Dave Uram
The Falcons are favored, but they should be frightened.
The last time Philadelphia hosted a NFL postseason game of this magnitude was 2005. Since then, the Eagles played a playoff contest in South Philadelphia just three times. While most of the nation and some local media doubt the Birds chances to advance past the Falcons Saturday, the thing no one can argue against is Lincoln Financial Field will be a mad house. And the beautiful part about it is it’s a main reason the Eagles will shock the world.
One local columnist used stats to prove why home field advantage is a “myth” when it comes to the Eagles.
I guess without Carson Wentz, it’s easy to forget the Birds were 7-0 in games that mattered this season at The Linc.
The absence of No. 11 apparently overshadows three road games which didn’t sound like away contests. They were both Los Angeles wins and the Giants victory at Met Life Stadium. Eli Manning even acknowledged the Birds fans during his press conference when explaining a costly late fourth quarter false start.
Don’t you remember when Philadelphia absolutely owned the NFL Draft and showed the country just how much this town loves football?
The fans will bring even more noise and raucousness to South Philadelphia this weekend, which will be a different tone than Atlanta experienced in Los Angeles.
Thus, advantage Fletcher Cox and the Eagles defensive line. Matt Ryan and company won’t know what hit them.
Nick Foles most certainly will need to be better to beat Atlanta, but as long as they improve a little with the defense causing nightmares for Matty Ice and company, it will be a great day for fans in the stands and those watching at home.
When the Eagles win Saturday night, give yourself a pat on the back. You the fan are going to be a reason why.
Before I forget…
• The Eagles are going to London next year to play the Jaguars as one of the Birds eight road games. I’ll be surprised if it feels like one.
• Not the first time I wrote this, but Andy Reid is overrated. You can’t argue he’s a good regular season coach with a .604 winning percentage. However, Big Red in the postseason is 11-13. He’s 1-4 with the Chiefs and all four losses included costly coaching mistakes. Two of them featured giving up big leagues, including to the Titans this past weekend, who sported no business winning that game. It’s to the point where the Reid apologists can’t possibly continue to say he’s a great coach. Even Colin Cowherd, who mocked Philadelphia earlier this season for dumping Reid, couldn’t defend him on his radio show this week. I’ll say it over and over again. Until Reid wins a Super Bowl, he’s not a great coach.
• LeSean McCoy is still without a playoff win. He and the Buffalo Bills became the latest victims to the tremendous Jacksonville defense. And even though the Jaguars can’t stop the run, Shady off an ankle injury wasn’t enough to score more than three points. It’s remarkable that a man with that much talent never experienced postseason success. Truth is, he should still be an Eagle. And if he was, his first playoff victory would come this Saturday. It’s a shame.
• The 76ers trip to London is 99.9 percent overshadowed by the Eagles playoff week lead up. Did you even know that Joel Embiid spoke highly of the London women multiple times? Maybe you did. Maybe you didn’t. Either way, when we found out the Sixers were going before the season, I assumed a decent media contingent from town would go and the coverage would be insane. Quite the contrary. Barely a peep.
• The Flyers are frustrating and they are undergoing an up and down season. But, Claude Giroux shouldn’t be the only All-Star. Sean Couturier and Jake Voracek are more than worthy.
• Alabama won the College Football National Championship on a thrilling long touchdown pass in overtime. Were you awake? I was barely. No reason for that game to start at 8:30. They begin way too late.
Dave Uram is a weekly contributor to Philly Influencer. You can follow him on Twitter (@MrUram) and email him at [email protected].