Underdog Eagles look to prove they still fly high against Falcons

By: Jesse Larch, Sports Talk Philly editor 

The Eagles will open the second round of the playoffs on Saturday afternoon when they host the Atlanta Falcons at Lincoln Financial Field in the divisional round of the NFL Playoffs. 

The Eagles have been listed as underdogs by Las Vegas oddsmakers for this game. It is the first time that a top seeded team has not been favored in their first playoff game in NFL history. 

Bulletin Board Material

The Eagles finished 13-3 and earned the top spot in the NFC with their play during the regular season. The Eagles have a dominant defense – which ranked number one in rushing defense and number four in overall defense, and an elite rushing offense that ranked third in the league.

Even with all of those accomplishments, the Eagles enter Saturday's game as an underdog. 

That is a moniker that, for lack of a better term, has pissed off the Eagles. 

"We’ve been disrespected all year. Our record can speak for itself. We’re a team that’s been disrespected week in and week out, and we just come out and ring the bell every week," said pro bowl defensive tackle Fletcher Cox.

"What bothered me was we were 12-2 and treated like we were the Browns. It happens, but I think although we don’t like it, it’s a good motivator to have people not write good things. I think it’s the best motivator there is and you can go and change it," said first-team All-Pro right tackle Lane Johnson

The locker room seems to have agreed with Johnson's opinion with outside linebacker Nigel Bradham telling the media that the Eagles have posted signs all around the NovaCare complex to remind the team of the "disrespect" that they have been forced to endure. 

The Eagles have taken the metaphorical term "bulletin board material" and taken it to the extreme, by directly confronting players with the words of doubt surrounding their team. 

What the national media and Las Vegas have done is poke not one bear, but 53 of them. 

Stopping Matt Ryan

Matt Ryan is not only the NFL's defending league MVP, but he is also a quarterback who has been highly productive in his postseason career. 

Matt Ryan has averaged 273.5 yards, 2.1 touchdowns, 0.77 interceptions, and a 102.4 passer rating in nine career playoff games. 

Ryan trails only hall of famers and ex-Super Bowl champions Kurt Warner (102.8) and Bart Starr (104.8) in career postseason passer rating. 

With Julio Jones, Mohamed Sanu, Austin Hooper, Devonta Freeman, and Tevin Coleman at his disposal, Matt Ryan will have plenty of weapons to utilize on Saturday and leap frog Warner and Starr to become the highest rated postseason passer ever. 

As great as Ryan has been in the postseason, he has been very average in his career in Lincoln Financial Field. Ryan holds a 1-3 record at the Linc. Ryan has averaged 264 yards, two touchdowns, and one interception while completing 58.1 percent of his passes to earn an average quarterback rating of 86.99 – considerably below his career mark of 93.4.

It will be up to the Eagles' defense to keep Ryan from etching his name atop the all-time leader board. 

All eyes on Ajayi

Without Carson Wentz the focus of the offense moves to the running backs, and the lead running for the Eagles to close out the season was Jay Ajayi. Ajayi averaged 13.6 carries per game between weeks 14 and 16 – the most of any Eagles' running back during that span. 

Ajayi has been limited in practice by the Eagles of late, but the coaches all say that there is nothing wrong with Ajayi, and it is just a way to ensure that he stays fresh for this Saturday's game. 

"I feel good. I’ve been working diligently with the training staff doing my usual routine of just making sure I feel fresh for the games," said Ajayi to the media earlier this week. 

With the Eagles focusing on keeping the English ball carrier fresh for their first playoff game, it appears that he will be a focal point of the gameplan, and Ajayi is ready for that role. 

"Basically we're getting ready for war out there. Three-game season, leave it all out on the line. That's my main focus," said Ajayi. "It's something I've done before. Just getting my mind right for war. Getting ready for these next couple games and just be physical and punish people." 

As Reuben Frank of NBC Sports Philadlephia noted, Ajayi is one of the rare running backs to find success against the Atlanta defense:

Here’s a list of guys who’ve rushed for 110 yards or more against the Falcons over the last two years:

Jay Ajayi [Dolphins], 130 yards, Oct. 15, 2017

— Reuben Frank (@RoobNBCS) January 7, 2018

The Falcons – and linebacker Deion Jones – will have their eyes on Ajayi every time he steps on the field. 

Injury Report

For the Eagles only linebacker Dannell Ellerbe (hamstring) and cornerback Sidney Jones (hamstring) are questionable to play on Saturday. 

If Ellerbe cannot go then Najee Goode would see time with the first team defense in his place. Ellerbe is the Eagles' third middle linebacker this season. Jones was likely to be inactive even if he was at perfect health in favor of the more experienced Rasul Douglas. 

The Falcons are at eprfect health for this game. 

Broadcast Information

Time: 4:35 p.m.

Television: NBC | Play-by-Play by Al Michaels with color commentary by Chris Collinsworth and sideline reports from Michelle Tafoya

Radio: 94.1 FM WIP | Play-by-Play by Merrill Reese with color commentary by Mike Quick and sideline reports from Howard Eskin

Online: NFL Game Pass