PHILADELPHIA -- If RG3's days in Washington are nearing an end, he won't have to look far to find a coach that appreciates his talent.
Chip Kelly will watch from the opposite sideline today.
Robert Griffin III is back as the starting quarterback for the Redskins (3-11) when they host the Philadelphia Eagles (9-5).
Listening to Kelly rave about Griffin suggests he would rather his team faced Kirk Cousins or Colt McCoy, whose injury allowed Griffin to return under center.
"I know he can run and I know he can throw," Kelly said. "That's what we're preparing for. We're preparing for the best. He can run the zone-read play and you better be conscious of the guy coming off the disconnect.
"It's different than Tony Romo. When Tony Romo turns and hands the ball off to DeMarco Murray, you're not worried about Tony running out the backside. When RG3 turns and hands the ball off, you better be worried about him running out the backside."
Griffin ran for 815 yards, threw for 3,200 yards and 20 touchdowns to only five interceptions in a sensational rookie season in 2012 when he led the Redskins to an NFC East title. But he tore the ACL in his right knee in a playoff loss that year and dislocated his left ankle earlier this season.
He hasn't been the same player since his injuries and was benched by coach Jay Gruden a few weeks ago. The Redskins are 4-14 in games Griffin has started since opening 2013 with a home loss to Philadelphia in Kelly's NFL debut.
Still, the Eagles are wary of Griffin.
"If you're not aware of where RG3 is, he can hurt you with his legs and his arm," Kelly said. "We got to be really sharp in our contain when we rush the quarterback because he's a different element than we've seen except for Russell Wilson and you saw what happened to us. I thought we did a really good job at times in defending Seattle, and then all of a sudden Russell just extended plays and continued to make things happen."
Griffin is 2-2 against the Eagles with a 101.4 passer rating, 10 TD passes and two interceptions in those four games.
"Last week, he looked a lot more confident and looser than earlier in the year," Eagles safety Malcolm Jenkins said. "It looks like the time off has done his legs a lot of good. He's moving pretty well, has a lot more confidence in his throws. You can tell he's been a lot more decisive."
The Eagles are desperate to keep their playoff hopes alive after consecutive homes losses to Seattle and Dallas. They can finish 11-5 and miss the playoffs unless the Cowboys lose one game or the Packers or Lions or Seahawks lose two.
Meanwhile, the Redskins are playing the spoiler role in another miserable season. They're heading toward their ninth last-place finish since owner Dan Snyder bought the team in 1999.
Chargers at 49ers
SANTA CLARA, Calif. -- Philip Rivers and the San Diego Chargers are competing for their playoff lives with two games to go, slim as those chances might be.
Surprisingly, the San Francisco 49ers find themselves playing only to finish on a strong note -- not for another deep postseason run they had become so used to in the first three years under embattled coach Jim Harbaugh.
It will be a little strange, indeed, for San Francisco with nothing at stake tonight on its home field.
Not that Rivers expects Harbaugh's team to back down one bit at this stage despite the uncomfortable circumstances and constant, swirling questions about Harbaugh's future with one season remaining on his $25 million, five-year contract.
"This is a team we respect a lot. They've been to three championship games and there's lots of reasons why maybe this year didn't turn out," Rivers said. "It's a late game in December with one week to go. Two teams are in different circumstances, but both have a lot of prideful guys and guys who are going to give everything. It will be a playoff-type intensity type of game."
The Chargers (8-6) are in a closing stretch that included a win at Baltimore and home losses to New England and Denver. They've gone from controlling their own destiny in the wild-card race to needing to win at San Francisco and at Kansas City, plus to get some help.
San Francisco (7-7) has its first three-game losing streak during Harbaugh's tenure, with two of those coming at the hands of the defending Super Bowl champion Seattle Seahawks in an 18-day span.
Now, the Niners are playing for a winning season.
AP Picks: Eagles 31-21. 49ers 21-20.
"There's a lot at stake. That's the way we approach it," Harbaugh said.
Sports on 12/20/2014