Slumping Eagles Need Win at Washington to Turn Season Around

The Philadelphia Eagles are eager to get their 2011 National Football League (NFL) season turned around after a brutal start left them in a must-win situation heading into their divisional matchup against the Washington Redskins.

The defending NFC East champion Eagles were dubbed the Dream Team by backup quarterback Vince Young following key acquisitions in the offseason but have stumbled to a 1-4 start and are at risk of falling out of the playoff picture.

Being loose is probably the best way to be right now, Eagles starting quarterback Michael Vick told reporters on Friday. When everyone is tense and uptight, it creates more pressure and we already have enough pressure on ourselves.

To avoid losing five straight games for the first time since 1998, the Eagles will need a road win on Sunday against a division-leading Redskins team enjoying a turnaround of their own after going 6-10 last year.

Vick, who threw a career-high four interceptions during last week's loss to the Buffalo Bills, stressed a need for the Eagles to focus on playing mistake-free football.

We're just focusing on the next best thing, and that's winning. We understand that can change everything around, said Vick. Everybody has handled this whole situation with class and as professionals like we all are. We're waiting to pull through.

During Philadelphia's last game at Washington -- a 59-28 rout last November -- Vick became the first NFL player to register at least 300 yards passing, 50 yards rushing, four passing touchdowns and two rushing touchdowns in a game.

However, this season's Eagles team is different. They have committed 15 turnovers, three more than any other team, and are sitting last in the NFC East.

The Eagles enter their bye week after the Redskins game and then return for another key divisional game against the Dallas Cowboys (2-2) before matchups against the Chicago Bears and Arizona Cardinals, who both have losing records.

Eagles running back LeSean McCoy, who is fifth in the NFL in rushing yards with 443, said his team mates' attitude has been positive all week and acknowledged the matchup against Washington is the biggest game yet this season.

Out of all the games we've had so far, I think this is the biggest game that we'll play, said McCoy.

Especially now, since we're 1-4 and going against the division. This is one of the biggest games we'll play.