The Early Trend
The Eagles aren’t usually this balanced in a game. Donovan McNabb passed 19 times and they ran the ball 14 times in the first half. That didn’t change; the running of LeSean McCoy (76 yards on 17 carries) kept the Redskins guessing late.
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Under the radar
The three 2008 second-round picks — tight end Fred Davis, and receivers Devin Thomas and Malcolm Kelly — combined for 10 catches for 140 yards. Each one had gains of at least 25 yards, with Thomas catching a career-long 35-yard touchdown pass.
Did you notice …
How often Levi Jones struggled with Trent Cole in the second half? In the first half, the Redskins used more three-step drops. Later, that changed. And Cole ended up in quarterback Jason Campbell‘s face quite often with a sack and three hurries.
From the sidelines
Andy Reid used more max protection starting early in the fourth quarter, enabling the Eagles to still throw downfield despite not having DeSean Jackson. But Reid put the Eagles in an early hole with that botched onside-kick attempt to start the game.
Redskins coach Jim Zorn, criticized for being too passive at the end of the first half last week against Dallas, now is being pinged for the opposite. But the Eagles were moving the ball and more points were needed. It backfired.
