LANDOVER, Maryland (Ticker) -- Now that home-field advantage is a longshot, the Philadelphia Eagles try to win their third straight NFC East title Saturday night when they battle the Washington Redskins.
The Eagles controlled their playoff destiny when it came to securing homefield for the second straight season. But they squandered that with a 31-28 overtime loss to San Francisco last Sunday, snapping their nine-game winning streak.
Philadelphia fell behind St. Louis in the race for homefield and needs a win and a St. Louis loss at last-place Detroit on Sunday to ensure homefield.
But before the Eagles could think of being home for the playoffs, they need to wrap up the division. They hold a one-game lead over Dallas but could blow the division with a loss here and if Dallas wins at New Orleans on Sunday.
If the Eagles win this contest, they would secure a first-round playoff bye.
In the loss to the Niners, the Eagles continued to struggle defensively as they allowed 417 total yards, including 209 on the ground. To make matters worse, Carlos Emmons - the team's best linebacker - suffered a broken leg that will sideline him for the remainder of the season.
Philadelphia has allowed a 100-yard rusher in six of its last seven games. Washington's Rock Cartwright, who has rushed for 368 yards in 14 games, will be the latest to face the Eagles' porous front.
Cartwright could see a heavy load as the Redskins have struggled in the passing game with Tim Hasselbeck, who is making his fifth start.
Hasselbeck also has ties to the Eagles. He was cut during training camp last season after losing a battle for the third-string job with A.J. Feeley, then signed later in the season.
In six games overall, Hasselbeck has thrown for 820 yards with five touchdowns and six interceptions.
Last Sunday, Hasselbeck completed 16-of-25 passes for 209 yards and two touchdowns in a 27-24 loss at Chicago. The Redskins have lost five of their last six games
Spoiling the Eagles' divisional title hopes is something that Redskins coach Steve Spurrier would like to do. But Spurrier, who is concluding his second season on the Washington sidelines, is just 2-9 against divisional foes.
Spurrier has lost all three of his meeting against the Eagles, including a 27-25 loss in Philadelphia on October 5.
In the first meeting, the Redskins did nearly rally from an 11-point deficit with under three minutes remaining.
Brian Westbrook's 19-yard touchdown run with 3:11 remaining in the contest had given the Eagles a seemingly safe 27-16 lead. But the Redskins nearly pulled off a miraculous comeback.
Patrick Ramsey quickly drove the Redskins into field goal range, where John Hall drilled a 53-yarder with 1:14 to play.
Hall then converted a perfect onside kick that Bryan Johnson recovered at his own 43. Five plays later, Ramsey found Darnerien McCants down the middle for a 32-yard touchdown, pulling the Redskins within 27-25 with 13 seconds to go.
Following a timeout, Ramsey overthrow a wide-open Laveranues Coles in the right corner of the end zone on the two-point conversion.
Washington leads the series, 73-59-5.
