The Eagles enter year two of the Carson Wentz/Doug Pederson era looking to improve upon their 7-9 mark from a year ago and clinch their first playoff berth since 2013. The team started out fast last season, parlaying the momentum of wins over weak Cleveland and Chicago teams into a 34-3 thumping of the Steelers in Week 3. Our eyes betrayed us after that euphoric 3-0 start, and, of course, we all know what happened from there. A miserable 2-9 stretch followed, exacerbated by a punch-me-in-the-balls 1-6 record in one possession games, which left the Eagles with two meaningless December wins against the Giants and Cowboys.

Will this season bring a different story? While the personnel looks improved, the early season schedule is not nearly as forgiving as it was a year ago. At Washington, at Kansas City, home against the Giants, and a trip to L.A. to play the Chargers? Woof. The Eagles would do well to survive that stretch with a 2-2 mark.

The first test comes Sunday afternoon at FedEx Field. Let’s jump into it and take a look to see how this one will shake out:

What should I know going into this game?  It’s true that the Redskins haven’t been the complete shit show they were during the early years of Dan Snyder’s ownership, but they have been no better than mediocre. Thus, the extent to which Redskins have kicked around the Eagles of late is a bit surprising. The Redskins have won 7 of the last 10 meetings between the two teams, highlighted by a current five-game winning streak. FedEx Field has been a bit of a house of horrors for the Eagles. They haven’t won there since 2013, and have dropped four of their past five games in Landover. Kirk Cousins owns a 4-1 record against the Eagles, having thrown for 1,579 yards and 12 touchdowns with only three interceptions. Needless to say, recent history hasn’t been kind to the Eagles in this matchup.

What is at stake? Well, that depends how much you like to overreact. Judging by the mindless filler spewing over the airwaves at 97.5 this week, there are quite a few people who believe this is a must-win game for the Eagles. I don’t get it. A Week 1 game is a must-win? On the road? Really? Still, given Washington’s recent dominance over the Eagles and a difficult schedule looming, it would be nice if the Eagles gave themselves a little breathing room and some momentum heading into a TOUGH Week 2 matchup at Kansas City.

Can the Eagles finally stop Kirk Cousins? To me, this is where this game will be won or lost, so that’s where I’m going to put the bulk of my focus.

The perception of Kirk Cousins is that of a mediocre quarterback who’s wildly overpaid. While he is making an insane amount of money, Cousins is a better player than people give him credit for– his own front office included. He isn’t without flaws, but he did throw for 4,917 yards and 25 TDs last season. You don’t just trip into those numbers. Just ask several of the quarterback-needy teams in this league that would gladly welcome Cousins.

But can he turn in that performance again? The Redskins’ offense struggled quite a bit during the preseason. Perhaps because the games don’t matter, or perhaps because they jettisoned veteran receivers DeSean Jackson and Pierre Garcon this offseason. I think it’s the former.

The Redskins have an intriguing set of young receivers that should still form a formidable pass unit. Jamison Crowder is a talented receiver who does most of his work out of the slot. He had 67 receptions for 847 yards and 7 TDs a year ago. Many expect him to completely bust out this year, but those numbers seem like a reasonable expectation. He’s a shifty runner and dependable route runner who can move the sticks, but he doesn’t possess any one true special quality. He should initially draw nickel corner Patrick Robinson, which is a favorable matchup for Crowder.

On the outside is Terrelle Pryor, who comes from Cleveland after posting 1,007 yards receiving last season. You may have heard by now that Cousins and Pryor struggled to connect in the preseason—Pryor dropped more passes than he caught. Still, the Redskins are banking on the 6’4” former quarterback to continue his development into one of the game’s elite receivers. He will have a significant height advantage over whomever he draws, namely Ronald Darby, who is listed at 5’11”. This matchup will be a good test for Darby, who has the speed to run with Pryor.

We will also get our first real look at 2016 first-round pick Josh Doctson. The second-year receiver played in only two games a year ago, catching two passes for 66 yards. The TCU product has the size and explosiveness to be a matchup problem for opposing defenses. When Doctson draws Jalen Mills, this is a matchup the Eagles should and need to get the better of.

Perhaps the biggest headache for Jim Schwartz’s defense will be finding a way to contain tight end Jordan Reed. In his fifth year, he’s one of the game’s elite pass catchers at the position, but often goes overlooked simply because he cannot stay on the field. He’s missed 18 games in his first four years. He had 66 catches for 686 yards and six TDs in 2016. We don’t have a feel for how Schwartz will look to contain Reed. He didn’t play in the first matchup last season, and only had one catch on one target for 10 yards in limited action in the second game.

The bottom line is that the Redskins’ skill players have the advantage against the Eagles’ secondary. As will be the case often this season, for the defense to hold the opposing passing attack in check, the front four will have to win up front. That will be a tall order this week against a very good offensive line.

Can Washington run the ball?  They finished 21st in team rushing a year ago, but they had quite a bit of success against the Eagles. They racked up 230 yards on 33 carries (6.97 average) in the first matchup last season. Rob Kelley will be the lead back. He ran for 122 yards on 21 carries in two games against the Eagles last season. He doesn’t catch the ball particularly well, but backup running back Chris Thompson is a threat (49 catches in ’16). Frankly, there’s nothing special about the Redskins’ rushing attack and their offensive line is better in pass protection than it is in the run game. The Eagles, if the front seven is what many expect it to be, should be able to hold the Redskins’ run game in check. Should. 

Will the Eagles score a lot of points? They should. The Redskins defense will feature 11 new players on Sunday, so it may take them some time to gel. They had great difficulty against the run last season, finishing 24th in yards allowed. Nose tackle Phil Taylor, who was out of football for two seasons, looked like he might win the starting job. A preseason leg injury will cost him the season. Ziggy Hood mans that spot. He struggled mightily a year ago. The Redskins did add inside linebacker Zach Brown, a 2016 Pro Bowler, from Buffalo this offseason. He’s an upgrade at that spot and should help, but it would be alarming if LeGarrette Blount can’t get something going in this matchup.

Meanwhile, Eagles receivers have some favorable matchups with the Redskins’ secondary. Projected starting safety Su’a Cravens won’t play as he mulls his football future. The Alshon Jeffery and Josh Normal battle will be one to watch. Jeffery had 5 catches for 92 yards in a matchup with the Redskins late last season—and he was catching passes from Matt Barkley. That looks good, but Jeffery caught only four of eight targets matched up against Norman. He did compile 78 yards, but two of those passes were picked off. This should be a good battle.

Tight end Zach Ertz had two very different games against Washington last season. In the first game, he only caught one pass for 22 yards on three targets. In the December matchup, Ertz had 10 catches for 122 yards on 13 targets. Expect Wentz to look for Ertz as a security blanket quite a bit now that Jordan Matthews is in Buffalo. I expect Ertz to have a big season, and that will begin with a good showing Sunday. 

Anything else? The Redskins are at home. They’ve won five straight against the Eagles. Cousins owns them. And…the Eagles are favored. If it smells like a rat…

So, uh, are the Eagles going to win?  Yes. 27-24, Eagles.