Milwaukee Journal Sentinel

EAGLES CLAW PAST FALCONS IN NFL PLAYOFFS

- Barry Wilner Associated Press

Eagles running back Corey Clement, who was a star at Wisconsin, helps lead Philadelph­ia past Atlanta, 15-10, in an NFC Divisional playoff game on Saturday.

PHILADELPH­IA - Fly Eagles Fly. With the wind and against it. With Nick Foles engineerin­g several long drives, Jake Elliott converting three field goals, and the defense getting stingy in the tightest spot, Philadelph­ia moved into the NFC Championsh­ip Game with a 15-10 victory over the Atlanta Falcons on Saturday.

Foles directed brilliant marches of 74 and 80 yards in the second half — one into the whipping wind, the other with it — and Elliott atoned for missing an extra point by converting from 53 yards at the end of the second quarter, 37 and 21 in the second half. Then the Eagles (14-3) held when Atlanta (11-7) got to the 9-yard line with a first down, and to the 2 on fourth down.

When Matt Ryan’s final pass sailed over Julio Jones’ head in the end zone, Philly could celebrate its first playoff victory since the 2008 season.

Next Sunday, the Eagles will host either Minnesota or New Orleans for the conference crown. The Eagles last made the Super Bowl in the 2004 season, losing to New England.

“I mean, we just kept believing in each other,” said Foles, who became the starter when Carson Wentz injured his knee in December. “That was it. Our team never wavered, defense did an amazing job, special teams — that’s just been the story this year is that we just all stuck together.”

The Falcons, of course, memorably blew a 28-3 second-half lead to the Patriots in last year’s Super Bowl. They will not get the opportunit­y to atone for it, though Ryan got them close at the end.

Despite being underdogs as the No. 1 seed, the Eagles showed plenty of moxie.

“Just keep on disrespect­ing and we’re going to keep proving people wrong,” receiver Alshon Jeffery said.

A masterful 74-yard, 12-play drive on which Foles threw for 70 yards led to Elliott’s 37-yard kick into the wind that made it 12-10. The Eagles then put an 80yard drive covering 14 plays, yet again faltered close to the end zone. Elliott added a 21-yarder with 6:02 remaining after coach Doug Pederson considered going for it on fourth-and-1 at the Atlanta 3.

“It was tricky out there, really gusty,” Elliott said.

 ??  ??

Newspapers in English

Newspapers from United States