Steelers vs. Redskins: 5 Things to Watch During NFL Preseason Week 1 Matchup

Redskins Quarterbacks Against The Pittsburgh Defense

Now that Donovan McNabb has been traded to the Minnesota Vikings, quarterback is a question mark for the Redskins. John Beck is the anointed starter who had a few starts in his 2007 rookie year and hasn't seen the field since.

Beck's 2011 training camp got off to a rough start, where he developed a sore throwing arm and had to be shut down a few days. Washington brought back veteran journeyman Rex Grossman, who gave up a defensive touchdown the first time he touched the ball last year. This did not stop him from recently declaring the Redskins would win the NFC East this year, where most pundits expect them to dwell at the bottom of the standings.

Pittsburgh is full of skilled defenders who have helped the team reach two of the last three Super Bowls. Hall of Famer Dick LeBeau, the innovator of the zone blitz, is 73-years young and has been a member of the NFL since 1959.

Called "Coach Dad" by his players, LeBeau is trusted and beloved by the Steelers defenders. He has a knack for putting players in the right positions to make plays, as well as unearth gems that other teams overlooked.

Whomever is behind center for the Redskins should expect a few blitzes and pressure while trying to unload the football. Beck will try to avoid meeting 2010 NFL Defensive Player of the Year Troy Polamalu in every way for the limited snaps the Pro Bowl strong safety will play for the Steelers.






Trench Battle

There are changes on both teams offensive lines that have each franchise headed in a youthful direction. Washington cut veteran center Casey Rabach and Pittsburgh released veteran tackle Max Starks.

Cameron Heyward, the son of the late Pro Bowl fullback Craig "Ironhead" Heyward, is Pittsburgh's first-round draft pick this year. He will get a good look to see how much he can push veterans Brett Keisal and Ziggy Hood at defensive end. Aaron Smith is a 35-year old defensive end who has been a Pro Bowler and Steelers defensive end for 13 seasons, but injuries have limited him to 11 games the past two years and he is now fighting to keep a job.

The Redskins have added veteran defensive linemen Barry Cofield and Stephen Bowen, while drafting Jarvis Jenkins and Chris Nield. Lousy versus the run in 2010, Washington is trying to get better at that area this year. First round draft pick Ryan Kerrigan will get his first look as a linebacker after spending his collegiate career at defensive end, a similar move made by Redskins Pro Bowl linebacker Brian Orakpo in 2009.

Washington will have a few new faces on the offensive line, but new starting center Will Montgomery's first snaps will come against wily veteran nose tackle Casey Hampton. Marcus Gilbert and Kevin Williams are a pair of rookie blockers the Steelers plan to work hard to get their feet wet.






Redskins Many Wide Receivers Take On A Ton Of Steelers Defensive Backs

Pittsburgh has an idea of who will start in their defensive secondary this year, but improving the depth chart is their goal. They will have 15 defensive backs suited up for this game, possibly the only game some players will ever get into.

Washington has 11 wide receivers. Three were drafted and two veterans were signed as free agents. Yet the one layer who may be most under the microscope is fourth-year pro Malcolm Kelly. Kelly's best move since being drafted in the second round of the 2008 draft has been cashing an undeserved paycheck.

This could be the final games of his career, but Washington has hopes for the 6'4" Kelly because he is by far the biggest receiver on the team. The hope is that he can add a dimension to their attack, especially in the red zone.




Suisham's Revenge

Placekicker Shaun Suisham played for the Redskins from 2006 to 2009. He was replaced by Graham Gano after 12 games into 2009 despite the fact he had missed just three field goals. Gano missed eight field goals in 2010 and is now being challenged in camp by veteran Shayne Graham, who grew up in the same town as Redskins legend Gary Clark in Radford, Virginia.

Suisham played seven games for Pittsburgh last year after veteran Jeff Reed had an off year. Suisham missed just one kick in 15 attempts for the Steelers during their Super Bowl run. He is one of just three players in in NFL history to kick four field goals of 40 yards or longer in one game.





Washington Attempts To Find Their 2011 Running Backs

Drafting two halfbacks in 2011 is a sign Washington wants to improve this area. Trading for the versatile Tim Hightower hammers in that point even further.

While 2010 was a pleasant surprise by the effectiveness of Ryan Torain, he once again went down to injuries. He has been carrying the label of being injury-prone since college. Undrafted Keiland Williams was also a nice find in his rookie year, showing to be an effective receiver.

James Davis has had a disappointing NFL career since being drafted in 2009. He has also dealt with several injuries since college. Rookie Roy Helu is another halfback who struggled with injuries in college.

Rookie Evan Royster is the only Penn State running back with three 1,000+ yard seasons, a school that produced such legends as Hall of Famer Franco Harris, Lydell Mitchell, and 1973 Heisman Trophy winner John Cappelletti. He could be standing tall at the end if the competition goes down with injuries yet again.

While some expect Hightower to start this year, his reserves need to be settled. Williams has fullback experience, which improves his value. With the history of injuries most of the running backs in camp have, choosing the right reserves is both a gamble and critical to the success of the 2011 season.

The Redskins Murky Quarterback Future And Week 10 Picks

For more than a decade, the media has a tendency to overly promote and overrate the most overrated position in the NFL. The quarterback of today is more robotic than legendary, relying on a coach to tell him exactly what to do every play through means of telecommunications.

With rules pandering to them at every action possible, a quarterback no longer has to use his brains and show hid football IQ.No longer do they call their own plays, for the most part. Few are allowed to actually play football anymore, relying on what they were taught and have leaned.

Still, the media pushes them on the public with hopes of adoration so the public will buy the accessories sold at concession stands to keep the dream alive. This has led to banner headlines for a few who have failed to deliver the promise yet. This list of underachievers include Brett Favre, Matt Schaub, Matthew Stafford, Alex Smith, Jay Cutler, Jake Delhomme, and more.

Donovan McNabb may head the list of some who expected more from him so far. Expecting a backlash of an embarrassing trade from a team he carried over a decade to a long time divisional rival, McNabb has been let down more than he has disappointed.

From below mediocre play from his offensive line, to battered offensive tackles and running backs, to deceitful and dishonest coaches, it appears likely McNabb will be looking for another team next season after the impending players lock out is resolved. Though he says he plans to be a Redskin next year, McNabb still is without a contract or even an offer to play in Washington beyond 2010.

But no one knows what the back up plan is for the Redskins if McNabb leaves even with a contract offer due to the disrespect he has incurred by coaches who supposedly wanted him as the signal caller just a few months ago.

Rex Grossman is listed as the second stringer, but he is not an NFL caliber quarterback. Grossman needs a great defense and running game to look almost decent, like he did in Chicago for just one season in 2006. A year that saw him benched at one point due to sub par play.

In his first play of 2010, Grossman stayed true to his previous form by promptly fumbling the ball and watching it returned for a touchdown. The third stringer is journeyman John Beck, who is on his third team since 2007. Neither of these quarterbacks are building blocks of the future for even a UFL, CFL, or Arena team.

Added to the fact Washington has no quarterbacks on the practice squad developing, the future at this position is as bright as a mud puddle and it is very foreseeable none of the 2010 quarterbacks will be on the team next year.

Washington should consider getting one young quarterback to develop in case this happens, and there is one buried on a taxi squad right now. Nate Davis, of the San Francisco 49ers, was drafted last season and has had a few promising moments in preseason.

He came out after his junior season, but fell to the fifth round because teams were concerned about his dyslexia. Standing six foot two inches and weighing 225 lbs, Davis has had a few moments that showed why he was considered a second round prospect by some by displaying good arm strength and intangibles conducive to winning.

Taking a player off another teams practice squad would not cost the Redskins a player nor draft pick. Since Beck serves no real purpose rotting on the bench, taking a flier on a young quarterback to see if he can have a future to develop the last eight weeks of the season is a situation where no one loses.

If he shows promise, then Washington can at least have a little more reason to relax if none of the quarterbacks on this years roster returns. The Redskins will not be in a good enough draft position to draft a top college quarterback next year, unless they gamble by trading away too much in order to move up.

If Davis shows no promise, then they basically have the same dead weight that Grossman and Beck currently carry. Risking no future to develop while spitting in the face of the starter who becomes a free agent in a few months is a crazy gamble that no one in their right mind would plan out. Washington may now end up trying to overpay McNabb even more to bring him back, and there are no guarantees he will.

There are also no guarantees the Redskins will draft or sign a free agent next year capable of starting with success. They already have hinted at their desperation to this situation by asking JaMarcus Russell to work out for them last week. Russell is a lazy, uninterested flop the Oakland Raiders unfortunately wasted the first pick of the 2007 draft on before finally parting ways with him a couple of months back.

Redskins fans nervously await to see what their team has planned for 2011 at quarterback, because the team has shown no indication of a thought towards the matter yet. Confusion has taken over with head coach Mike Shanahan lying to the media, while his son continues to call poor plays that offer McNabb no real help.

When the Shanahan's tried to claim McNabb didn't know the playbook, that spoke more on them than him. It showed poor coaching, because no respectable coach would allow a player to start at any position unprepared. It also shows a lack of work ethic by the coaches. Last years head coach, Jim Zorn, may have been overmatched, but he had his players knowing what plays were being called.

Now is the time to act, instead of meander like the present pace. Either get a quarterback to develop or throw some trust in McNabb. If things stay the way they are now until seasons end, Mike Shanahan will have shown little improvement over Zorn whatever the teams record ends up as.. Something owner Dan Snyder did not pay $15 million for.




Houston Texans @ Jacksonville Jaguars

Two of the many erratic NFL teams this season. Both are capable of blowing each other out. While both teams run the ball well, neither is especially impressive on defense.

Jaguars quarterback David Garrard has been playing better as of late, and both of these .500 teams need to win to have realistic playoff dreams. Indianapolis sits with Tennessee over them in the division, so a loss here can quell aspirations.

It may come down to the passing game, but Houston's best receiver and tight end are hobbled. With both starting quarterbacks having tossed seven interceptions already, that may make a difference.

Jaguars 27 Texans 17







Tennessee Titans @ Miami Dolphins

The Dolphins 2010 season took quite a bad blow with a loss last week. Another loss may well be considered the final nail to the coffin holding post season aspirations, now barely on life support.

Tennessee's 26th ranked passing offense gets a much needed boost from the addition of wide receiver Randy Moss, especially after the promising Kenny Britt went down with a bad hamstring injury.

The starting quarterbacks will be in the spotlight here. The running games on both sides are well known and respected, but the passing games are not been consistent. Miami's Chad Pennington will need to be especially sharp attacking the Titans 23rd ranked passing defense, after surprisingly being named the starter this week.

Act of desperation by Dolphins head coach Tony Sparano?

Dolphins 23 Titans 17







Cincinnati Bengals @ Indianapolis Colts

The Bengals season is over, as most said it was the day the paired perennial jackasses Terrell Owens and Chad Ochocinco together. Though the dynamic duds have decent stats, it comes at the expense of the offense and quarterback Carson Palmer showed he was more submissive to the malcontents than a leader. It still isn't enough, because Ochocinco was last heard whining about being double teamed a few days ago.

Indianapolis should not be winning, yet they are. With seemingly half the roster injured, they are seemingly scooping guys off the unemployment line for quarterback Peyton Manning to throw to and succeeding. This may be the best season he has ever had.

Cincinnati has an excellent pair of young cornerbacks, yet both have had an off year. Though their defense isn't great at stopping the run, the Colts are playing with not much depth because of injuries. Manning will have to carry his team again.

Colts 34 Bengals 23







Minnesota Vikings @ Chicago Bears

The Vikings went from contenders to crybaby losers in eight weeks. They now got idiots crying to the media about how much they hate their head coach instead of keeping it in-house and resolving it. Call this attention whore act the "Brett Favre Effect".

Yet they are sitting in a fork in the road that can easily lead them to a revival. A win Sunday has them a step closer to revival, though their future schedule will not be an easy task. This game will pretty much rest on the erratic arm of Favre, coming off his best game in this season.

For as much trouble as Chicago has had offensively, a win here vaults them into first place. They don't run the ball much, so the Vikings secondary has to be ready. Though they are the tenth best pass defense in the NFL in yards allowed, there is also a lack of interceptions and sacks so far.

Minnesota can get well real fast against a suspect Bears offensive line, but Chicago quarterback Jay Cutler was brought in, for a load of draft picks, to win these type of games. Yet it will have to be their defense that wins it as usual, as the 29th ranked offense may have issues against the Vikings fifth ranked defense.

Vikings 27 Bears 13






Detroit Lions @ Buffalo Bills

Too bad the late great author George Plimpton can't sue Detroit quarterback Matthew Stafford for plagiarizing his "Paper Lion" shtick. He could give all that unearned money Stafford is pocketing, and give it back to the team while forcing a drop in ticket prices.

Stafford is probably gone for the year again, just like last year, because of injuries. Detroit has given him $50 million of guaranteed money for 13 games, 19 touchdowns, and 21 interceptions over two years. Move over JaMarcus Russell, we have the poster boy for a needed salary cap on rookies about to become the biggest bust in the past decade.

Buffalo is where the Lions were two years ago, as far as being without a win. Yet their future does not appear as rosy yet like the Lions did in 2008. Shaun Hill replaces Stafford, and has been mostly excellent. The best backup quarterback in the NFL has led Detroit to the eighth rank passing attack, but he is dealing with an injured forearm himself.

Buffalo is excellent against the pass, so the Lions need to run well to win. Their running attack has been poor all year, so it is quite a task. I have picked the Bills to win their first game the past two weeks to no avail. I will pick Detroit so Buffalo can finally win one.

Lions 17 Bills 13






New York Jets @ Cleveland Browns

Legendary defensive guru Buddy Ryan has pretty much stayed on his farm since leaving the NFL in 1995. Maybe he will make the trip to Ohio, because his twin sons will oppose each other. It is also Browns head coach Eric Mangini's time to face the team that fired him two years ago, and Jets wide receiver Braylon Edward's should expect to be lustily booed by the "Dawg Pound" upon his return to Cleveland.

The eldest Ryan won his first Super Bowl ring with the Jets in 1969, something Rex Ryan has long been claiming New York would do again this year. Rob Ryan has a Browns defense that has played poorly most of this season, but the unit appears to be turning the corner. After giving up just 17 points to the high powered New Orleans Saints two weeks ago, they held the New England Patriots to just 14 last week.

Both teams need to run to win, something that does not escape either Ryan. The young starting quarterbacks on both teams need to excel, and the Jets youngster has a lot more game experience under his belt than Cleveland's young signal caller.

This may be a game where Browns Pro Bowl returner Joshua Cribbs makes the difference, and he is due to break out because his 2010 season has been pretty mediocre so far.

Browns 16 Jets 9






Carolina Panthers @ Tampa Bay Buccaneers

Carolina has been devastated by injuries this year, and they played three quarterbacks last week. Tampa Bay needs to win this to keep pace in their division, while the one win Panthers seem destined to battle for the top draft pick in 2011.

Buccaneers 17 Panthers 14








Kansas City Chiefs @ Denver Broncos

Kansas City got dealt some reality in a tough loss last week. Their defense gives up a ton of yards, especially against the run. For as awful as Denver has been, they have the seventh ranked defense in yards allowed.

The Chiefs need to pound the ball against a suspect Broncos run defense., while Denver needs to find theirs for the first time this year. Denver's rushing attack is so erratic, they should consider putting reserve quarterback Tim Tebow at fullback.

Expect Denver to air it out when they need it most. Kyle Orton is second in the NFL in yards passing per game with 313.6, yet his 12 touchdown passes has been matched by the Chiefs Matt Cassell.

Chiefs 20 Broncos 17







Seattle Seahawks @ Arizona Cardinals

Both teams are pretty lousy, yet they are both very much in contention for the NFC West title. Expect wacky plays to decide this snooze-fest.

Seahawks 21 Cardinals 17







Dallas Cowboys @ New York Giants

Promoting offensive coordinator Jason Garrett to head coach over Wade Phillips is subtraction by subtraction. Though Phillips had to go, Garrett is probably one of the biggest reasons Dallas has only one win this year.

He has forgotten the running game, so the Giants pass rushers can pin their ears back. Though the Cowboys are telling reporters how pumped they were in practice this week, New York has a veteran squad who fully understands they will probably get the best shot that Dallas has to offer.


Giants 27 Cowboys 24







Saint Louis Rams @ San Francisco 49ers

Defense leads the way for the Rams as they look to continue their surprising 2010 season in this divisional battle against a disappointing 49ers. San Francisco has a good defense themselves, led by Pro Bowl linebacker Patrick Willis and his 70 tackles and a sack. The Rams have linebacker James Laurinaitis with 61 tackles and two sacks.

The Niners expect to start 2006 Heisman winner Troy Smith at quarterback, while the Rams counter with 2008 winner Sam Bradford as their starter. Smith appears to be a journeyman type, while Bradford has shown some promise at times.

The halfbacks are the stars of the offenses. How effective Steven Jackson and Frank Gore are against very good run defenses will hold the key to the outcome.

Rams 24 49ers 16







New England Patriots @ Pittsburgh Steelers

This is an intriguing battle of a pair of 6-2 teams.

The Patriots are fresh off being stomped by a Cleveland Browns team that ran the ball down their throats while playing good defense. This is a formula Pittsburgh has practiced since 1970 for the most part.

While the Steelers do not have the smash mouth running back Cleveland has, they are effective on the ground despite having backs attempting to return from concussions. Losing left tackle Max Starks for the season is a tremendous blow.

While quarterback Ben Roethlisberger has not been horrible upon his return from suspension, Pittsburgh needs more from him if they are to improve their 27th ranked aerial attack. New England has the 29th ranked defense, and they struggle especially against the thrown ball.

New England will rely on quarterback Tom Brady, because trying to run against the Steelers top ranked run defense it near impossible this season. The pass defense is ranked 24th, so the Patriots will need to block well against the Steelers blitzes. New England, on the other hand, needs to beat the depleted Steelers offensive line to win.

Steelers 28 Patriots 24






Philadelphia Eagles @ Washington Redskins
Game of the Week

Donovan McNabb seems to be at his best when the chips are down and against him. The Redskins veteran quarterback was embarrassed two weeks ago by being benched late in the game, then having his coaches, the Shanahan's, lie about the reasons as to why it occurred.

He has been benched before, in 2008 by Philadelphia. He responded to that by throwing 14 touchdowns against five interceptions over eight games, winning six. His ego bruised, his reputation besmirched by lies, and facing the team that dumped him a few months ago, McNabb knows his future in Washington is tenuous and a strong outing will shut up the Shanahan's and other critics.

Philadelphia has had their own quarterback stories themselves this season. Michael Vick stepped in for an injured Kevin Kolb and excelled until he was injured in the Eagles first meeting with the Redskins. He has now returned to health, and was sharp last week in a victory over a Indianapolis team that defeated Washington three weeks ago.

The Redskins need this win desperately, sitting at .500 now. Philadelphia needs it just as bad to stay within reach of the division leading Giants. They both face a tough schedule ahead, so this game can set a tone of how the rest of the season will go because so much emotion is riding high.

With the Redskins rushing attack in question, as Clinton Portis' return is questionable and Ryan Torain is coming off a knee injury, McNabb will have to be nearly perfect for Washington to sweep the series between the two rivals this year.

Redskins 31 Eagles 27






Power Rankings

1. Steelers
2. Giants
3. Jets
4. Patriots
5. Falcons
6. Colts
7. Titans
8. Ravens
9. Saints
10. Eagles
11. Packers
12. Buccaneers
13. Chargers
14. Raiders
15. Chiefs
16. Texans
17. Dolphins
18. Redskins
19. Rams
20. Bears
21. Vikings
22. Jaguars
23. Seahawks
24. Bengals
25. Broncos
26. Browns
27. Lions
28. Cardinals
29. Cowboys
30. 49ers
31. Bills
32. Panthers

Last Week : 11-2
Overall Record : 66-48

Washington Redskins 2010 Midseason Grades

Quarterback

Donovan McNabb - B - : McNabb has had to carry the Redskins offense so far. He has had the running game help him seldomly, and is third on the team is yards rushing himself. He has done this dealing with nagging injuries all season, so a week off will help.

His accuracy tossing the ball has been wildly erratic for the most part. Though he has had more pressure than most NFL QB's due to a porous offensive line, so he won't get a fair grade unless he can have at least just a few games of competent blocking in front of him.

Enjoy him now Redskins fans, because the Shanahan's have made it quite clear he will not be back next season.


Rex Grossman - D - : One of the worst backup quarterbacks in the NFL. He was called into one game and promptly fumbled a ball that was returned for a touchdown by the opponents.






Running Back

Clinton Portis - C - : Most pundits felt the 29-year old was running on flat tires before the season began, and he did little to dispel those opinions in the four games he played before getting hurt.

After averaging barely three yards on his first 31 carries, Washington started handing the ball off to other players more often. His last 18 carries bumped up his yards per carry average to four, but his main contribution this year was pass blocking.


Ryan Torain - A : Torain has been a very pleasant surprise. He did not even make the team coming out of camp, and was only given the chance because head coach Mike Shanahan drafted him in 2008 during the fifth round with the Denver Broncos and getting hurt after two games..

Torain has played just six games, after playing none last year,, but leads the Redskins in rushing with 391 yards and three scores while averaging 4.5 yards per carry. He also has eight catches and another touchdown. If he had not given Washington this, their record would be a lot worse right now.


Keiland Williams - A - : Williams made the team as an undrafted free agent rookie with just a few starts in college. He soon found himself placed as the teams pass catching specialist out of the backfield.

He was cut after week three when Portis went down, but was back a week later. He is third on the team in receptions, and did a good job filling in for an injured Torain by scoring. His pass blocking needs improvement, but that is a typical quandary for rookies.


Mike Sellers - B : Sellers is consistent when asked to catch the ball. He has 12 receptions so far, but his main job is to run block. He has been inconsistent in this area, and seems to have lost a step at 35-years old.







Tight Ends

Chris Cooley - A + : Cooley leads all NFC tight ends in receptions and is second in the NFL behind Antonio Gates of San Diego. His two scores is also tied for the team lead.

Cooley came into the season excited to play with McNabb, hoping to become a favorite target. He has done just that and is also a very underrated blocker who appears headed to his third Pro Bowl.


Fred Davis - D : The question about Davis has always been how much he really likes football, considering he has said he isn't much of a fan of the game when not playing it. Shades on ex-Redskin Michael Westbrook.

After coming up big last year when Cooley went down for the year, he has been virtually invisible so far this season. He has nine catches so far, and has not blocked very well often in jumbo sets.







Wide Receivers

Santana Moss - A : Moss has been the steady receiver Washington needs. He already has 48 receptions and has also shown to be an excellent blocker down field. He is quietly putting together one of the best seasons of his career.


Anthony Armstrong - A+ : Easily the best rookie the Redskins has this season. He sat on NFL practice squads for a few years, as well as playing in the Intense Football League, before making a squad in desperate need of receiver help this season.

He has 17 receptions at a 18 yards per catch clip, but he has been more than a deep threat. He has a propensity of always being around the ball, whether it is snagging a pass deflection, falling on a fumble, or making a tackle on special teams.


Joey Galloway - C : It is amazing he even wears a uniform these days at 39-years old. He has pitched in with eight receptions, but is no longer the consistent threat he once was.


Roydell Williams - C : The journeyman rarely plays, and has two receptions so far.


Brandon Banks - A - : He hasn't been used on offense really, and has one catch. That is probably due to the fact he has major ball security issues.

He makes his bones returning kicks, something Washington did not ask him to do until the fourth week this season. After making the team out of camp, the rookie was cut and brought back as the season went on.

He has 16 kickoff returns for 436 yards and a score. The 213 yards he had Sunday almost matched his seasons total, and an additional touchdown called back on a penalty. Banks has also pitched in 17 punt returns for 234 yards. He is exciting when he is able to hold onto the ball.






Offensive Line

Trent Williams - A : The rookie has been everything Washington hoped for since being drafted in the first round. He has struggled at times, bu mostly with his health. A week off will do him good.



Jamal Brown - B - : Brown has done well run blocking, but most of this season has seen him play injured. His return to full health is sorely needed.



Stephon Heyer - B+ : Heyer has been valuable coming off the bench when Williams and Brown have gone down frequently with injuries. He has also cut down on mistakes, which Heyer was known to often make in his previous three years with the club.



Artis Hicks - D : Hicks is a journeyman backup that Washington overpaid to get as a free agent this year. When a flag is thrown for holding or a false start, Hicks is usually the culprit. There have been moments he has run blocked well, but Hicks has generally played poorly so far.



Kory Lichtensteiger - C : He was drafted in the fourth round of the 2008 draft by Shanahan, and he spent his rookie year as a reserve. Denver let him go after firing Shanahan, and he spent about three weeks with the Minnesota Vikings last year but never saw the field.

Washington signed him one week after Shanahan was hired this year. Though his best position is center, Lichtensteiger replaced Derrick Dockery at left guard in week three and has stayed there since. He isn't overpowering, but he rarely makes mistakes either. There is a very good chance he starts at center next year.



Derrick Dockery - D : Dockery earned a starting job early in his rookie year, then went 111 games starting and never missing a game. After the second week of this season, his streak was snapped when Washington benched him. Dockery hasn't been seen since, which says a lot for an offensive line that has played as poorly as the Redskins have in the middle.


Casey Rabach - D : He is 33-years old, but has played a lot older too many times this season. Last Sunday was a perfect example, as he stepped on quarterback Donovan McNabb's foot twice in the first quarter, killing two drives. Only outmatched centers make the error of stepping into the bucket, especially one as veteran as Rabach.

Both Rabach and Hicks have been the weak link of the Redskins offensive line, and the worst kind of pressure a quarterback can face comes from up the middle. Though it may be easy to say Rabach needs to be benched, the backups aren't any better and he was recently signed to a 3 year contract worth $12.3 million.








Defensive Line

Albert Haynesworth- D - : Though he has played his best football for Washington the past two weeks, he still is basically a grossly overpaid reserve who is one of the biggest free agent busts in NFL history. It is doubtful the sullen, immature Haynesworth will be much more than that, given his present state of mind and heart.



Adam Carriker- C - : Carriker had a few flashes this year that showed why he was a first round pick in 2007, yet he has just eight tackles and a half a sack as a reserve so far.


Kedric Golston - D : He has just seven tackles in six games this season. Not exactly stellar production from a starter.


Ma'ake Kemoetu - B - : He is the Redskins best defensive lineman, and leads the unit with 16 tackles from his nose tackle position so far. He is the only consistent run stuffer the team has.

Vonnie Holliday - C : The 35-year old journeyman has pitched in on 11 tackles, a half a sack, and a couple of batted down balls in his five games.

Phillip Daniels - B : The 37-year old Daniels has been helpful when he has played, which is just three games so far. He has seven tackles and a sack.






Linebackers

London Fletcher - A : A true pro. His transition to the 3-4 has gone very well, and he is second on the team in tackles. He also leads the Redskins in forced and recovered fumbles, while showing he can still defend against the pass well.

Fletcher has also pitched in 1.5 sacks, which is just half a sack short of his high mark with Washington. One of the only consistent players on the Redskins roster, the 35-year old may be heading to his second Pro Bowl at this pace.


Brian Orakpo - B : Orakpo is basically just a pass rusher right now. His seven sacks lead the team, and it is tied as the third most in the NFL so far. Though he is not much of a pass defender, Washington would like to see him improve against the run.



Andre Carter - C - : The veteran defensive end has struggled in his transition to linebacker. He has just 19 tackles and a sack thus far, and has lost his starting job. Washington has lately been putting him back at defensive end on passing downs to try to get him going.



Lorenzo Alexander : B + : Mr. Versatile has been found playing along the line on either side of the ball, at fullback, and now at linebacker. He has been so valuable to the team, one must wonder if he could handle kicking or quarterback duties as well.

Alexander has moved into a starters job, pitching in 19 tackles and 1.5 sacks.



Rocky McIntosh - B + : He might be best at the OLB slot, but Washington needs him at ILB and he has done a good job. His two sacks are tied as second most on the team, and his 63 tackles is tied as third most. He has struggled in pass defense, but that is not shocking for a player learning a new position in a new defensive scheme.


H.B. Blades - C + : H.B. makes his bones on special teams. Despite a few penalties that hurt the team, he is one of their better kick return coverage guys.








Safeties


LaRon Landry - A + : The best safety in the NFL today, he leads the NFL in solo tackles and his 76 total tackles are far and away to most by any NFL defensive back. It is also the third most in the entire league.

Landry is the M.V.P. of the team so far this year, as he has improved on every aspect of his game. His seven passes defended is third most on the team, though Redskins defensive coordinator Jim Haslett loves to send him after the quarterback.

Not only is he on his way to the Pro Bowl, but this current pace will have him First Team All-Pro and in the running for NFL Defensive Player of the Year.



Kareem Moore - C : After missing the first two games of the season because of injury, Moore has done a mostly decent job in his first year as a starter. He still makes mental errors, but he is maybe the only true free safety on the roster.



Reed Doughty - C + : Doughty is an old school player able to play either safety slot. Though he might be the least athletic Redskin defensive back, Doughty has piled up 38 tackles already. He can be picked on in man to man coverage, but he is mostly dependable and consistent.




Chris Horton - D - : After a excellent rookie season in 2008, Horton hit a sophomore slump and seems stuck there. Now playing more tentatively, Washington has used him in just four games in what might be his last season in the NFL.







Cornerbacks

DeAngelo Hall - A + : Not only does he lead the NFL with six interceptions, his 63 tackles lead all NFL cornerbacks and his nine defended passes are tied as the second most in the league.

He is playing his position the way all expected when drafted with the eighth overall draft pick in 2004, and Hall appears on his way to his third Pro Bowl appearance.


Carlos Rogers - B + : Quietly, Rogers is tied with Hall in passes defended. He also has pitched in 38 tackles and an interception. Though Washington has given up a lot of yards in the air, they leave their veteran cornerbacks on island with little pass rush to help.


Phillip Buchanon - C - : When Redskins general manager Bruce Allen won the George Young Executive of the Year award with the Oakland Raiders in 2002, it was the same year he drafted Buchanon in the first round.

When Allen moved to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in 2004, Buchanon was traded to Houston but rejoined Allen in Tampa Bay for almost three years in 2006. Now the pair are reunited again in Washington.

While Buchanon has defended eight balls and had 19 tackles, opponents seem to pick on the journeyman, now on his fifth team in ten seasons, often. He has mostly been a disappointment, making mistakes someone as veteran as him should not be making. It makes the fact that Kevin Barnes has yet to show anything that much more painful, because Washington needs an upgrade here.







Kicking Game

Graham Gano - A : The rookie has been solid. Though he has missed both attempts of 50+ yards, Gano has only missed three of 18 other attempts. He is giving Washington a consistency at this position not enjoyed in years, and his kickoffs have allowed the Redskins to have one of the best kickoff coverage units in the league.

Hunter Smith - D - : Smith has been pretty lousy ever since he replaced the injured Josh Bidwell. He has a net punting average of only 33.4 yards, hopefully prompting the Redskins to try out a few free agent punters during their week off.





Coaches

Mike Shanahan - D : Shanahan has brought more chaos than stability in his first season. He has mishandled a few veterans Washington planned to rely on this season, then dealt conflicting stories to the media when asked about each issue.

Though the veteran coach gets a pass in his first year because he won it all in the past, fans either like his rigid approach or are beginning to see why Denver fired him.







Kyle Shanahan - D - : Let's face it, the guy has the job because his dad is the boss. Though he was given the title of offensive coordinator for two seasons in Houston under his fathers disciple Gary Kubiak, it was Kubiak who called the plays.

His dad says he stays out of the way and allows his son to call the plays, but perhaps this needs to change because the inexperience shows.

In the Redskins 27-24 loss to the Indianapolis Colts, they faced a team that could not stop the run. Torain had 100 yards and two scores on 20 carries. Shanahan mostly ignored the run game in the second half, which allowed the Colts to come back and win. An experienced, competent offensive coordinator would have handed the ball off more than 22 times, as opposed to throwing it 45 times. His play calling lost a winnable game for Washington.

Mike Shanahan was handed $35 million over five years. Perhaps it is time he starts earning his paycheck and start calling the plays again. He won two Super Bowls doing this, and Washington deserves to have the best chance possible at winning too.




Jim Haslett - C + : It is hard to grade Haslett for a few reasons. Not only is the team adjusting to the 3-4 scheme, but the defensive coordinator does not yet have the personnel that fits his system.

His defense gives up a ton of yards, yet the defense has been excellent inside of the red zone. Three games have seen the team give up just one touchdown, and another saw two scored. While they do not harass opposing quarterbacks enough, the defense is tied with the Tennessee Titans and Pittsburgh Steelers as the best in the NFL at creating turnovers.

Considering the team had an extremely difficult time at creating turnovers under ex-defensive coordinator Greg Blache for the past two years, Haslett's defense has brought a welcome wrinkle to their game.

Washington Redskins Beat Green Bay Packers Despite Donovan McNabb, Bad Officiating, and Poor Play

Donovan McNabb had an early indicator it would be a long Sunday in the Redskins 16-13 overtime victory.

With the Washington Redskins in the red zone on their first possession, after safety LaRon Landry Forced a fumble, McNabb went back in shotgun formation, then proceeded to let the snap sail through his hands and out of scoring range.

He spent most of the day running for his life or throwing the ball well off target. The four times he was on target, Redskins receivers were interfered from catching the ball without a call from the referees.

The officials were even worse than McNabb was. They allowed Packers rookie offensive tackle Brian Baluga to hold often in his first start. Nine total penalties were called in regulation, and there should have been many more.

Washington went another week without much of a running game. Ryan Torain, in his first start, gained 45 yards at just three yards per carry. To make matters worse, both of the Redskins offensive tackles, Jammal Brown and Trent Williams, were hurt in the game.

Green Bay came into the game with their roster severely depleted and left the game in worse shape. They lost their top two tight ends and best pass rusher for the game because of injuries. Though Clay Matthews III should be back next week, the status of Jermichael Finley and Donald Lee are unknown, as is defense end Ryan Pickett with an ankle injury.

Though McNabb tossed for 319 yards in regulation, he threw 20 incompletions in 42 attempts against a secondary missing two starting linebackers and their starting strong safety. The remaining safeties Green Bay had were battling leg injuries, and star cornerback Charles Woodson had a bothersome shoulder.

The fact the Redskins were unable to move the ball against such an injured defense has to worry offensive coordinator Kyle Shanahan.

The first two passes thrown in overtime were completed to Santana Moss, with McNabb having more time in the pocket with Matthews out. The Packers then gambled all out in blitz packages, and snuffed any hopes of the Redskins scoring while forcing a punt.

Washington then got the ball right back after Landry, playing the best safety in the NFL today, picked off a pass at the Packers 39-yard line.

After a pass interference penalty kept the Redskins drive alive, the Redskins offensive line continued to sabotage rushing attempts, and Washington had to throw again. Woodson then committed a pass interference penalty.

After a quarterback sneak that somehow gained six yards, followed by another that gained one more, kicker Graham Gano pushed in a 33-yard field goal for the victory.

It was a victory hard fought against an injured and valiant Packers defense.

Is Michael Vick More Bark Than Bite For The Philadelphia Eagles?

Michael Vick is the top dog of Philadelphia now, the leader of an Eagles pack looking for championship gold, and the alpha male people remembered him being back in 2005.

Vick's recent development as a quarterback can be attributed to maturity and also to finally getting the coaching he so desperately needed. When he was the first pick of the 2001 draft by the Atlanta Falcons, he joined a rapidly aging club entering their third season away from a Super Bowl loss.

Dan Reeves was the head coach of the team at the time, and is best remembered as the guy who helped develop Hall of Fame quarterback John Elway. Like Vick, Elway was also an extremely mobile player with an extremely strong throwing arm. Veteran Chris Chandler, a two-time Pro Bowler who had led the Falcons to Super Bowl XXXIII, started 14 games that season as Vick learned.

Chandler joined the Chicago Bears in 2002, so Vick had the job. He threw for a career high 2,936 yards under Reeves, as well as having a two-to-one touchdown to interception ratio, as Atlanta made the playoffs. He also led the league with a 6.9 yards per carry average and piled up 777 yards and career best eight scores on the ground.

The future looked extremely bright for the 22-year old kid who just made his first Pro Bowl by electrifying the gridiron with a skill set never quite seen before in the history of the game. All that was missing from his arsenal was the obvious need for more experiences to learn from.

Then things got sidetracked.

He spent much of 2003 injured, only playing in five games. Atlanta fired Reeves at the end of the year and replaced him with the inexperienced Jim Mora Jr., the son of veteran coach Jim Mora Sr. The young Mora specialized as a defensive secondary coach before getting his first head job by Atlanta.

Being so inexperienced with limited offensive knowledge at 33-years old, Mora Jr. seemed to basically keep out of the local hero Vick's way and allow him to do as he pleased. It worked for awhile, as Atlanta won 22 of 33 games and Vick went to two more Pro Bowls before the bottom fell out. The Falcons lost nine of their final 14 games in 2006 despite Vick setting a NFL rushing record for quarterbacks with 1,039 yards and leading the league best 8.4 yards per carry.

Reports started to leak out about his behavior off the field since 2004. A truck carrying two men and marijuana was stopped by police. The truck belonged to Vick. Later that year members of his entourage were observed stealing an expensive watch at an airport.

In 2006, a woman talked about him carrying the alias "Ron Mexico" and giving her herpes. There was a huge run on Falcons jerseys with Vick's number and Mexico's name on the back of it, causing NFL commissioner Roger Goodell banned any further sale of that type of garment.

Later that year, he walked off the Falcons field following a defeat sticking both of middle fingers up in the air towards fans. It was one of his last acts as a member of the Falcons.

In the early part of 2007, a family members drug activity caused authorities to stumble over a dog fighting ring being held on property owned by Vick. After initially denying all charges, he admitted his role and was sentenced to three years in jail. After serving over a year, he was released.

Because of the loss of endorsements, living an expensive lifestyle, having to give moneys back to the Falcons and other, court costs, and many bad financial moves, he filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy. He signed with the Eagles for $1.5 million and spent 2009 barely playing in an undefined role.

Upon his recent explosion in 2010, it appears he was doing more than holding a clipboard for Eagles legend Donovan McNabb. Head coach Andy Reid spent two years as a quarterbacks coach for the Green Bay Packers, who had future Hall of Famer Brett Favre at the helm.

He had replaced Marty Mornhinweg, who held the job in 1996 and coaxed Farve to his only Super Bowl win. Mornhinweg then left Green Bay to be Hall of Famer Steve Young's quarterbacks coach with the San Francisco 49ers, as well as develop future four-time Pro Bowler Jeff Garcia. He left the Niners after Garcia had the best season of his career in 2000.

After a disastrous stay as head coach of the Detroit Lions, he reunited with Reid in 2003 in Philadelphia. Reid and Mornhinweg, with the help of second year quarterbacks coach James Urban, have obviously taught Vick the much needed intricacies of his position to make him more lethal by taking advantage of his entire skill set.

Vick freely admits his days in Atlanta were spent relying on natural abilities instead of trying to be the best he could. Had he had the work ethic of Peyton Manning, along with a semblance of the coaching he is receiving now, the possibility of him now being on his way to Canton could seem probable.

With Atlanta, he would take off running if his first passing option was covered. He was easily rattled in the pocket, looking for a seam to escape. Now he is hanging in the pocket and taking time to look over all of his options before thinking of running.

Fans of Vick like to point out he now has DeSean Jackson, Jeremy Maclin, and Brent Celek to throw to in Philadelphia. as opposed to Brian Finneran, Peerless Price, Shawn Jefferson, and Alge Crumpler with the Falcons. Only Crumpler was a Pro Bowler, and with Finneran, were the only receivers there for each of Vick's Pro Bowl years. A young Roddy White and Michael Jenkins spent some time with him, and still start with Atlanta.

While an upgrade of talent around him certainly helps his recent success, so does the fact his starts in 2010 have come against two of the weaker teams in the NFL. His first real test against an upper echelon defense may not come until week 12 against the Bears, but fans look forward to his clash with the Washington Redskins next week.

McNabb, now a member of the Redskins, was traded a few months ago because the Eagles planned to go with Kevin Kolb at quarterback. Those plans changed in the opening game when Kolb was taken off the field with a concussion and replaced by Vick, who played very well and sparked the Eagles to making the game look closer than it actually was.

Two weeks after the Redskins, he will face the Falcons. Though the game will take place in Philadelphia, it is an opportunity for Vick to show the Atlanta fans and organization what exactly they are missing by having parted ways with him in 2007. Emotions may run high at this game, but Reid and Mornhinweg will try to put together a strategy that leads the team to the more important victory over retribution.

Though Vick is breaking new ground in some areas at just 30-years old, he most certainly reminds Eagles fans of one of their very own legends in some ways. A legend who was put in the teams Ring of Honor last season.

Randall Cunningham was the teams second round draft pick in 1985. Though not quite as fast as Vick, he was very athletic, elusive, and possessed just as strong of a throwing arm, if not stronger.

Like Vick, he was told to run if his first option was covered by a defensive oriented head coach. In 1990, his third and final Pro Bowl season with the Eagles, he ran for 942 yards. It is still the third most rushing yards in a season by a NFL quarterback, and he was when he was named PFWA NFL MVP, UPI NFC Player of the Year, and won the Bert Bell Award.

He did not leave Philadelphia because of legal trouble in 1995, but because of injuries. He found himself on the Minnesota Vikings two years later, then made the Pro Bowl in 1998 by throwing to fellow Pro Bowlers Randy Moss, Robert Smith, and Cris Carter. He enjoyed perhaps his finest season ever, winning 13 of 14 starts, and winning his third and last Bert Bell Award.

The Vikings scored 556 points that season, which was a record at the time. People marveled how Cunningham had settled into an effective pocket passer, no longer relying on just his legs. Part of that reason was his past injuries and due to the fact he was 35-years old.

Now Vick is enjoying his moment in a similar sun, yet he has the ability to stretch this ride out a lot longer than Cunningham was able to. With Reid at the helm, the second-longest tenured coach in the NFL, he knows stability is at his disposal for the first time since his collegiate days at Virginia Tech University under Frank Beamer.

Though he still owes people money, and some others feel more apologies for what he did to canines, the world is his oyster again. If he keeps learning and progressing, perhaps he can win more than happiness from repaying debt.

A football championship is something Philadelphia has sought since 1960, and something Michael Vick can attain to justify his struggle to be relevant again.


Week 4 Picks

Cincinnati Bengals @ Cleveland Browns

Chad Ocho Cinco might hand out his OchocincO's to Cleveland after this one. Not just for the sugar and nutrition, but for the phone-sex number printed on the box.

Bengals 34 Browns 20




Seattle Seahawks @ Saint Louis Rams

A game only those teams fans will watch, yet they can take solace at the obvious improvements each have had.

Seahawks 24 Rams 21




Detroit Lions @ Green Bay Packers

The Lions defense is all banged up and three key offensive starters will not play. Guard Stephen Peterman may also sit out.

The Packers have to happy with this news, considering they embarrassed themselves last Monday with a huge amount of self-defeating penalties.

Packers 37 Lions 13




Denver Broncos @ Tennessee Titans

Chris Johnson might not be killing the NFL like last year, but he does have 401 rushing yards already. Denver's defensive strength is stopping the run, but they are only ranked tenth.

The Broncos passing game is tops in the league, but the Titans pass defense ranks fifth.

It will come down to whose strengths are greater than the others weaknesses, as well as whose weaknesses can compete best against the others strengths.

Titans 27 Broncos 24






Carolina Panthers @ New Orleans Saints

The Saints are upset dropping a game they should have won last week, as well as the fact their offense hasn't really been that sharp this season.

Expect Saints defensive coordinator Greg Williams to load up a complex blitz package to confuse rookie quarterback Jimmy Clausen most of Sunday.

The Panthers defense is mediocre and the offense is worse. The running game, their strength, cannot get going because no one respects the passing game and crowds the line. The Saints rank 30th in run defense, so the plan of attack is evident.

Saints 24 Panthers 14



Baltimore Ravens @ Pittsburgh Steelers

The best rivalry in the NFL today normally is Game of the Week material, except Pittsburgh is missing their star quarterback. Even so, it is one of the weekends best games,

Defense will reign supreme, as bruises will be handed out easier than Halloween candy.

Though Baltimore's Ray Rice is dinged up, their offense is better than Pittsburgh's right now. Last possession wins?

Win or lose, kudos to the Steelers going into their bye as one of the NFL's best stories so far this year.

Ravens 13 Steelers 10




San Francisco 49ers @ Atlanta Falcons

The 49ers are desperate. So desperate that they fired offensive guru Jimmy Raye, who got his first NFL job in 1977 with the 49ers, a man who has been an NFL offensive coordinator since 1983. He was replaced by a guy with no experience as an offensive coordinator, but who has been a NFL quarterbacks coach since 2000.

Too bad for them they face a Falcons team fresh off a big win against the previously undefeated defending champions. They love to run the ball, but have been moderately disappointing in the pass so far.

A mediocre 49ers defense will have their hands full.

Falcons 28 49ers 16






New York Jets @ Buffalo Bills

The Jets have their swagger back, while the Bills already cut their opening day starting quarterback.

Jets 23 Bills 9







Houston Texans @ Oakland Raiders

Oakland will have previously injured halfback Michael Bush toting the rock more, even though Darren McFadden has been excellent and is third in the NFL in rushing after consecutive 100-yard rushing games.

Houston ranks second in rushing defense, but are last in passing. Oakland pass defense ranks second, but the run defense is 24th.

Expect a heavy dose of Houston's Arian Foster, the leagues leading rusher, and Raiders quarterback Bruce Gradkowski Sunday. The Raiders receivers are the x-factors.

Texans 26 Raiders 17




Indianapolis Colts @ Jacksonville Jaguars

Statistically, future Hall of Fame quarterback Peyton Manning is off to the best start of his career so far. Is there anything more he can do?

Jacksonville is struggling with consistency, a prevalent theme the past few years.

Colts 34 Jaguars 20





Philadelphia Eagles @ Washington Redskins
Game of the Week

How weird will it be for Eagles fans watching Donovan McNabb scrambling for a touchdown wearing the Redskins burgundy and gold colors?

The former Philadelphia legend wants to show everyone what they are missing, but he has so far been suffering with the issue of no running game in Washington that he dealt with most of his Eagles career.

Philadelphia's pass defense ranks seventh, but their rush defense ranks just 23rd. The 28th ranked Redskin rushing offense needs to step up now. Especially since their defense gives up the most total yards per game.

Redskins 28 Eagles 27




Arizona Cardinals @ San Diego Chargers

Arizona, with the exception of running back Tim Hightower, has been pretty bad offensively so far this year. Hightower will have to carry the load against the ninth ranked run defense, because both of his backups are hurting.

They also will be missing wide receivers Steve Breaston and Early Doucet, and guard Alan Faneca is banged up.

Considering the Chargers rank first in offense and fourth in defense in the NFL, it is surprising they have just one victory.

Chargers 34 Cardinals 17




New York Giants @ Chicago Bears

According to ex-Giants star Tiki Barber, now working with the NBC network, many current players told him head coach Tom Coughlin's job is in jeopardy, Why any Giant would talk to a social pariah like Barber may be the bigger mystery.

The undefeated Bears strength is passing, while the Giants pass defense is the fourth best in the NFL. Their run defense ranks 26th, but Chicago's run attack is the third worst in the league.

Giants quarterback Eli Manning is the key player this game. He leads the ninth best pass attack against the 28th best pass defense. Chicago has the best run defense in the NFL, so Manning will need to be on his game.

Giants 27 Bears 24




New England Patriots @ Miami Dolphins

A stout divisional battle. New England's defense has been mediocre at best so far. With newly acquired Dolphins receiver Brandon Marshall breaking out last week, the Pats 25th ranked passing defense will have their hands full.

Miami's defense has been pretty average so far, giving the seventh ranked New England offense hope.

It may come down to who runs the ball best.

Dolphins 24 Patriots 23




Record 27 - 19



Power Rankings

1. Steelers
2. Saints
3. Packers
4. Patriots
5. Bengals
6. Bears
7. Ravens
8. Jets
9. Texans
10. Colts
11. Titans
12. Chargers
13. Falcons
14. Eagles
15. Dolphins
16. Cowboys
17. Chiefs
18. Broncos
19. Giants
20. Vikings
21. Buccaneers
22. Cardinals
23. Seahawks
24. Redskins
25. Raiders
26. Jaguars
27. 49ers
28. Lions
29. Browns
30. Bills
31. Rams
32. Panthers

BOO! Why Donovan McNabb Will Cause Philadelphia Embarrassment

He was booed the moment he was drafted by Eagles fans, who wanted running back Ricky Williams. Williams also happened to be a minor league outfielder for the Philadelphia Phillies at the time, playing four years of Class A ball.

As the second overall pick of the 1999 draft, he trails only Champ Bailey and Torry Holt in Pro Bowl appearances from that draft. Five quarterbacks were selected in the first 12 picks, and he is the only one still in the league.

The least intercepted quarterback ever, per pass attempt ratio, he is one of only six quarterbacks to have 25,000 passing yards and 3,000 rushing yards in a career. He currently has the second best touchdown to interception ratio ever, and owns the third best winning percentage of active quarterbacks.

Besides holding the NFL record for consecutive completions in a game, he holds the Eagles franchise records in wins, passing yards, passing attempts, completions, and touchdowns, along with team single-season records in passing yards and completions.

Not only did he lead Philadelphia to a franchise best five NFC Championship games, he threw for 357 yards on 30 completions for three scores during the Eagles 24 - 21 loss in Super Bowl XXXIX despite being ill. Though McNabb denies the illness, eschewing people seeking excuses for him, it is the third most passing yards and completions in Super Bowl history.

It seemed he put the team on his shoulders every year, leading them beyond expectations. He never had a power running game, so he often had to throw the ball in short yardage situations. Despite all of his successes, he was booed quite often.

Philadelphia is a tough town to play in. Ask Mike Schmidt, perhaps the greatest third baseman in National League history. He spent many games with the Phillies being booed. Julius Erving played in front of sparse crowds while building a legend to where he is known as "Dr. J". McNabb being booed is more on par than aberration.

Now he is a member of the Washington Redskins, something he did not ask to be. He was traded a few months ago , not long after stating he wished to retire as an Eagle. He leads his new team onto his old stomping grounds this Sunday, and the question is what to expect.

The Redskins have been a rival of the Eagles since 1934. Though the Redskins lead the series 77 - 68 - 6, and well as having two more championship wins and having defeated Philadelphia in their only playoff game, the two franchises actually mirror themselves in a few ways.

Both saw success in the 1940's, then swooned for years. Though the Eagles won the 1960 championship, and the Redskins won three Super Bowls between 1982 to 1992, both teams have spent most years on the outside looking in when the leagues championships were decided.

To make things more intense, the Eagles and Redskins have played in the same division since 1933 along with the New York Giants. Gallons of blood has been spilled over the decades between players and fans of each franchise when they faced off.

While Eagles fans possibly may not lustily boo McNabb Sunday, they will hiss at the uniform he is wearing. While the media poses the question as to much of the booing will be directed at McNabb himself, there may be a few signs ignoring the rivalry and thanking the quarterback for being a legend for their team.

The thought that McNabb wants to prove Reid wrong for trading him is certainly feasible, but the Redskins defense will have to face a reinvigorated Michael Vick. Vick leads the NFL in yards per rushing attempt and is completing a career best 60.7 percent of his passes. Philadelphia has also rallied around him in his return to NFL relevancy.

Win or lose, Eagles fans will still go home with the memories McNabb made wearing their jersey. How they choose to honor and cherish those memories will certainly be shown Sunday in front of the rest of the world.

Donovan McNabb Brings The Redskins Shades Of Sonny

When the Washington Redskins acquired 11-year veteran quarterback Donovan McNabb on April, 4 2010 from the Philadelphia Eagles, for a second round draft pick and a conditional third or fourth-round pick in 2011, historians of both teams could not help but remember that last time the franchise made a similar deal.

If the Redskins had traded for McNabb just three days earlier, it would have been exactly 46 years to the day the Redskins traded starting quarterback Norm Snead and cornerback Claude Crabbe for Eagles starting quarterback Sonny Jurgensen and safety Jimmy Carr.

Jurgensen and Snead were Pro Bowl quarterbacks, though Jurgensen was the more experienced player. He had been drafted in the fourth round of the 1957 draft, earned a championship ring in 1960, and had set an NFL record for passing yards in 1961. Snead was the second overall pick in the 1961 season, and had just come off a year he led the NFL with 27 interceptions thrown.

Snead lasted seven years in Philadelphia, making the Pro Bowl once. Carr and Crabbe were both out of the league in a few seasons. Jurgensen, however, became a Hall of Famer as a member of the Redskins.




He became a Pro Bowler in his first year with them He hit his stride in 1966, leading the NFL in pass completions, attempts, yards, and passing yards per game. He repeated that the next season, while also leading the NFL in quarterback rating and touchdowns thrown as well as breaking his own passing yards record.

Hall of Fame coach Vince Lombardi is on record saying Jurgensen is the best quarterback he ever saw play. Sonny continues his legend currently in Washington D.C. as a long time celebrity and broadcaster of the teams radio network.

Jurgensen's first year saw him get revenge against the Eagles, winning both games. McNabb, whose first victory as a Redskin was against the rival Dallas Cowboys, will get his first shot at Philadelphia in 11 days. He is coming off a game where he threw for 426 yards, the second most of his career.

The only question left is exactly how much of an impact McNabb will have in Washington. His contract expires at seasons end, and no one knows yet if he will be more than a one year rental for the Redskins. Jurgensen went to four of his five Pro Bowls in Washington, while the six-time Pro Bowler McNabb looks to add to his total in his quest to join Jurgensen in Canton.

Time will tell if the Redskins come out ahead on the McNabb trade like they did with Jurgensen. It should also be noted McNabb is three years older and has taken a lot more hits than Jurgensen at the time of the trade, because the Hall of Famer spent his first four seasons as a backup.

One thing Jurgensen did bring the Redskins was victory. Team has struggled since 1945, failing to make the playoffs once. They reached the playoffs four times with him, including Super Bowl XII. He was a 38-year old reserve that year, but came off the bench for injured starter Billy Kilmer and won all four games he started.

While Washington has not struggled that long since McNabb's arrival, they had their worst record last season since 1994. The team was in disarray top to bottom within the organization, and change was desperately needed.

Washington hopes McNabb can bring that change. A change that reminds them more of Sonny Jurgensen. Change led by a Hall of Fame quarterback to frequent victory and respect that has long been forgotten.