Defending champs desperate heading to New Orleans

the longest active winning streak in the NFL.

NEW ORLEANS— If the PhilWhen the season began, adelphia Eagles are to snap the Eagles’ visit looked like out of their Super Bowl hang- one of the tougher games over and re-establish a meaon New Orleans’ schedule. sure of credibility to their Now, odds makers are listing title defense, this would be the surging Saints, who lead the week to do it. the NFL in scoring with 36.7

The Eagles (4-5) visit the points per game, as favorites Superdome today to take on by more than a touchdown. the Saints (8-1), whose eight Still, the Saints sound straight victories represent wary of underestimating the team that upended the New England Patriots in the Super Bowl just nine months ago.

“They’re still a good team no matter what their record is,” Saints running back Alvin Kamara insisted. “They wouldn’t have won last year if they didn’t have the talent.”

Kamara’s take is no surprise to Philadelphia coach Doug Pederson, who asserted that when you’re the defend- ing champs, “you get everybody’s best each week.”

Pederson even recalled pep-talks he gave his team last season in which he said, “Listen, if you want to be one of the best teams in the league, we have to beat the best. And I know teams are saying that about us, and we just haven’t lived up to how we’re capable of play- ing in a couple of situations this year.”

They need to start living up to their capabilities now. A loss in New Orleans, com- bined with a Washington win, would put the Eagles three games down in the NFC East with six games left.

That makes Philadelphia the more desperate team in this game, and in the NFL, a combination of talent and desperation can be dangerous.

“They are a prideful group. They know how to win,” Saints quarterback Drew Brees said. “They have a ton of playmakers over there. We have our work cut out for us and we know what type of game it’s going to be. We know they’re coming in hungry for a win. Both teams have a lot to play for.”