Coach Mike Martz says he would rather play a team that hasn't been on the field with the Rams before. No such luck here.
The health of dinged and dented MVP QB Kurt Warner has to overshadow any other single aspect in handicapping this game. I assume everyone has followed all the news and speculation, and that no one has any inside information. I assume everyone expects we won't find out much until after he takes a few good shots from the Eagles. I think there are real concerns that work in the Eagle's favor, and the spiraling pointspread appears to have finally reacted accordingly.
St. Louis brings plenty to the table, not the least of which are a hostile dome, the flash and pop of their 500+ points of offense, and a swift, playmaking defense that has stepped up notably on third downs, in the red zone, and late in games.
With a healthy Warner, I'll grudgingly concede that the Rams should beat the Eagles and move on to New Orleans. But regardless of Warner's health, I don't think this is the team St. Louis would most like to see standing in their way. I think the Packers thought they could beat the Rams. I think the Eagles know they can beat the Rams.
Everyone from coast to coast knows about the high octane Rams and the 45-17 embarrassment laid on the Packers. I suspect plenty of these same people think of the Eagles as that team that couldn't score in 7 plays from inside the 10 yard line against the 49ers. I'd say that futility against SF has partly inflated this public line (I had it pegged for 9.5, tops), and could also be remembered as a significant moment in the time line progression of this Eagle's football team.
From my perspective, Philadelphia is a talented, deep and experienced playoff team that shows as much heart and effort as any I see. For this game, the task at hand for the defense seems to be disrupting the rhythm of Warner and his receivers while containing Marshall Faulk. The Eagle's defense I've been watching gets off the ball and up the field while properly accounting for the whole field. Against most any opponent, I think the quick, aggressive and physical style of the Eagle's defense can find individual matchups to exploit in order to hurt an opponent. After watching the line of scrimmage in the Green Bay game, I could make a case that St. Louis needs to show me they can consistently slow down the Eagle's defense.
Donovan McNabb infuses the offense and every aspect of the team with his energy and coolness. McNabb's singular elusiveness seems to get all the attention, but his decision making and his downfield passing have been nearly as noteworthy for some time. I thought that last week (once again), McNabb's assortment of offensive weapons showed quite well for him; or I could be mistaken, and their momentary luck was just a reflection of his own.
After the Chicago game, I might add poise and maturity to a growing list of attributes for this team. Lastly, St. Louis has not allowed a 100 yard rusher in the past 17 games, but I still think Philadelphia will have success at bringing inside power to their running game.
The opening game between these teams was good enough to set the stage for this championship tilt. I missed the first half, but I clearly remember the pitched level at which the opener was played. The Rams took a 7-0 lead 51 seconds into the game after McNabb fumbled the exchange on the opening snap. The St. Louis defense made a statement that it would not be the same weak link it was during the prior year. The stats show how McNabb played like a budding superstar, and how the Eagle's defense got after the Rams offense. After the game, McNabb was quoted as saying, "Not to take anything away from the Rams, but we had opportunities and we just didn't take advantage."
The Tampa Bay defense on which St. Louis coordinator Lovie Smith has patterned the Ram's defense has yet to slow down McNabb in the post season. Unlike the unmistakable trends that forecast the Packer's implosion in a dome, I expect Philadelphia to more than hold their own in turnovers, blown assignments and other errors born of carelessness or aggressiveness.
Coming into this game, I think the biggest mismatch is between the Eagle's superb special teams units and the Rams somewhat neglected units. I think the play of those units reflect on the approaches and philosophies of the two head coaches.
St Louis thrives on getting off to a quick start and dictating the flow of the contest. The Rams might do it this week. However, the Eagles look quite capable of turning the tables in that regard. Regardless, it is a 60 minute game, and during the course of the game, I have confidence in what Philadelphia is bringing to the table. I'm not looking for many easy points.
Without the end of year scrimmage against Tampa, I might be thinking that Philadelphia is spent instead of rolling into St. Louis with confidence and momentum.
I don't find myself worried by the character of the games the Eagles lost in their 11-5 campaign.
Philadelphia looks no less like a live dog when I look at some of the numbers and trends. It's hard to ignore 8-1 SU on the road, and something like 14-4-2 ATS when getting points. Philadelphia's defense has given up only 1 touchdown in the last 4 playoff games, and I believe the Eagles have not allowed more than 24 points in 34 straight games. Meanwhile, I like the fact the Rams have scored 11, 23 and 28 points against the 3 top defenses they have faced in the last 3 postseasons. And then you look at that huge and insulting 12 point (at least it was) spread that got hung on this game. I look for Philadelphia to come in through the front door, but the back door is still going to be there, especially when I expect no quit from the Eagles, and with the cautious respect I think a late lead would bring to the Ram's sideline.
Of course an absent or severely hobbled CB Troy Vincent would be a big blow to Philadelphia, but the Eagles could still field a strong and confident secondary rotation without him. While Vincent was speaking to reporters after some running around on Thursday, S Damon Moore passed by and shouted, "Troy is going to play," and I think everyone there understood it was not an idle boast.
The Eagle's coaches and players and even their fans are going about their business in the way I think a live dog does and should.
That's most of what I came up with. I'm sure the Ram's backers see things differently. The Eagles look like a strong play to me.
GL
The health of dinged and dented MVP QB Kurt Warner has to overshadow any other single aspect in handicapping this game. I assume everyone has followed all the news and speculation, and that no one has any inside information. I assume everyone expects we won't find out much until after he takes a few good shots from the Eagles. I think there are real concerns that work in the Eagle's favor, and the spiraling pointspread appears to have finally reacted accordingly.
St. Louis brings plenty to the table, not the least of which are a hostile dome, the flash and pop of their 500+ points of offense, and a swift, playmaking defense that has stepped up notably on third downs, in the red zone, and late in games.
With a healthy Warner, I'll grudgingly concede that the Rams should beat the Eagles and move on to New Orleans. But regardless of Warner's health, I don't think this is the team St. Louis would most like to see standing in their way. I think the Packers thought they could beat the Rams. I think the Eagles know they can beat the Rams.
Everyone from coast to coast knows about the high octane Rams and the 45-17 embarrassment laid on the Packers. I suspect plenty of these same people think of the Eagles as that team that couldn't score in 7 plays from inside the 10 yard line against the 49ers. I'd say that futility against SF has partly inflated this public line (I had it pegged for 9.5, tops), and could also be remembered as a significant moment in the time line progression of this Eagle's football team.
From my perspective, Philadelphia is a talented, deep and experienced playoff team that shows as much heart and effort as any I see. For this game, the task at hand for the defense seems to be disrupting the rhythm of Warner and his receivers while containing Marshall Faulk. The Eagle's defense I've been watching gets off the ball and up the field while properly accounting for the whole field. Against most any opponent, I think the quick, aggressive and physical style of the Eagle's defense can find individual matchups to exploit in order to hurt an opponent. After watching the line of scrimmage in the Green Bay game, I could make a case that St. Louis needs to show me they can consistently slow down the Eagle's defense.
Donovan McNabb infuses the offense and every aspect of the team with his energy and coolness. McNabb's singular elusiveness seems to get all the attention, but his decision making and his downfield passing have been nearly as noteworthy for some time. I thought that last week (once again), McNabb's assortment of offensive weapons showed quite well for him; or I could be mistaken, and their momentary luck was just a reflection of his own.
After the Chicago game, I might add poise and maturity to a growing list of attributes for this team. Lastly, St. Louis has not allowed a 100 yard rusher in the past 17 games, but I still think Philadelphia will have success at bringing inside power to their running game.The opening game between these teams was good enough to set the stage for this championship tilt. I missed the first half, but I clearly remember the pitched level at which the opener was played. The Rams took a 7-0 lead 51 seconds into the game after McNabb fumbled the exchange on the opening snap. The St. Louis defense made a statement that it would not be the same weak link it was during the prior year. The stats show how McNabb played like a budding superstar, and how the Eagle's defense got after the Rams offense. After the game, McNabb was quoted as saying, "Not to take anything away from the Rams, but we had opportunities and we just didn't take advantage."
The Tampa Bay defense on which St. Louis coordinator Lovie Smith has patterned the Ram's defense has yet to slow down McNabb in the post season. Unlike the unmistakable trends that forecast the Packer's implosion in a dome, I expect Philadelphia to more than hold their own in turnovers, blown assignments and other errors born of carelessness or aggressiveness.
Coming into this game, I think the biggest mismatch is between the Eagle's superb special teams units and the Rams somewhat neglected units. I think the play of those units reflect on the approaches and philosophies of the two head coaches.
St Louis thrives on getting off to a quick start and dictating the flow of the contest. The Rams might do it this week. However, the Eagles look quite capable of turning the tables in that regard. Regardless, it is a 60 minute game, and during the course of the game, I have confidence in what Philadelphia is bringing to the table. I'm not looking for many easy points.
Without the end of year scrimmage against Tampa, I might be thinking that Philadelphia is spent instead of rolling into St. Louis with confidence and momentum.
I don't find myself worried by the character of the games the Eagles lost in their 11-5 campaign.
Philadelphia looks no less like a live dog when I look at some of the numbers and trends. It's hard to ignore 8-1 SU on the road, and something like 14-4-2 ATS when getting points. Philadelphia's defense has given up only 1 touchdown in the last 4 playoff games, and I believe the Eagles have not allowed more than 24 points in 34 straight games. Meanwhile, I like the fact the Rams have scored 11, 23 and 28 points against the 3 top defenses they have faced in the last 3 postseasons. And then you look at that huge and insulting 12 point (at least it was) spread that got hung on this game. I look for Philadelphia to come in through the front door, but the back door is still going to be there, especially when I expect no quit from the Eagles, and with the cautious respect I think a late lead would bring to the Ram's sideline.
Of course an absent or severely hobbled CB Troy Vincent would be a big blow to Philadelphia, but the Eagles could still field a strong and confident secondary rotation without him. While Vincent was speaking to reporters after some running around on Thursday, S Damon Moore passed by and shouted, "Troy is going to play," and I think everyone there understood it was not an idle boast.
The Eagle's coaches and players and even their fans are going about their business in the way I think a live dog does and should.
That's most of what I came up with. I'm sure the Ram's backers see things differently. The Eagles look like a strong play to me.
GL
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