Redskins

The Washington Redskins closed the 2011 season with a 34-10 loss at Lincoln Financial Field that left them at 5-11, their fourth straight last-place finish in the NFC East. Their starting quarterback was Rex Grossman. Their future appeared bleak. Redskins coach Mike Shanahan made a bold move in March when the franchise surrendered three first-round picks and a second-round pick to move up four slots in the draft so it could select quarterback Robert Griffin III. It looked like a hefty price, but it gave the Redskins the opportunity to draft the most valuable asset in the NFL: a franchise quarterback.

Last month, when the Eagles and Redskins first met, both teams were 3-6 and at a crossroads. The Birds took the road oft-traveled for losing teams and have dropped four of their last five, while Washington chose the road less ventured and have won five straight to jump back into the playoff mix. The Redskins are tied with the New York Giants and Dallas Cowboys atop the NFC East and hold tiebreakers over both squads. The Eagles will once again have to settle for playing spoiler, although much of the attention will be directed toward Andy Reid, who will likely be coaching his last home game at Lincoln Financial Field.

ASHBURN, Va. - Robert Griffin III looks good to go. The Washington Redskins rookie had a full practice Thursday for the second straight day as the team prepares for Sunday's game against the Eagles. "I like what I see," coach Mike Shanahan said. "If there is no setback, he should be ready to go. " Griffin missed Sunday's win over the Cleveland Browns with a sprained right knee. On Wednesday, he had his first full practice since the injury, and coaches and doctors were eager to see how the knee would respond.

I  THINK the Eagles are a better team than they were when they lost at the Redskins, 31-6, in Nick Foles' first start, on Nov. 18. Alas, so are the 'Skins, who used that victory as the springboard to what is now a five-game winning streak. Dunno how effective Robert Griffin III will be, coming off a knee problem. He was devastating in the last meeting. Do think Foles will be better, against a defense that still isn't anything special, without Brian Orakpo. Am I predicting the first Eagles victory at the Linc since September?

After missing one game with a knee injury, Washington Redskins quarterback Robert Griffin III was able to practice Wednesday but still has not been cleared to play, the team said. The practice was an encouraging sign that Griffin will start for the Redskins when they visit the Eagles on Sunday. "Hopefully, there's no setbacks and he keeps on improving and doctors OK him," coach Mike Shanahan said in a conference call with reporters. Shanahan said doctors still must clear Griffin.

THIS TIME, it was the grain of conventional wisdom LeSean McCoy was cutting back against, but McCoy did so with just as much quickness and precision as he shows on the field. Asked Wednesday why he would want to play now, with the Eagles eliminated from postseason consideration, McCoy said: "Why would I want to play? Why wouldn't I want to play? They pay me to play this game. I love to play this game, so why wouldn't I play? What would that be, for me not to play?" Theoretically, by starting as scheduled Sunday against the Redskins, McCoy could risk another concussion, or of course, any other kind of injury that might dim his 2013 prospects, trying to win a game many Eagles fans probably would just as soon lose, to enhance their draft position.

WASHINGTON - Backup quarterback Kirk Cousins hadn't even received postgame pats on the back and "atta-boys" for his smashing first career start before Washington Redskins observers speculated on how much he could fetch in a trade. Sports-talk radio and the Internet have been abuzz with the topic since the NFL's second-hottest team rolled Sunday against Cleveland without injured star quarterback Robert Griffin III. But before Redskins fans work themselves into a tizzy over all the trade-Cousins chatter, we'll let you in on a little secret: Cousins isn't going anywhere anytime soon.

ASHBURN, Va. - Get ready for another week of RG3 guesswork. Coach Mike Shanahan said Monday he's still waiting for a thumbs-up from the doctors before declaring that Robert Griffin III can return to game action. The rookie quarterback sprained the lateral collateral ligament his right knee in last week's win over the Baltimore Ravens and missed Sunday's 38-21 victory over the Cleveland Browns. "We're going to play Robert when he's 100 percent," said Shanahan, whose team visits the Eagles Sunday.

There are two weeks left in the NFL season and the NFC East is up for grabs among three teams. Sound familiar? It was the same situation last year with the New York Giants, Dallas and the Eagles fighting it out. Now, RGIII and the Washington Redskins are in the mix while the Eagles try to play spoiler. That scenario worked out nicely for the Giants in 2011. They won two straight do-or-die regular-season games, three more in the conference playoffs and then beat New England for the second time in five years in the Super Bowl.