Overlook
Philadelphia comes into this game as the number one seed in the NFC, but the line favors the Falcons by 2.5. The Eagles come into this game as an underdog mostly because of their play in the final few regular season games. Their offense has been struggling ever since they lost their MVP candidate quarterback Carson Wentz. One thing that Philly fans have hope for is that Nick Foles has shown that he can be good and they have had two full weeks to get him ready and to create an offense that is friendly to his skill set.
Positional Matchups
Quarterback
The advantage here goes heavily to the Falcons. Matt Ryan is still an elite quarterback in the league and has experience in the playoffs. Foles is the Eagles backup and hasn’t shown anything that would make him even close to the level Ryan is on. The loss of Carson Wentz severely hurt Philadelphia’s odds in the playoffs.
Running Backs
I think the Eagles get this one but its very close. The Eagles have great depth at running back with Jay Ajayi, LeGarrette Blount, and Corey Clement. The Falcons really only use two backs in Devonta Freeman and Tevin Coleman. The way the Eagles spread the ball around and the skillset of all three backs complement each other nicely.
Wide Receivers
I think this matchup is dead even, both teams have a core group of reliable receivers. The Falcons have Julio Jones, Muhammad Sanu, and Taylor Gabriel. Jones is the leader of the squad and arguably the best receiver in the league. Meanwhile, the Eagles have Alshon Jeffery, Nelson Agholor, and Torrey Smith. None of them are top five receivers in the league but they are all decent receivers who complement one another well.
Tight Ends
The advantage here goes heavily to the Eagles. The Falcons tight ends are hardly a part of their passing game and, even when they are, Austin Hooper is the guy who does not compare to the Eagles three-headed attack. Philadelphia’s leading receiver is Zach Ertz who has 824 receiving yards and eight touchdowns. Accompanying him are fellow tight ends Brent Celek and Trey Burton. Their tight ends as a whole have accounted for 14 touchdowns this year making them a huge part of the offensive attack.
Offensive Line
In another close matchup, I lean slightly in favor of the Eagles. The Eagles’ left side of the offensive line is one of, if not the best, in the league starting with Jason Kelce an All-Pro center, Brandon Brooks a good big guard, and Lane Johnson an All-Pro and Pro Bowl tackle selection this year. While the Falcons line is by no means bad the Eagles just have the slight edge.
-
Ep 103: Tom Brady Retires, Sean Payton To Broncos, Super Bowl Primer
by Full Press Coverage on February 5, 2023 at 3:49 pm
Defensive Line
Philly’s defensive front is known as one of the best in the league. With a starting line of Fletcher Cox, Brandon Graham, Tim Jernigan, and Vinny Curry, Philadelphia is able to constantly put pressure on the quarterback and stuff opposing running backs. The Eagles are also fortunate enough to have another four-man rotation that allows all their starters to get rest, and the second line is not a huge dropoff by any means from their starters. While the Falcons line is decent with their stars Adrian Clayborn and Takkarist McKinley the advantage goes heavily to the Eagles here.
Linebackers
The Falcons linebacking core is a dominant force this year. Led by middle linebacker Dion Jones and outside linebacker Vic Beasley this group of guys can rush the passer or cover the middle of the field. Meanwhile, the Eagles have had a very unfortunate year at linebacker with all the injuries they have sustained. They lost Jordan Hicks, their starting middle linebacker, to an Achilles injury as well as losing his backup Joe Walker to a neck injury. The rest of the Eagles linebackers have stepped up this year but it still isn’t enough to give them an edge in this category, advantage Falcons.
Defensive Backs
As of recently, the Atlanta defensive backs have been playing great football. But the Eagles have the potential to play like the elite group they are. The safeties of the Eagles are some of the best in the league with Rodney McLeod and one of the leaders of the defense Malcolm Jenkins. The corners of both teams have the potential to be great, I believe that the Eagles have more talent but the Falcons defensive backs have been playing great as of late. I would have to say that this matchup is even.
Prediction
I think this will be a great and thrilling game, but I think that the two weeks that the Eagles had off was enough time for them to set up an offensive scheme around Foles that will be able to carry them through this game. I think that this will be a relatively low scoring game with a final score of 24-21 Eagles. Foles leads them on a game-winning drive down the field to set up a Jake Elliot game-winning field goal.
– Ryan Mace is a Staff Writer for Full Press Coverage Eagles. He covers the Philadelphia Eagles. Like and follow on Follow @ryanmace750 Follow @FPC_Eagles and Facebook
-
Ep 142: Former Washington Quarterback And Super Bowl Champion Doug Williams Joins The Showby Full Press Coverage on February 3, 2023 at 10:19 pm
Former Washington quarterback and Super Bowl champion Doug Williams joins […]
-
Ep 141: Andy Reid, Eagles, And Conference Championship Weekend w/ Joe Bannerby Full Press Coverage on January 27, 2023 at 5:36 pm
Clark and Ira are joined by former Eagles President Joe Banner to talk […]
-
Ep 137: Hall Of Fame Discussion w/ John Turneyby Full Press Coverage on December 30, 2022 at 5:33 pm
Football historian John Turney of Pro Football Journal joins Clark and Ira […]
-
Ep 136: Remembering The Longest Game Ever Played With Larry Littleby Full Press Coverage on December 24, 2022 at 1:09 am
On the 51-year anniversary of the longest game ever played (Chiefs vs. […]
-
Ep 135: Hall of Fame Semifinalist Jahri Evans Joins The Showby Full Press Coverage on December 16, 2022 at 3:51 pm
Former Saints guard and 2023 HOF Semifinalist Jahri Evans joins Clark and […]
-
Ep 134: Remember AFL/NFL Star John Hadl with Nick Canepaby Full Press Coverage on December 8, 2022 at 2:39 pm
Former Hall of Fame voter, Nick Canepa, joins Clark and Ira to discuss the […]
-
Ep 133: Hall Of Fame Semifinalist Henry Ellard Joins The Showby Full Press Coverage on November 30, 2022 at 4:28 pm
Former Rams and Redskins wide receiver, Henry Ellard, joins Clark and Ira […]
-
Ep 132: Pro Football Hall of Fame Class of 2023 Semifinalists w/ Rick Gosselinby Full Press Coverage on November 22, 2022 at 6:15 pm
Clark and Ira are joined by Pro Football Hall of Fame voter Rick Gosselin […]
-
Ep 131: 'Football Heaven' With PFHOF Senior Advisor Joe Horriganby Full Press Coverage on November 17, 2022 at 5:55 pm
Pro Football Hall of Fame Senior Advisor, Joe Horrigan, joins Clark and […]
-
Ep 130: Remembering John McVay With Hall of Famer Eddie DeBartolo Jr.by Full Press Coverage on November 13, 2022 at 1:42 am
Clark and Ira are joined by Hall of Fame owner Eddie DeBartolo Jr. to […]
-
Ep 271: NFL Championship Roundby Full Press Coverage on January 26, 2023 at 1:58 pm
-
Ep 270: NFL Divisional Roundby Full Press Coverage on January 19, 2023 at 1:31 am
-
Ep 269: NFL Playoff Previewby Full Press Coverage on January 12, 2023 at 4:13 am
-
Ep 268: Week 16 Fantasy Rankingsby Full Press Coverage on December 21, 2022 at 9:45 pm
-
(Episode 3.2) Offseason Talk with the "Command This!" Podcastby Full Press Coverage on February 1, 2023 at 3:04 am
George Carmi hosts Steve, Dev, and Phil as they discuss the Commanders […]
-
Ep 167: Super Bowl LVII Previewby Full Press Coverage on February 1, 2023 at 12:33 am
This season premiere featured a preview of the NFL's season finale. In […]
-
2/7 - Super Bowl Headlines, Mahomes, Tom Brady Podcastby Full Press Coverage on February 7, 2023 at 3:30 pm
Ian and John discuss some of the headlines heading into Super Bowl 57 […]
-
2/6 - Kyrie Irving Traded, Sean Payton To Broncos, Early Super Bowl Oddsby Full Press Coverage on February 6, 2023 at 3:04 pm
Ian and John discuss the Kyrie Irving trade, Sean Payton heading to […]
-
2/3 - Tom Brady Retires... For Goodby Full Press Coverage on February 3, 2023 at 2:20 pm
Ian and John react to Tom Brady's second, and likely final, retirement. […]
-
1/31 - Tom Brady and the 49ers, Aaron Rodgers Futureby Full Press Coverage on January 31, 2023 at 9:00 am
Ian and John discuss whether or not the 49ers loss in the NFC Championship […]
-
Talkamania Episode 230by Talkamania on September 6, 2022 at 11:43 pm
-
Talkamania Episode 229by Talkamania on August 5, 2022 at 3:37 am
-
Boot 2 The Face Episode 211 "Steel Reserve"by Boot 2 The Face on January 28, 2023 at 6:59 pm
We preview the Royal Rumble and other things in the week of pro wreslting. […]
-
Boot 2 The Face Episode 210 "No Monè, No Monè, No Monè"by Boot 2 The Face on January 19, 2023 at 12:55 am
Rucker and EJ are back discussing Rucker going to Impacts Hard to Kill […]
-
Suns at Netsby Broken Controller Media on February 7, 2023 at 5:00 pm
-
2/7 - Super Bowl Headlines, Mahomes, Tom Brady Podcastby Full Press Coverage on February 7, 2023 at 3:30 pm
-
Ep 2: Top 5 Super Bowls Of All Timeby Full Press Coverage on February 7, 2023 at 3:26 pm
-
Full Press MMA - Monday, February 6thby Full Press Coverage on February 7, 2023 at 12:00 am
-
Ep. 93: Vanderbilt Head Baseball Coach Tim Corbinby Full Press Coverage on February 6, 2023 at 11:03 pm
-
Bucks at Trail Blazersby Broken Controller Media on February 6, 2023 at 11:00 pm
-
Thunder at Warriorsby Broken Controller Media on February 6, 2023 at 10:00 pm
-
Mavericks at Jazzby Broken Controller Media on February 6, 2023 at 9:15 pm
-
Kings at Rocketsby Broken Controller Media on February 6, 2023 at 8:30 pm
-
Spurs at Bullsby Broken Controller Media on February 6, 2023 at 7:45 pm
-
1/6 - Damar Hamlin Update, Bills/Bengals, AFC Playoffs, Week 18 Picksby Full Press Coverage on January 6, 2023 at 3:11 pm
-
Winter Classic: Bruins Rally To Beat Penguins At Fenwayby Full Press Coverage on January 4, 2023 at 2:09 am
-
1/3 - Bills/Bengals Postponed; Bruins Topple Penguins In Winter Classicby Full Press Coverage on January 4, 2023 at 2:05 am
-
1/2 - Tom Brady, Aaron Rodgers, Week 17, Bills/Bengalsby Full Press Coverage on January 3, 2023 at 3:22 am
-
12/30 - New Year's Eve, Luka Doncic, NBA Talk, Week 17 Preview and Picksby Full Press Coverage on January 1, 2023 at 2:29 am
-
Aaron Rodgers, Packers Win Third Straight; Playoffs In Sightby Full Press Coverage on December 27, 2022 at 7:36 pm