that this was a good motivational tool.

That was Eagles linebacker Mychal Kendricks, shortly after the Cardinals blew the Eagles out of The Linc on Sunday Night Football. Top cornerback Byron Maxwell missed practice again on Wednesday because of a sprain in his SC joint. If Maxwell is absent, the Eagles could turn to veteran E.J. Biggers as the starting cornerback.

Through the first six games of the 2015 season, his first as a full-time starter, Cousins looked like a serviceable National Football League quarterback, a guy who probably would never become a top-notch starter. QB Kirk Cousins comes in sizzling with 16 touchdowns and three interceptions in the past eight games and four scores last week. But Cousins is more effective at home.

The Eagles’ postseason hopes last December were dashed when DeSean Jackson raced past defenders for 126 yards on a Week 16 Saturday night.

It will be interesting to see if one of the team’s highest-paid players watches from the sideline in the biggest game of the year.

Jackson, like McCoy, had an unceremonious split with the Eagles. The most consistent and reliable receiver all season has been tight end Jordan Reed, who leads them in receptions (74), yards (778) and touchdowns (9). Look for safety Malcolm Jenkins to cover Reed. Can Jackson keep them in check and perform as he has in recent weeks? The Eagles also have to tackle running backs Alfred Morris, Matt Jones and Chris Thompson.

-The Eagles defense has given up 178 points in the last five games, including 40 points in last week’s loss to Arizona.

The Eagles had only one sack and forced only one turnover in the first meeting with Washington.

The Eagles need to win to stay alive.

Jackson is healthy and stealthy fast after missing six games earlier in the season with a hamstring injury. Backup Ty Nsekhe would block Connor Barwin if Moses is out.

Another matchup between two Pro Bowlers. Washington allows 10.2 yards per punt return and has already given up a touchdown. That was also the last time the Redskins swept the Eagles in the season series, which is what they can do with a win on Saturday. He’s 22 for 25 on field goals and 32 for 32 on extra points.

Note how Gruden emphasized that he tries not to pay attention to the pundits right in the middle of a lengthy monologue about how he felt disrespected and insulted by the pundits.