With 48 hours to go before the Eagles' first NFC East showdown of the season, head coach Andy Reid said his team is focused and ready for the Redskins despite a week of media hoopla surrounding the return of Donovan McNabb.

After all, there's a game to be played and the Eagles' success could largely depend on their ability to keep the game in perspective.

"Well, it looks like they have," Reid said Friday. "Listen, who knows? I'm not there every minute with them, but when they're in this building that's what I've seen. We're very excited to play the Washington Redskins and that's a NFC East rival, and those are all exciting games. And so, we know our crowd will just be unbelievably loud and fired up, and that helps us when opponents come in here. So, I think it will be a great atmosphere for a football game."

The quarterback donning the home white jersey this week will be Michael Vick, of course, as he gets his first start in front of the home crowd this week. Vick has been electric in his two starts away from Lincoln Financial Field, and will now have the task of outscoring his former teammate and mentor, McNabb, in one of the most anticipated games in years.

Reid explained Friday that his new quarterback has played in big games before, and the head coach has total confidence that Vick will handle the situation with poise and not get caught up in the hype.

"I don't think that's how Mike is by nature," Reid said. "He's pretty cool about things. He loves to play and focuses in on that. The thing is as a player you have so much responsibility and you have to focus in on that and I think that's what these guys do - I know the media part is a little different.

"But, it's very important that all of us, for each game just hone in and it's like finals every week – you sell out and make sure that you cram and get it all right. There's really no time for anything else if you do that right."

-- Posted by Josh Goldman, 3:05 p.m., October 1