NFL Preview: It's McNabb vs. Eagles round 2, Philadelphia Eagles vs. Washington Redskins
Donovan McNabb will look to sweep his former team this coming Monday night, while Michael Vick will look to continue his magical season as the Philadelphia Eagles take on the Washington Redskins on Sunday
14 November. The Redskins are coming off their bye week while the Eagles are coming off a hard-fought 26-24 win over Indianapolis last Sunday.
There is plenty to talk about in this matchup, and while it may be cliché, you have to talk about the quarterbacks. There’s the MVP-like season for Vick and there’s turmoil in D.C right now.
Two weeks ago we saw Redskins coach Mike Shanahan pull McNabb with about two minutes left with his team down by six. For a veteran like McNabb, to be pulled with when he’s led plenty of game-winning drives
in his career is unfathomable.
Shanahan gave several reasons for sitting his starter, including ''hamstring issues'' and ''cardiovascular endurance.'' Shanahan instead instilled the erratic Rex Grossman, who right on cue, fumbled on
the first play of the drive, as the Detroit Lions took it the other way to seal the game.
McNabb was professional about being pulled, but the move had football fans scratching their heads. It was reported that McNabb didn’t know the team’s two-minute offence well enough, but hardly anyone could
imagine why Shanahan did what he did.
The only issue that the Eagles have at quarterback is that they have two good ones. Vick may be the starter, but Kevin Kolb is capable of a number one job himself. The Eagles have the best quarterback
situation in the league. Coach Andy Reid has said he feels ''lucky'' that he has two quarterbacks with whom he feels comfortable.
Vick is earning early praise for a possible MVP award. He has the NFL’s best passer rating with 105.3. Vick has only started in five games this season, due to a rib injury in October, but has completed
60.8 per cent of his passes for 1,017 yards and seven touchdowns. Perhaps what is even more impressive is he has thrown zero interceptions. Vick is no longer a running-first quarterback; he’s a passer that can take off at any time. He also has 261 rushing
yards this season with two scores.
What’s even more impressive about Vick this season is he’s become the leader of the young Eagles. While Vick’s attitude in Atlanta led to bad decisions off the field, his attitude in Philadelphia has him
playing well on the field and redeeming himself off the field. He fully believes in his team going forward.
"We have a lot of rising stars, we have a lot of young guys who are very dedicated and we have some veterans who have been around for a long time," he said to reporters. "I think that if we just put it
all together we can make a run at it."
The Redskins need to win to keep up with the Eagles and the powerhouse New York Giants. A win would make Washington 3-0 against their division this year and give them the tiebreaker over the Eagles should
they tie for first in the NFC East. A win for the Eagles would really have them rolling and could leave them in a division race with the New York Giants down the stretch. The first time MnNabb faced his long-time former team, he took home to win. Washington
fans will want to see if he can do it again, while in Philly they'll want to stop him at all costs.
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