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Kirk Cousins carried the Washington Redskins to the playoffs last season with a magnificent four-game run to conclude the regular season.The Washington quarterback just might need to equal last seasons torrid stretch for the Redskins to make another postseason appearance this year.Washington (6-5-1) is on the outside of the playoff picture with four games remaining and aims to record a much-needed victory when it visits the reeling Philadelphia Eagles (5-7) on Sunday (1 p.m. ET, FOX).The Redskins lost their last two games and are in third place in the NFC East and trail the Tampa Bay Buccaneers by a half-game for the final wild-card spot. The Minnesota Vikings and Green Bay Packers sit a half-game back of Washington so there is little margin for error.But the Redskins only to need to reminisce about last seasons strong finish when Cousins passed for 12 touchdowns against one interception during the final four games to know another late-season sprint is possible.However, Cousins cautions that there are no guarantees.I dont like to believe that, Well, we did this, so Im confident that its going to work out. I really feel you have to go back and earn it from the jump all over again, Cousins said on a conference call. We were able to finish the season strong last year. It can be done again, but by no means do I feel any type of calm or comfort drawing on last years finish.I think we have to do it all over again, and last year really has no bearing on whether or not we deliver this year.The late-season heroics assured that Cousins would continue as Washingtons starting quarterback and he has enjoyed a strong statistical campaign.The 28-year-old Cousins ranks third in the NFL with 3,811 passing yards and has 21 touchdowns against eight interceptions. He has thrown for 300 or more yards on six occasions, including efforts of 458 (a career high) and 449.Cousins is 3-1 in his career against the Eagles, throwing for 1,345 yards, 10 touchdowns and two interceptions.I think every game is its own entity and I dont know that the sample size is large enough really to say theres a correlation, Cousins said of his success against Philadelphia. I just think that each game you see what can happen and you never know.The Eagles are on the fringe of the playoff conversation despite three consecutive defeats by a cumulative 85-42. Philadelphias stellar 3-0 start is nothing but a distant memory after seven losses in the past nine games.Last Sundays 32-14 loss to the Cincinnati Bengals led first-year coach Doug Pederson to question the effort of some players and that ruffled some feelings in the locker room.Players like safety Malcolm Jenkins and linebacker Nigel Bradham shot down that rhetoric. Tight end Brent Celek did as well but he indicated that a higher work ethic is necessary.I think guys are giving effort, but I think that we can take it to another level, Celek said. Theres levels to that. You can go hard every single play. I think thats what hes trying to say is -- listen, we can do better.Rookie quarterback Carson Wentz was the talk of the NFL when he led the Eagles to a 3-0 start, but he tossed a season-worst three interceptions against the Bengals and has been picked off eight times in the past five games.Wentz has passed for 2,901 yards and 12 touchdowns against 11 interceptions. He completed a season-low 50 percent of his passes (11 of 22) and threw for just 179 yards in a 27-20 loss to the Redskins on Oct. 16.You have to stay optimistic, Wentz said. I know, obviously, the results are tough as of late, were kind of on a skid, but like Ive been saying, this is a good group of guys, a good locker room. Guys are in it until the end.The Eagles hope to have running back Ryan Mathews (knee) back after a two-game absence. Leading receiver Jordan Matthews (57 catches, 686 yards) might also play after an ankle injury held him out of the loss to the Bengals.Washington is monitoring the health of tight end Jordan Reed (shoulder), who missed last Sundays 31-23 loss to the Arizona Cardinals. Reed returned to practice on a limited basis Wednesday.The Redskins also will have standout left tackle Trent Williams back in the trenches after he served a four-game suspension for violating the NFLs substance-abuse policy.It was a lot of anxiety, it was really tough, Williams told reporters. One of the hardest things for me was watching the games on TV and feeling helpless.One subplot involves Washington receiver DeSean Jackson (39 receptions, 644 yards), who spent his first six seasons with the Eagles before being released by former Philadelphia coach Chip Kelly following the 2013 campaign.Jackson is slated to become a free agent after this season and there is heavy speculation that he craves a return to the Eagles. 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Durant finished with 24 points and 13 rebounds, Jackson matched his career high with 23 points on 10-of-14 shooting and Lamb scored 12 points on 5-of-7 shooting, lifting the Thunder to a 94-88 win over San Antonio and snapping the Spurs 11-game winning streak. With Mark Schlabachs most recent Way-Too-Early Top 25 rankings as our guide, we have ranked everything from the weakest position groups to potential Olympians. This week, what are the biggest summer questions facing each team in the top 25?1.?Alabama Crimson Tide Is Bo Scarbrough really ready? Can he step into Derrick Henrys shoes and not miss a beat? Because, well, thats a lot to ask. Although Scarbrough is everything you look for in a running back -- big, powerful, athletic -- he is inexperienced and carries a history of injuries. Picking up the intricacies of the position (blocking, pass-catching, etc.) will be what makes or breaks the redshirt sophomores potential to be the feature back and an SEC star. -- Alex Scarborough2.?Clemson Tigers The pass rush. Its not that Clemson doesnt have talent at defensive end. Dabo Swinney is convinced that Austin Bryant, Clelin Ferrell and Richard Yeargin will develop into top-flight defenders. But none of them has much experience. Thats the downside of putting four defensive ends into the NFL the past two years. Swinneys hope, however, is that the competition among the inexperienced talent will generate better practices during fall camp and have the Tigers ready to pick up where they left off on defense last season. --?David M. Hale3.?Michigan WolverinesWho is going to play quarterback for the Wolverines? Wilton Speight and John OKorn have been in a neck-and-neck position battle since spring. With a litany of receiving weapons this season and one of the games best QB tutors in Jim Harbaugh, whoever comes out on top will find himself in position to succeed. -- Dan Murphy4. Florida State SeminolesQuarterback is the most glaring question mark, but will the rest of the offense step up to alleviate the pressure? Dalvin Cook will do his part, but the offensive line and receivers need to reach his level. Both groups were far too inconsistent a year ago. The line is imposing and talented, and Travis Rudolph stood out among the receivers this spring. -- Jared Shanker5.?Oklahoma SoonersWith status of preseason All-Big 12 pick Jordan Thomas up in the air for the opener following an offseason arrest, cornerback is a huge concern for the Sooners going into camp. Thomas is the defenses only proven performer at the position as the team heads into a nonconference slate that features a pair of outstanding opposing quarterbacks, Houstons Greg Ward and Ohio States J.T. Barrett. --?Jake Trotter6. LSU TigersLeonard Fournette is ready, as are the offensive line and receiver corps, led by Malachi Dupre and Travin Dural. The defense is solid, too, with one of the most talented secondaries in the country. But the passing game? Thats the issue. Coaches and teammates say they see a change in quarterback Brandon Harris now that hes a junior, but he has work to do to change his reputation as an underachiever holding back an otherwise talented offense. -- Scarborough7.?Stanford Cardinal Who will hand the ball off to Christian McCaffrey? Both Keller Chryst and Ryan Burns appear to be capable options to replace Kevin Hogan. No pressure, guys. The past two Stanford quarterbacks (Andrew Luck and Hogan) have had coaching positions named in their honor. -- Kyle Bonagura8. Notre Dame Fighting Irish Whom will Brian Kelly pick at quarterback? DeShone Kizer has the experience, but before an injury,?Malik Zaire was pegged as the starter in 2015. Kelly said the offense has developed around Kizer, so hell do a better job of tweaking the offense to Zaires skills when the left-hander is in during fall practice. That should ensure Kelly picks the most talented option. -- Shanker9.?Ohio State BuckeyesIs Mike Weber ready for prime time? Theres no veteran around to help ease him into a role as the primary rusher, and from the first day of camp, the pressure will be on the redshirt freshman to live up to his recruiting hype. As if following the footsteps of Carlos Hyde and Ezekiel Elliott werent a big enough challenge, the title hopes for the Buckeyes could hinge on Webers ability to match the standard of the superstars who came before him and thrived in Urban Meyers power-spread offense. -- Austin Ward10. Tennessee Volunteers People will point to Joshua Dobbs ability to consistently get the ball downfield, but hes going to need some protection to do anything this fall. The battle at left tackle is crucial for the Vols. Longtime starter Kyler Kerbyson is gone, which leaves redshirt freshman Drew Richmond to battle with Chance Hall, who started seven games at right tackle last year, and Brett Kendrick. Richmond appears to be the favorite, but this should last through all of camp. -- Edward Aschoff11.?USC Trojans Max Browne or Sam Darnold? Many people expected Browne to be announced as Cody Kesslers replacement in the spring, but Darnolds play prevented that. Browne remains the favorite, but dont be surprised if Darnold, a redshirt freshman, starts at quarterback against Alabama. -- Bonagura12. Georgia Bulldogs Kirby Smart is searching for some defensive linemen, a couple linebackers, the right offensive line combination and some playmakers at receiver. He has two running backs coming back from injuries, and he still has to figure out who is the starting quarterback. Freshman phenom Jacob Eason is the fan favorite, but Smart isnt going to rush his progress. Veterans Greyson Lambert and Brice Ramsey will have every chance to take the starting job, but Eason is waiting in the wings. How will Smart play this in the weeks leading up to opening weekend? -- Aschoff13. Ole Miss Rebels Hugh Freeze likes the taleent and depth coming back on his offensive line, but Ole Miss lost five starters from last years group and returns just 36 career starts.ddddddddddddThere will be moving and shaking up front all camp, but freshman Greg Little is the X factor. If he can cement his spot at left tackle, Freeze might find the perfect combination before taking on Florida State.?-- Aschoff14.?Oklahoma State Cowboys Whos going to rush the passer? The Cowboys are flush with youth at defensive end after losing Emmanuel Ogbah and Jimmy Bean, who combined to record 28 tackles for loss and 18.5 sacks in 2015. Vincent Taylor is a force in the middle. OSU is athletic across the front four. But its production is likely to decline, and it must find someone -- perhaps Jarrell Owens -- to draw the attention of opponents on the edge. --?Mitch Sherman15.?Michigan State SpartansCan the Spartans rebuild in the trenches? The offensive and defensive lines in East Lansing -- staples of the programs recent success -- lost three starters apiece at the end of last season. Malik McDowell will star on defense, but the Spartans have to sort out a long list of less experienced options (including two transfers) to complement him. -- Murphy16.?Washington Huskies Is the hype justified? That wont be determined quite yet, but there will be heightened interest around the program from Day 1 after the Huskies spent the offseason lavished with constant praise. -- Bonagura 17. Houston Cougars The Cougars need to find leadership of the vocal variety on defense. The talent at defensive coordinator Todd Orlandos disposal is sufficient, but after the graduation of multiyear starters such as linebacker Elandon Roberts and safeties Trevon Stewart and Adrian McDonald -- all of whom were vocal, heart-and-soul types for the Cougars -- new faces need to step into those roles if the Cougars are to have similar success on that side of the ball. Defensive end Cameron Malveaux seems the most likely candidate to step up, but Orlandos trying to find someone at every level of the defense. -- Sam Khan Jr.18. North Carolina Tar HeelsCan the defense get the ball back to what should be a dominant offense? Opponents saw what Baylor did in the bowl, coupled it with the fact that the Tar Heels lost two key linebackers and are thinking they will be able to run all over North Carolina. The defense needs to play better against the rush to prevent time-sustaining drives, get off the field and give the offense a chance to showcase its skill. -- Shanker19.?Oregon Ducks Can Brady Hoke breathe life back into the Ducks struggling defense? The unit was a disaster with Don Pellum calling plays, which led Mark Helfrich to demote him and turn the keys over to the former Michigan head coach. Quarterback is a concern, but not as much as the downward trend on defense. -- Bonagura20.?TCU Horned Frogs Whos going to lead this powerful offense? Trevone Boykin leaves big shoes to fill, and TCU coaches have remained noncommittal about who leads the race between Kenny Hill and Foster Sawyer. Even though Hill has SEC experience and was named the Big 12s preseason newcomer of the year, Sawyer has a shot to win the job. Its going to come down to how the QBs fare in scrimmages this month. -- Max Olson21. Texas A&M Aggies How quickly will the offensive line jell? The Aggies graduated three starters, which means a lot of new faces are being plugged in this year. Erik McCoys development at center and Koda Martins progress at right tackle are of particular importance as the Aggies try to improve in an area in which they have been maddeningly inconsistent the past two years. For new offensive coordinator Noel Mazzones offense to start on the right foot, the Aggies need to be good up front. --?Khan22.?UCLA Bruins How will the Bruins adapt to a new scheme on offense? Theyll look more traditional -- tight ends, fullback and snaps from under center -- and rely heavily on sophomore quarterback Josh Rosen. -- Bonagura23.?Iowa HawkeyesWho is going to do the punting and kicking? The Hawkeyes return starters at almost every position from their undefeated 2015 regular season, but special teams is undergoing a changing of the guard. Punter Dillon Kidd and kicker Marshall Koehn (who hit seven kicks from 40 yards or more last fall) are gone. For a team that plays in a lot of close battles, building trust in young specialists could be a deciding factor in the bid for another divisional title. -- Murphy24. Miami HurricanesBrad Kaaya has first-round potential, but will the offensive line allow the offense to flourish? Mark Richt is determined to run the football to help the passing game, but Miami was 61st among 65 Power 5 teams in rushing yards before contact last season. The good news is the Hurricanes return a lot along the offensive line, so there should be more cohesion, despite adjusting to a new coaching staff. -- Shanker25.?Louisville CardinalsThe offensive line. Plenty of attention has gone to QB Lamar Jackson, who were told has made huge strides as a pocket passer this offseason. None of that will matter, however, if his line doesnt take a big step forward. Last season, Louisville allowed the third-highest rate of pressures in the Power 5 (38.9 percent of dropbacks), and its ground game offered little support, which forced Jackson to become a runner rather than a passer. Most of last years O-line returns this season, but itll need to be a year better -- not just a year older. --?Hale ' ' '