For people with ADD, the QB position makes this a non-contest. But is there more to this matchup than the eye can see?
Well, let's start with why Philly isn't going down easy...
For starters, they are at home - this means a lot actually. The Philly fans are flippin' crazy. Talk about the "hostile crowd" aspect. It certainly applies here. Try going into the crowd wearing the other team's jersey...see how that works out for ya. So, the home-field advantage is actually a much bigger factor here than in most games.
Add in the fact that Atlanta plays in a dome. Grass can be a challenge for teams that are cozy with artificial turf. The footing is much less predictable and weather (e.g. mud, rain etc) could play tricks on a visiting squad that isn't used to the not-so-friendly confines of Lincoln Financial Field, let alone in the playoffs.
Philadelphia has NOT lost a game at home this year. Well, OK, they did lose to a hapless Dallas squad in Week 17, but they had already locked up the bye and nothing would have changed by risking the health of their key players. So, with that in mind, Philly looks like a team the oddsmakers are taking for granted by not even being favoured by the home field advantage (i.e. 4 points) going into this one.
So, we have established that the Eagles....what??? Well, nothing. The player that did more than any other individual player is gone for the year. And that is in the person of Carson Wentz. They won the games they needed to win, and did so against an average schedule. We have established that they earned the right for the bye, but with "journeyman" starter, Nick Foles, you can really throw their record out the window. In fact, he's gotta be crapping his pants over this.
On the other side of the field, we have Julio Jones, DaVonta Freeman, a more-than-more-than-formiddable defense and of course last year's MVP, Matt Ryan.
This is where things kind of fall apart for the Eagles. There could be a trick play or maybe a big special teams play that puts the Eagles in a good position, but there are going to be too many minutes in this one for the better team not to win. And that team is the team that has bounced back from losing a winning OC in Kyle Shanahan to find success with Steve Sarkisian. They got it going now. It's the playoffs. No team looked better, or scored more points than Atlanta did last year. This team is quite identical to the one they had last year.
Philadelphia is strong against the run. The two-headed monster of Freeman and Coleman for Atlanta will keep them honest, opening up passing lanes for Ryan and their receivers. They will air it out early and often. Philly won't know what hit em. Head coach Dan Quinn has been a regular in Super Bowls, too, so you gotta give the coaching nod to Atlanta. And after last year's disappointing finish against New England (I mean seriously, who blows a 28-3 lead???), they will be out to kill - and I believe they will.
I feel bad for Nick Foles. He's going to be the guy to fall on the sword for this one.
Yes, this meme is all me. Feel free to up vote, and even better, comment with your own meme that tells your tale of the outcome. Enjoy the game.