Redskins, Eagles making headway

Sometimes there are head games between bitter NFL rivals.

Between the Washington Redskins and Philadelphia Eagles tonight?

Headset games.

Sherm Lewis has the headset for the Redskins, who have yet to score more than 17 points in a game. He was hired recently as an offensive consultant and assumed play-calling duties this week when they were stripped from Coach Jim Zorn.

That wasn’t the only audible the Redskins called. They also benched quarterback Jason Campbell for Todd Collins in a 14-6 loss to Kansas City. Campbell will start tonight.

Although close friend Steve Largent said Zorn considered quitting after learning he wouldn’t be calling the plays, the coach seemed to resign himself to the fact when talking to reporters later.

“We can’t continue going on scoring six points in a game,” Zorn said. “I don’t want that. The players don’t deserve that. If it’s me [who is the problem], if it’s really the play caller, I’m willing to try it and go.”

For the Eagles, coming off a 13-9 loss to Oakland, strong safety Quintin Mikell will wear the helmet radio and call the formations. That responsibility usually belongs to the middle linebacker, but the Eagles have gone through those at an alarming rate -- losing Stewart Bradley and Omar Gaither to injuries, and expecting too much from a warmed-over Jeremiah Trotter. Now, newcomer Will Witherspoon -- just acquired from St. Louis -- will start.

So the most interesting matchup in this “Monday Night Football” game at Washington could be the Redskins’ struggling offense against the Eagles’ beat-up defense.

The Eagles have something to prove. They lost both games to the Redskins last season, including a 10-3 loss at FedEx Field, where Philadelphia had won seven of its previous eight.

-- Sam Farmer