Lane Johnson guarantees Eagles Week 1 win, Redskins fire back

Two weeks before the start of the regular season, Eagles lineman Lane Johnson guaranteed a win against the Redskins — but Washington didn’t just sit back and take it.

With Week 1 just two weeks away, NFL players are starting to get restless. Sept. 10 will see a lot of high powered matchups around the league. The one between the Redskins and Eagles should be of great interest.

These two teams have had many on the field fights and arguments, but a verbal altercation is starting early this year. Eagles tackle Lane Johnson wrote an article for The Players’ Tribune where he guaranteed a win against the Redskins.

“Let me tell you what’s going to happen in a couple of weeks: This team is going to go down to D.C. and whup some ass against the Redskins,” Johnson wrote. “We’re going to surprise some people.”

Johnson also wrote to the Eagles fans saying, “Come out to the games, drink some beers and raise some hell. Make this a place where our team loves to play and everybody else hates.”

Considering the reputation of Philly fans, they seem to have already followed that request.

Once members of the Redskins heard about the guarantee, they weren’t going to sit back and let their rivals make promises like that.

New Redskins linebacker Zach Brown went to Twitter to respond.

Brown is referring to the fact that Johnson was suspended for 10 games last season for testing positive for PED’s. This was the second time in his career.

This was a questionable guarantee by Johnson considering the Eagles’ past luck against the Redskins. Here is how their last six matchups have gone:

• 2014: Redskins 34 @ Eagles 37, Eagles 24 @ Redskins 27
• 2015: Eagles 20 @ Redskins 23, Redskins 38 @ Eagles 24
• 2016: Eagles 20 @ Redskins 27, Redskins 27 @ Eagles 22

In the last six matchups, only one game was decided by more then one score. The Redskins are 5-1 in those games, including a five-game win streak. With a completely new look defense, this was an interesting promise by Johnson, but it shows confidence.

Both teams have improved, but by adding DJ Swearinger, Jonathan Allen, Zach Brown and a few new players on the defensive line, the Redskins defense should be stronger than it was in 2016. They will be challenged by receivers Alshon Jeffery and Torrey Smith and running back LeGarrette Blount, who all signed to be Eagles this offseason.

No game is a must-win in Week 1, but this is an important one for bragging rights and division record. It will not be an easy game to predict and could go either way. As the home team, the Redskins might have a slight edge with the crowd behind them.

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There could be some more trash talk before the game but one thing we are certain of is that there will be a lot during the game. Consider this just the opening salvo.