The defending NFC champion Atlanta Falcons travel north to face the NFC’s top-seeded Philadelphia Eagles in the Divisional Playoffs
Atlanta Falcons (11-6) at Philadelphia Eagles (13-3)
History: Falcons head to Philadelphia for the second consecutive year as teams meet in postseason fourth time…Teams meet for third straight season, with Eagles posting 24-15 in ’16 at Philadelphia (Week 10) in club’s last encounter…Falcons 6-10-1 lifetime at Philadelphia dating back to 1966…
HISTORIC NOTE: Fourth postseason meeting between teams (Eagles, 2-1), Atlanta posting 14-13 win in ‘78 NFC Wild Card Playoffs at Fulton County Stadium, while Eagles managed 20-6 victory in ‘02 NFC Divisional Playoffs at since-demolished Veterans Stadium and 27-10 win in ’01 NFC Championship Game at Lincoln Financial Field …
Coaches: Falcons’ head coach Dan Quinn: 3-1 in postseason play … Eagles’ head coach Doug Pederson: making first postseason appearance as NFL head coach …
Postseason History: Falcons: making 14th overall playoff appearance (14th since merger), 10-13 in postseason play (10-13 since merger)…Eagles: making 25th overall playoff appearance (21st since merger), 19-21 in postseason play (15-20 since merger)…
Numbers: FALCONS: Defeated Rams, 26-13, in NFC Wild Card Playoffs last week…10-6 record, reached playoffs in ’17 (11-5, won NFC South, reached Super Bowl LI in ’16)…QB Matt Ryan: Including playoffs, 21 TD passes, 12 INT in 17 games in ’17 (38 TD passes, 7 INT in 16 reg. season games in ’16)…Including playoffs, 10-8 vs. NFC South, 22-12 vs. rest of NFL dating back to ’15…Including playoffs, scored 379 points and 35 offensive TD in 17 games in ’17 (scored 540 points and 58 offensive TD in ’16)…Including playoffs, allowed 328 points and 32 offensive TD in 17 games in ’17 (allowed 406 points and allowed 46 offensive TD in ’16)…Including playoffs, allowed 23 TD passes in 17 games in ’17 (allowed 31 TD passes in ’16, allowed 19 TD passes in in ’15)…Including playoffs, scored 299 points in 11 wins, 80 points in 6 losses in ’17…Including playoffs, outscored opposition 90-44 in first quarter in 17 games in ’17…EAGLES: Off last week…13-3 record, won NFC East in ’17 (7-9 in ’16)…Scored 47 offensive TD in 16 games in ’17 (scored 32 offensive TD in ’16)…Outscored opponents 106-48 in first quarter in 16 games in ’17…31 takeaways in 16 games in ’17 (26 takeaways in ’17)…Scored 9 rushing TD, 38 passing TD in 16 games in ’17 (16 rushing TD, 16 passing TD in ’16)…Scored 100-plus points in each of their 4 quarters in ’17…Allowed 1,267 rushing yards (79.2 YPG) in 16 games in ’17; allowed 1,652 rushing yards in ’16 (103.3 YPG)…
Things to look for: This is a different Atlanta Falcons’ team from a year ago, one that stresses the ground game as of late – as well as an improved defensive unit. Dan Quinn’s club was very physical a week ago against the Rams as running backs Devonta Freeman and Tevin Coleman overpowered Los Angeles’ defenders. Of course, the Philadelphia Eagles’ rushing defense is tops in the league. But if quarterback Nick Foles can’t help the team sustain a little offense, the defending NFC champions can outslug their way to a road win…
NOTE: Win-loss records include playoffs
