Fansided

NFL Week 17: Trends which will decide each game

By Russell S. Baxter

EAST RUTHERFORD, NEW JERSEY - DECEMBER 27: Baker Mayfield #6 of the Cleveland Browns looks to pass in the fourth quarter against the New York Jets at MetLife Stadium on December 27, 2020 in East Rutherford, New Jersey. (Photo by Sarah Stier/Getty Images)
EAST RUTHERFORD, NEW JERSEY - DECEMBER 27: Baker Mayfield #6 of the Cleveland Browns looks to pass in the fourth quarter against the New York Jets at MetLife Stadium on December 27, 2020 in East Rutherford, New Jersey. (Photo by Sarah Stier/Getty Images) /
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LANDOVER, MARYLAND – DECEMBER 27: Chase Young #99 of the Washington Football Team looks on prior to the game against the Carolina Panthers at FedExField on December 27, 2020 in Landover, Maryland. (Photo by Will Newton/Getty Images)
LANDOVER, MARYLAND – DECEMBER 27: Chase Young #99 of the Washington Football Team looks on prior to the game against the Carolina Panthers at FedExField on December 27, 2020 in Landover, Maryland. (Photo by Will Newton/Getty Images) /

Washington Football Team (6-9) at Philadelphia Eagles (4-10-1), 8:20 pm

Washington: On Monday afternoon, the organization parted ways with 2019 first-round pick Dwayne Haskins (via ESPN’s John Keim). And it appears Alex Smith will get the start at Philadelphia (via NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport). Elsewhere, defensive coordinator Jack Del Rio has had a bevy of talent to work with this year up front and the Washington pass rush has been ferocious. Led by rookie defensive end Chase Young and a few other fellow first-round picks in ends Montez Sweat and Ryan Kerrigan and interior forces such as Jonathan Allen and Da’Ron Payne. There have been 44 sacks and this quintet has combined for 25 of them – led by Sweat (8) and Young (6.5).

More fansided.com: 2020 NFL power rankings, Week 17: Chiefs secure No. 1 seed in AFC

Eagles: After three consecutive trips to the playoffs, which includes a Super Bowl championship in 2017, the Eagles are the only team that can’t win the NFC East this year. Rookie quarterback Jalen Hurts has shown promise and may be the future behind center. But Philadelphia’s defense has fallen off significantly from a year ago. The Birds have already allowed more points (398) than a season ago (354) and has surrendered 45 offensive touchdowns – almost equally divided rushing (20) and passing (25). And after allowing the third-fewest rushing yards in the NFL in 2019 (90.1 average), Jim Schwartz’s shaky unit is ranked a disappointing 24th in the league against the run (127.3).

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