Answer: Trent Cole vs. whoever played left tackle, which turned out to be Stephon Heyer. I was concerned on the other side, too, in rush situations with RT Jammal Brown vs. Juqua Parker or Brandon Graham. The Redskins often used a tight end to slow Cole and did a good job sealing him on some runs. He did create some trouble, but for the most part the Redskins won this battle. Heyer was OK vs. him, but the scheme made the difference. Philly didn’t have much chance to rush the passer and started blitzing more in the second half when there were opportunities.

Question: Do the Eagles blitz as much as in the past?

Answer: They didn’t start blitzing a lot until the second half when the defense knew it needed to create some pressure and perhaps force the issue. It caused Donovan McNabb to hurry some throws, fail to see some guys break open and to throw other balls into the dirt. But he also picked up a couple key first downs when the Eagles blitzed while playing man. Easy pickup.

Question: Where are they weak defensively?

Answer: They entered the game with holes and that proved accurate, though it’s not as if the Redskins moved the ball all day; just in the first half and mainly on the ground. Opposing QBs have not fared well vs. the Eagles, but they were susceptible on the ground partly because their corners aren’t that physical. They also have some issues at linebacker vs. the pass, but that was not exposed all that much, save for the TD pass to Chris Cooley in which middle linebacker Stewart Bradley was late coming over. What the Redskins did that they hadn’t done is make guys miss while running the ball. Cooley had a terrific day blocking; opened up a few holes.

Question: OK, now to the big question: How much will Donovan McNabb’s return help?

Answer: I thought it would mean a much bigger game for him. He made a few nice plays, a couple with his legs and a couple good passes. But, really, he was rather pedestrian. Had the Redskins won and he’d had a big day, imagine the reaction in Philly today. But the bad McNabb showed up way too much with those passes in the dirt and a little lack of patience on some plays in the pocket. But he did come through on third downs and that was pivotal.

Question:  How much has Michael Vick changed?

Answer: After watching Sunday, who knows? He didn’t play enough to really get a feel. But what I did like was that the Redskins forced him to be patient and he took what was available, whether with dumpoffs or his legs. Eventually that would have made a difference. Would they have won? Well, they were losing with him in the game. But it probably would have forced Washington get score some points in the second half.

Question: How can they stop him?

Answer: Apparently by hurting him. But before that point it was clear what the Redskins wanted to do. Play a lot of two-deep zones, jam the receivers and test Vick’s patience. They used a spy on him at times; sometimes it was a lineman and other times safety LaRon Landry. Vick made guys miss on his runs. Thought it would be a long day if they had to blitz to get pressure and they blitzed less than five times. They didn’t get pressure, but they did force the Eagles to move slowly down the field. A classic bend-but-don’t-break defense. Hello, Greg Blache. It was smart. The Redskins still showed plenty of different looks, but they were more disciplined and allowed less soft areas in coverage. If you’re taking away the deep ball, you’ll have to settle with giving up something and that turned out to be the underneath stuff. Missed tackles, yes, but no big plays downfield and only 12 points.

Question: How good is the run game?

Answer: LeSean McCoy is a good back who hits the hole hard and likes to dance. It helped him on the screens in particular. The Eagles did average 4.4 yards per carry, but they moved the ball more with short passes than on the ground. It wasn’t a great effort vs. the run, but it was good enough.

Question: Where are the Eagles weak offensively?

Answer: Didn’t like their line and it was OK; they got called for four holding penalties – two vs. Brian Orakpo, one apiece vs. Albert Haynesworth and Andre Carter. Often times the Eagles used six blockers to protect four; that was their strategy on their touchdown drive. It worked as they scored, but the Redskins also forced them to use more clock than they’d like. The Eagles did not match the Redskins when it came to physical play and that was a difference, too. Still, I didn’t think Washington took advantage of this line as much as it could have.

Question: How will they handle the wideouts?

Answer: The Redskins had the right guys to match up with these wideouts, but it wasn’t a case of two guys shutting down DeSean Jackson and Jeremy Maclin. It was a combo effort. The Redskins jammed the receivers at the line an awful lot, whether with linebackers or corners dropping into a zone. Looked like they played some press man (can be hard to tell) with help over the top and definitely some press zone. The safeties were mostly disciplined, though it appeared Landry blew a coverage that could have yielded a huge play to Jackson. But the Eagles had no rhythm in their downfield passing game and Kevin Kolb missed him. Heck, Kolb didn’t see Jackson another time because he was too busy throwing a quick dumpoff. And give the Redskins credit for sticking with their game plan. A staff that likes to blitz was patient and even though they got no pressure with four, it did the trick because the Eagles could not hurt them downfield.

Question: Who will win?

Answer: I picked the Eagles, but I thought it would be a four-point win (28-24). Thought the Eagles had holes; didn’t think the Redskins could take advantage. And with Stephon Heyer and then Will Montgomery in the game? No way. Of course, I also figured Vick would play the entire game and, yes, that would have made a big difference. How much so? Don’t know. Just know the Redskins played physical and established an identity for the first time this season. They made plays when needed. But I loved how physical they were early, especially Lorenzo Alexander and Ryan Torain. That’s the best Torain has looked since camp opened; he made decisive cuts and set defenders up better, getting linebackers to overpursue and then cutting back. Anthony Armstrong was fantastic for the most part as a blocker. Saw him drive one guy out of bounds and did a nice job a couple other times. Add it up and they were the more physical team. It was a throwback win.  

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