Philadelphia Eagles: Sunday is the kind of game to dread

When they visit the Washington Redskins in Week 15 NFL action, the Philadelphia Eagles will have a whole lot to lose and not all that much to gain.

Even with the staggering number of injuries to their roster and their maddening inconsistency this season, the Philadelphia Eagles (6-7) should still handle a moribund Washington Redskins (3-10) club on Sunday.

“Should” being the operative word.

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Because even though the Eagles miraculously still have a chance to win the NFC East while the Redskins would probably be best served to keep losing to maintain a good draft position, there’s just something about these kinds of games that never play out they way that they “should”.

And I personally will be filled with extra dread on Sunday because I’ve decided to head to our nation’s capital (Maryland, close enough) with a pair of friends to actually take in the game.

I’m putting myself on line here. It’s the first Eagles game I’ve been to in seven years (which was terrible) and the first time I’ve ever gone to see them on the road. Please don’t let me down, Birds.

While a win is the goal so that the Eagles can carry some kind of forward momentum into next week’s showdown with the Dallas Cowboys, it really wouldn’t do a heck of a lot for the Birds in terms of the standings. Because even if they beat the ‘Skins, they still need a win against the Cowboys in Week 16.

A lose to Washington, meanwhile, could be potentially disastrous. It sets up a scenario where, even if the Eagles defeat the Cowboys next week, they could still need Dallas to lose to these same Redskins in Week 17. Good luck with that.

Am I saying that the Eagles are totally overlooking this game and are already preoccupied with Dallas next week? Not exactly. The situation is closer to this: There is little reward in defeating Washington but a ton of risk/punishment in losing to them.

I guarantee you that somebody on the Eagles has thought this through. And while it doesn’t mean that they’ll necessarily be so “tight” on Sunday that they’re bound to lay an egg (again), this kind of pressure doesn’t help.

So here’s hoping that Carson Wentz and company can carry on the kind of inspired play that we saw from them in the second half and overtime of last week’s crazy win.

It’d be great if they didn’t let the potential “cost of losing” get to them on Sunday. Meanwhile, I’ll be thinking about it every second I’m in my seat.

If the Eagles come away with a loss, it still doesn’t wreck their season, especially if the Cowboys manage to lose to the Los Angeles Rams. Yet it makes their potential postseason path (say that three times fast) so much more difficult.

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If they manage to screw up and lose to this Redskins team, it’s going to be a long ride back home for the Eagles, and more importantly, for me.

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