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Eagles try to stop three-game losing streak, face Redskins

Nov 7, 2006 - 9:27 PM Washington (3-5) at Philadelphia (4-4) Sunday 1:00 pm EST

PHILADELPHIA (Ticker) -- After vowing to put a disappointing 2005 campaign behind them, the Philadelphia Eagles won four of their first five games this season.

However, the Eagles enter Sunday's pivotal NFC East showdown against the Washington Redskins in the midst of a three-game losing streak.

The Eagles won four straight division titles from 2001-04, then endured a 6-10 campaign and last-place finish last season in a campaign marred by the Terrell Owens controversy and season-ending injuries to quarterback Donovan McNabb and running back Brian Westbrook.

With McNabb back to his Pro Bowl form, the Eagles again looked like they would be contenders. But the team's inability to close games has proven costly.

The Eagles' first three losses all came after they squandered fourth-quarter leads. Each also came on the game's final play.

Two weeks ago, the Eagles never had to worry about a lead as they were physically manhandled in a 13-6 loss here to Jacksonville. Philadelphia gained just 227 total yards and surrendered 209 on the ground.

McNabb also endured his worst game of the season against the Jaguars, completing just 18-of-34 passes for 161 yards. He still leads the league with 2,312 passing yards and is second with 16 touchdowns.

Philadelphia is tied with Dallas for second in the division, two games behind the New York Giants.

In a game that may have temporarily saved their season, the Redskins rallied for a wild 22-19 victory over Dallas last week. Awarded with an untimed down, Nick Novak kicked a 47-yard field goal on the game's final play.

The Redskins were able to defeat the Cowboys despite the absence of wide receiver Santana Moss due to a hamstring injury. He may miss this game as well.

Redskins Hall of Fame coach Joe Gibbs likely will give the Eagles a steady dose of running back Clinton Portis, who rushed for 84 yards and a touchdown last week.

Portis was a factor against the Eagles last season as the Redskins won both meetings for the first time since the 1991 campaign.

In last November's contest at Washington, Portis rushed for 67 yards and touchdown to lead the Redskins to a 17-10 victory. He rushed for 112 yards and two scores in a 31-20 triumph here in the regular-season finale.