1. Will either team show up? There are many reasons to believe the answer is no. Neither team has a chance at the playoffs. The Redskins appeared to check out in last Saturday’s sloppy 33-26 loss to Minnesota, and the Eagles have been a colossal disappointment. Many New Year’s Eve revelers will be inclined to stay home and watch on their couches. This could be about as lifeless as an NFL game gets.
2. Who will win the turnover battle? The Redskins have the worst turnover ratio in the NFL at minus-15, and Philadelphia ranks 30th at minus-13. It’s the reason the Eagles are going to miss the postseason despite having the NFL’s third-ranked offense and eighth-ranked defense. They’ve won three straight since quarterback Michael Vick returned from injury despite seven turnovers in that stretch.
3. Will Rex Grossman make it a perfect 13-for-13? He has turned the ball over in each of his 12 starts this season. Will he make it a baker’s dozen? It’d be ironic if he didn’t, considering his four interceptions in the first meeting with Philadelphia got him benched in favor of John Beck.
4. Will Philadelphia running back LeSean McCoy play? He sprained his ankle in last Saturday’s win over Dallas and was limited in practice Thursday. He had 126 yards and a touchdown on 28 carries against the Redskins in Week 6. His quickness and elusiveness were extremely problematic for the Redskins’ defense
5. Where will the Redskins fall in the draft order? Because the offseason is really what it’s all about now. There’s a major silver lining to a loss on Sunday: it would help the Redskins secure a higher pick in next April’s draft. Entering the game, they could end up anywhere between fourth and 11th. We’ll know exactly where they’ll pick by Sunday night.
• Rich Campbell can be reached at rcampbell@washingtontimes.com.
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