While the top-seeded Eagles enjoy the week off during the opening Wild Card Round of the NFL playoffs, the only thing that we know for sure is that they will face a team from the NFC South at home next Saturday in the Divisional Round.
The logical matchup would be against New Orleans assuming that the Saints beat Carolina at home on Sunday in their wild card matchup after the Los Angeles Rams knock the visiting Atlanta Falcons out of the playoffs with a win on Saturday.
The Rams (-5.5 points) and the Saints (-7 points) are solid home favorites to win and advance to the next round. They are both overwhelming picks to win outright among any number of NFL experts. I just so happen to think that too many of these so-called experts are getting way ahead of things, especially when it comes to a team that posted its first winning season since 2003.
I would tend to agree that New Orleans should be able to get past the Panthers after beating them twice in the regular season by a combined 31 points, but when it comes to the NFL, one team beating any other team three times in same season can be a very tall task, especially when the two division rivals are extremely familiar with one another.
The boldest prediction of the day is that the Panther/Saints matchup will have no bearing on next week’s Eagles game. I happen to think that Atlanta can go into Memorial Coliseum on Saturday night and beat Los Angeles as a road underdog.
The Rams are the better overall team on paper behind an offense that was first in the NFL in scoring complementing a defense that was 12th in points allowed, but there is something to be said for experience on the elevated stage of the playoffs.
Atlanta qualified for the postseason six times over the last 10 seasons highlighted by a trip to last year’s Super Bowl. The result of that game withstanding, this team has a veteran quarterback in Matt Ryan that has recently played on the NFL’s biggest stage. You would have to go all the way back to 2004 to find the last time that the Rams played past the final game of the regular season.
Los Angeles is just one season removed from winning a grand total of four games and while I am not taking anything away from this year’s amazing turnaround, there have been quite a few ‘worst to first runs’ in the NFL that have resulted in a ‘one and done’ in the playoffs. There is a reason why home field advantage is so important in the postseason, but there is also a reason why they play the game.
The Eagles are going to have a tough game on their hands next Saturday regardless of what happens this weekend, but do not be surprised if we are left with a “Battle of the Birds” in Philly’s long-awaited return to postseason play.
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