(Photo Courtesy of Wikimedia Commons)
This Sunday in New Orleans, something will have to give. The magic of Nick Foles will go up against the Superdome’s voodoo. The Superdome has become a house of horrors for opposing teams, especially in the playoffs. While Nick Foles’ magic has become something that opposing defenses have had no answer for in the playoffs. On Sunday, one of these phenomenon’s will come to an end. The Saints undefeated (5-0) playoff record at home with Payton and Brees, or Nick Foles’ (4-0) in his last two postseasons.
Funny enough, the Payton and Brees home playoff winning streak started against the Eagles. The year McNabb got hurt and Jeff Garcia led the Eagles into the playoffs. After beating the Giants at home, the Eagles went on to lose a hard-fought game to the Saints. Many Eagles fans will remember that as the game Sheldon Brown nearly killed Reggie Bush.
Twelve years later, the Eagles find themselves once again going to New Orleans in the divisional round. It would only be fitting if the streak started and ended with the Eagles. Meanwhile, Foles also has some history with the Saints. In Foles’ first playoff game, he faced the Saints at Lincoln Financial Field. After a slow start, he finally got the Eagles offense rolling in the 2nd half. He left with the lead that game. However, Brees would get the Saints in field position on the last drive and the Eagles lost on a game-winning Shayne Graham field goal.
Sunday will most definitely be interesting. I’m pretty sure we won’t be seeing another 48-7 blowout. It will be a hard-nosed physical game that I think will slow down the Saints attack. One thing that concerns me, is Drew Brees’ ability to get rid of the ball quick and neutralize the Eagles pass rush. The Eagles secondary will have to play its best game of the season and capitalize on any mistake Drew Bree’s makes.
Unlike Saints teams of the past, these Saints have a legitimately good defense that can fly around the ball. Foles will need to protect the ball and take what their defense gives them. Don’t play scared but play smart.
I have counted the Eagles out since their 4-6 start. I think it is much more likely the Saints win on Sunday. It was also more likely the Rams, Texans and Bears would win, and the Eagles beat all of them. Who am I to go against Nick Foles at this point? I’ll take the Eagles 23-20 in an absolute thriller of a game. There aren’t many people that can go into the Superdome and win. But if anyone can, it is Nick Foles.
