NFC FALCONS AT EAGLES
USA TODAY’s Nate Davis previews the NFC divisional playoff matchup between the Atlanta Falcons and Philadelphia Eagles When: Saturday, 4:35 p.m. ET, NBC Where: Lincoln Financial Field in Philadelphia
Line: Falcons by 3
Injuries: The Falcons have been banged up for weeks, but they had no players listed on their final injury report. LB Dannell Ellerbe and CB Sidney Jones are the only Eagles players listed as questionable, with both dealing with hamstring injuries. THREE THINGS TO KNOW
1. The defenses never rest: The narrative for the 2017 Falcons has focused on their supposed Super Bowl LI hangover and an offense that fell well short of its 2016 standards. Such handwringing overshadowed the continued maturation of a defense that’s quietly morphed into one of the NFL’s most well-rounded units and will likely be the primary reason the team’s NFC title defense succeeds or fails. Atlanta has allowed just 16.3 points per game over its last six, clamping down on some of the league’s best offenses (New Orleans, Carolina and the L.A. Rams among them). The Eagles defense will also have to rise to the occasion given the offense’s struggles without injured QB Carson Wentz. 2. Questionable QBs: Matt Ryan grew up just outside of Philadelphia in Exton, Pa., so he knows what kind of crowd awaits him at The Linc. And maybe he’ll appreciate the fact he’s had to regenerate a thick skin a year removed from his MVP campaign. Ryan’s been fine in 2017, his 64.7% completion rate and 91.4 passer rating pretty much in line with his career norms. Of course, that’s the problem. His 2016 résumé now seems like a career season rather than an indicator he’d made the leap from good to elite after his touchdown pass total dropped by nearly half (38 to 20) and his interceptions nearly doubled (from seven to 12). Eagles QB Foles wishes he had Ryan’s problems. He threw four TD passes in his first start after Wentz went down, but it came against the Giants in Week 15 and now appears to be fool’s gold. Foles has struggled since (47% completion rate, 48.2 passer rating), and the Eagles offense has managed just 16 points in the past nine quarters. 3. Take it on the run baby: Current weather models suggest the East Coast will have emerged from Arctic conditions for the opener of the divisional round. Fortunately, Atlanta’s tailback tandem of Devonta Freeman and Tevin Coleman should thrive in any environment. The Eagles would surely prefer to rely on their trio of LeGarrette Blount, Jay Ajayi and Corey Clemen if Foles can keep the Falcons defense honest.