Atlanta (-3) at Philadelphia (1-13-18)

[oldunclemark]

4:35 EST.....Al Michaels, Cris Collinsworth and Michele Tafoya on NBC

Mid 50s (and falling) and rain at Lincoln Financial Field in Philadelphia....over-under at 41

 

Pivotal game of the entire playoffs. Are the Eagles competitive for a championship without injured QB Carson Wentz?

Will your car star without the keys?

Backup Nick Foles (57 for 101, 537 yards, 5 Tds and 2 INTs) was great. 5 years ago.  But in 2018, he may struggle against a fast Atlanta defense that held the Rams to 13 points last week in LA.

The eagles don't have a lot of speed at WR with TE Zach Erntz (74 catches for 824 yards) and Alshon Jeffrey (57 catches, 789 yards)
RB Jay Ajayi (70 rushes, 408 yards) averages 5.8 a carry and he has to be close to that Saturday.

'Atlanta star Matt Ryan (342 if 509, 4,095 yards, 20 Tds, 12 INTs) will look for all-pro Julio Jones (88 catches, 1,444 yards) and a squadron of WRs.

The Eagles have the top-ranked run defense (some of that is because the Eagles have led in most games) so Ryan will be throwing 30-40 times against a Philadelphia pass defense that cant help but be helped by the weather.

 

       I'm just not buying the Eagles without Wentz.   3 points is next to nothing and if Foles doesn't start fats, the Phily crowd will rain boos on him more than the skies will rain.

Atlanta (11-6) has won 7 of their last nine and kicker Matt Bryant had four FGs against The Rams including kicks of 51 and 54 yards.

    Matt Ryan is almost 65% on his passes and has been sacked just 24 times. The Eagles (13-3) are rested but they cant score a lot without Wentz.

They can stop the run but the Falcons don't need a lot of run yards to win.   Eagles host games as long as they win

 

Dont ignore the 'wise guys'.    The home teams are ALWAYS favored early in the NFL playoffs. Philadelphia is not. Because without Wentz, they are a dog without a bone.

 Atlanta is favored and they should be. Take the Falcons and the over

[2006Coltsbestever]

I like the Falcons in this one 27-20. I think Philly hangs tough but without Wentz I don't see them winning.

[oldunclemark]

Its colder than I thought...Upper 20s....favors the Eagles

[IndyScribe]

I don't see the Eagles winning this. I'm not confident in Foles. I don't really care who wins, though. If Wentz were playing, I'd want the Eagles to win.

[oldunclemark]

wow..Eagles turn it over in the4 first minute

[2006Coltsbestever]

Turnover already!

[2006Coltsbestever]

3-0 Falcons.

[oldunclemark]

Atlanta has 8 men in the box..daring Foles to throw on early downs

[oldunclemark]

What possesses a coach to go for it on 4th and 2 at midfield n the first quarter of a 3-0 playoff game?

You would never do that during the regular season.

[oldunclemark]

6-3 Philadelphia..

     Good drive for the eagles and they never really had to throw the ball down the field

[oldunclemark]

       Might be my TV but the crowd seems quiet

[coltsva]

1 minute ago, oldunclemark said:

       Might be my TV but the crowd seems quiet

I thought the same thing

[coltsva]

18 mph winds, so could be something they do to with on field mics to limit noise from the wind.

[crazycolt1]

The punt was tipped

[oldunclemark]

  10-9 late 3rd quarter (either way) is not what I expected

[Roger]

Eagles take the lead and their defense comes out strong.  Philly has momentum. 

[Malakai432]

This is a really good game. 

[Narcosys]

Wow, julio ain't so clutch. Idk why they threw it for 1st and 2nd downs.

[oldunclemark]

1 minute ago, Narcosys said:

Wow, julio ain't so clutch. Idk why they threw it for 1st and 2nd downs.

Me either..They could have run the ball because Philadelphia wa staking the tim e outs

[oldunclemark]

15-10........?  wow....25 total points

I would never have taken the 'under' in this one

 

 

[chad72]

Vikings will be the first home team to make the SB, all signs point towards that.

[chad72]

#1 seed in NFC vs #1 in AFC, AFC has had upper hand typically

 

2004 - Patriots vs Eagles

2006 - Colts vs Bears

2009 - Colts vs Saints

2013 - Seahawks vs Broncos

2014 - Patriots vs Seahawks

2015 - Broncos vs Panthers

2016 - Patriots vs Falcons

 

Saints and Seahawks both beat Peyton to get the NFC on the board in those #1 seed match ups. For that reason, I hope the Vikings make it and not the Eagles.