Eagles keys to victory
The Eagles are going to have their work cut out for them Saturday night. They are going to be facing a quality football team in a raucous environment – and they’re going to be doing it on a short week. They are facing the league’s top passing offense without their best cornerback and are going up against the Coach of the Year, who has had two weeks to prepare his team for this contest.
But I think we’d all agree this is a winnable game for the Eagles. Here are my keys to victory:
1. I think turnovers are absolutely vital in a game like this. I’d be shocked if the Saints don’t score at least 24 points, meaning the Eagles likely will need to score in the 27-31 range (at least) to pull out a win. When you need to put up points, you simply cannot afford more than one turnover. In football, turnovers are the great equalizer. An interception and a fumble can turn a 10-6 team into a 6-10 team in five minutes and vice versa. The Eagles must protect the ball and forcing a couple of turnovers would be huge.
2. I compare the Eagles’ running attack to a JENGA game. It’s almost like after several years, the Eagles finally have found the right mix of running and passing – but that being said, you kind of feel like they’re one bad possession or one fumble away from it all falling apart. If Westbrook’s first four carries go for -1,1,-2, and 1 yards, there is part of all of us that is afraid the play calling will revert back to Passing Galore. The Eagles must control the clock to some extent and keep the Saints’ offense off the field if they are going to win.
3. The cornerbacks have to play one of their best games of the year. For some reason, I have confidence in Joselio Hanson and William James even though I can’t explain why. They will both be on the field plenty – along with Sheldon Brown and Rod Hood, of course – and they all must, as a unit, have an excellent performance. In a secondary-related story, I really, really hope Sean Considine doesn’t get exposed in coverage – that is one of my biggest fears for this game.
4. Our linebackers must do a good job of covering Reggie Bush out of the backfield. Three words: God help us.
5. Any time you’re dealing with an inexperienced playoff team, especially one that is favored by a sizeable margin, it is pivotal the underdog get off to a good start. If the Saints get up 10-0 in the first quarter, their confidence will be soaring and the crowd will be rocking. But if the Eagles can get an early score or two, and hold even a three- or six-point lead at halftime, then all of a sudden the Saints may start to have some doubts creep in. I don’t believe this Eagles team is built to play catch-up, so a good start is pivotal. It feels like the Birds have been scored upon every game on their opponent’s opening drive. Saturday would be a good time to snap out of that funk.
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Posted on January 11, 2007 by Drew | Filed Under Eagles, Philadelphia
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