Week 10 Game Recap: Washington Redskins 3, Philadelphia Eagles 27

What you need to know

Washington Redskins

The early injury to Clinton Portis, a broken hand, hurt the Redskins’ offense. Without Portis, the Redskins were forced to rely more heavily on the passing game, a task made more difficult by the heavy rain which fell much of the game. Ladell Betts, who came in to replace the injured Portis, carried 20 times for 83 yards and was active in the passing game, finishing the game with a total of 91 rushing and receiving yards.

Brunell did not shine. He was able to compile only 132 passing yards, threw for no touchdowns and one interception. Most of Brunell’s 16 completions were short dump-off passes or other intermediate routes that went nowhere. The failure of Brunell and the Redskins to make big plays was the difference in the game. The return of Santana Moss did not lift the team as was originally hoped. Moss was targeted seven times and caught just three passes for 17 yards. Brandon Lloyd was also targeted seven times by Brunell, but caught only two passes.

Philadelphia Eagles

McNabb seemed to struggle on a rainy day in Philadelphia, especially early when many of his passes were errant. He was accurate enough on a play in the first quarter when he found Donte Stallworth open for an 84 yard touchdown. Stallworth, on his first game back from injury, was targeted 11 times in the passing game, and was able to catch six balls for 139 yards and a touchdown. McNabb’s accuracy was better in the second half when he completed eight of ten passes. The Eagles may have worked on clock management during the bye week; their final drive lasted nine minutes and ended with McNabb taking a knee to end the game.

Brian Westbrook was strong early and late in the game, especially during the final period when he gained several key first downs to keep the last drive alive, but was unable to find the end zone. Westbrook also struggled during the second and third periods as Washington made appropriate defensive adjustments and the wet field made it more difficult to make elusive cuts.

What you ought to know

QB Mark Brunell, Pass: 16 - 31 - 132 - 0 TD / 1 INT, Rush: 1 - -1 - 0

Brunell struggled throughout the first half, completing only eight of 20 passing attempts, and went into halftime with just 86 yards. Brunell did not get enough time to make decisions, and his accuracy suffered as a result. The lack of protection forced him to dump off many of his passes to his running backs or tight ends, limiting the team’s yardage totals and eliminating the big play possibility. Brunell was statistically better in the second half, completing eight of 11 passes, but was unable to get his team into the endzone and back into the game. His only interception of the game was a costly one, as it was returned for a touchdown. Brunell finished the game with 132 yards and an interception.

RB Ladell Betts, Rush: 20 - 83 - 0, Rec: 4 - 8 - 0 (5 targets)

Betts, who is normally used as a third down back, and came into the game after the Portis injury. Betts was steady, but not spectacular; Betts carried 17 times and caught three passes in the first half alone, including one 20 yard run late in the second quarter. Betts was also targeted in the passing game and caught a pass on fourth down to keep a drive going for Washington. Betts was a non factor in the second half only getting three carries and he finished the game with 20 carries for 83 rushing yards.

RB Clinton Portis, Rush: 6 - 25 - 0, Rec: 1 - 6 - 0 (1 targets)

Portis was injured late in the first quarter and did not play for the rest of the game. His broken right hand could well have been the difference in the game. Portis was initially successful running the ball to the outside against the Eagles run defense, and had he played the whole game, the Redskins may have been more successful in establishing their passing game. He did not return to the game after the injury and the word is now what he’ll likely miss 3-4 weeks.

RB T.J. Duckett, Rush: 2 - 16 - 0, Rec: 1 - -3 - 0 (1 targets)

Duckett had one twelve yard run on the first of his two carries, and caught his only target for a loss. In a game where Portis was not available for nearly three quarters, it speaks volumes that Duckett got only two carries.

RB Mike Sellers, Rec: 2 - 18 - 0 (2 targets)

Sellers caught both passes thrown his way for 18 yards.

WR Santana Moss, Rec: 3 - 17 - 0 (7 targets)

Moss had problems getting things going, as he was unable to get open in the first half except for a short out pass that picked up a first down for the Redskins. He was mostly targeted with screen passes and short slants, but was only able to make three catches for 17 yards, his worse totals of the season.

WR Antwaan Randle El, Pass: 0 - 1 - 0 - 0 TD / 0 INT, Rush: 2 - 23 - 0

Randle El started the game with an end around, where he reversed field and was able pick up the first down and 20 yards. This was an explosive play for Randle El and the kind of performance the Redskins were hoping for when they signed the free agent this off-season. Randle El lined up several times behind the tight end, and came behind the quarterback, making him available to either pass or run the ball. He threw one pass to Chris Cooley in the end zone (incomplete). However, Randle El was not targeted in the passing game.

WR Brandon Lloyd, Rec: 2 - 47 - 0 (7 targets)

Lloyd was targeted primarily in the deep passing game, and was able to make a remarkable 43 yard diving catch that put his team in field goal range for the only Redskins’ score of the game.

TE Chris Cooley, Rec: 3 - 39 - 0 (4 targets)

Cooley finished the game with three catches for 39 yards, and made the majority of his catches off of play action passes, where he was wide open cutting across the field.

PK Nick Novak 1 - 2 FG, 0 - 0 XP, 3 points

Novak converted on his only opportunity, a 32 yard field goal attempt.

WAS Rush Defense

The rush defense was very inconsistent for the Redskins. During the second and third quarters, they were able to shut down the Eagles’ running game, but in the fourth quarter, when it mattered most, they could not stop Westbrook during the long drive which ended the game.

WAS Pass Defense

The pass defense did a good job in the loss for the Redskins, making just one mistake when McNabb found Stallworth open for an 84 touchdown strike. Other than that, the Redskins held McNabb to just 12 completions, his lowest of the season. Only four Eagles’ receivers were able to make catches.

QB Donovan McNabb, Pass: 12 - 26 - 257 - 2 TD / 0 INT, Rush: 4 - 12 - 0

McNabb was given a lot of time, but was inaccurate, as many of his passes were too high or bounced in front of his intended receivers. He was able to hit a wide open Donte Stallworth on an 84 yard touchdown pass in the first half, but only went four of 16 and 139 yards in that time period. McNabb seemed to make some half-time adjustments and came back in the second half firing short pitch and catches with Donte Stallworth on a long third quarter drive which eventually resulted in an Eagles’ field goal. McNabb did not have his best game.

RB Brian Westbrook, Rush: 22 - 113 - 0, Rec: 3 - 37 - 0 (4 targets)

Westbrook was very successful on the Eagles’ first drive as he was able to find holes, mostly between the tackles. He was targeted in the passing game and he broke several post-catch tackles. Westbrook had a long touchdown called back when the referees correctly noted that he stepped out of bounds at the Redskin’s 29 yard line. Westbrook initially was able to pick up a lot of yards when he ran up the gut. Westbrook was most effective in the Eagles’ final drive of the game, gaining several first downs and purposely staying in bounds to help kill the clock. Although Westbrook was not able to find the end zone, he was able to quietly compile over 150 all purpose yards. He also set a season high for carries in a game, 22, and finished with a 5.1 average per rush.

RB Correll Buckhalter, Rush: 8 - 20 - 0, Rec: 1 - 55 - 1

Buckhalter played his role once again, spelling Westbrook and averaging about 2.5 yards per rush when he did so. Buckhalter was also in the right place at the right time when Reggie Brown fumbled the ball after making a reception; Buckhalter caught the fumble in mid air, and ran it 34 yards for a touchdown. Buckhalter spelled Westbrook for a few plays during the final drive of the game, gaining only short yardage.

WR Donte Stallworth, Rec: 6 - 139 - 1 (11 targets)

Stallworth’s best play of the game came late in the first quarter when he was the recipient of an 84 yard long touchdown pass. He got a couple steps on the defender and was able to use his speed and go into the end zone untouched. Stallworth was mainly targeted on short slant routes after that, picking up between five to ten extra yards a catch. He finished the game with six catches for 139 yards and a touchdown.

WR Reggie Brown, Rec: 1 - 18 - 0 (4 targets)

Brown was targeted early in the game on a flea flicker, but pulled up short and did not even attempt to catch the ball. On subsequent first half plays, he caught two passes for 38 yards, one of which he fumbled into the hands of Correll Buckhalter who ran it to the endzone. Brown injured his hamstring late in the second quarter and did not return in the second half.

WR Greg Lewis (1 targets)

Lewis was targeted only once in the passing game, and felt the effects of Stallworth returning to the lineup after missing several games with a hamstring injury.

TE L.J. Smith, Rec: 1 - 8 - 0 (3 targets)

Although Smith was targeted three times in the passing game, he was only able to make one catch. Smith is normally a very reliable receiver and the incompletions were the fault of the quarterback’s accuracy.

TE Matt Schobel (1 targets)

Schobel was targeted once in the back of the end zone but was unable to make the catch.

PK David Akers 2 - 2 FG, 3 - 3 XP, 9 points

Akers was two for two on field goals, one from 37 yards and the other from 25 yards. He also converted all three of his extra point attempts. However one extra point nearly missed, and the first field goal went left, then right before splitting the uprights.

PHI Rush Defense

The Eagles’ rush defense was exposed at some points, but due to the team’s early lead and the Portis injury, the Redskins were forced to pass and could not rush the ball as many times as they would have hoped, especially in the second half.

PHI Pass Defense

The Eagles’ pass defense did a great job, holding Brunell to just 134 yards, no touchdowns, and an interception return for a touchdown by Sheldon Brown. They very effective defending against Moss and Lloyd, who are normally the Redskin’s play maker receivers and did not let any receiver game over 50 yards in the game.