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Why To Watch
The national prime-time spotlight will be on superstars Michael Vick, Donovan McNabb and Terrell Owens as the two most exciting teams -- and perhaps two best teams -- in the NFC meet on Monday Night Football. While this is a rematch of the 2004 NFC title game, it also could very well be a preview of the '05 championship tilt.
Eagles Keys For Success
1. Contain Vick. When Vick scrambles, he has the type of big-play ability to nullify third-and-long and give the Falcons' offense added life and momentum. Eagles ends Jevon Kearse and N.D. Kalu must be disciplined in their pursuit, show patience and avoid losing their containment responsibilities by being overaggressive. Shadowing Vick with a linebacker on passing downs is a must.
2. Play perimeter football. The Eagles have a tendency to lose peripheral vision and focus too much of their offensive attack on the middle of the field. The season-ending Achilles' injury to Todd Pinkston hurts, but McNabb must make a concerted effort to find Owens, Greg Lewis and rookie Reggie Brown both downfield and outside. Running back Brian Westbrook and tight end L.J. Smith cannot be the focus of the passing game, because the Falcons have outstanding speed at linebacker.
3. Block the Falcons' gap-attacking defense. The Falcons feature an athletic, upfield, attacking one-gap defense that looks to get line penetration on all downs. This can create problems for the Eagles' offensive line, which is big but not exceptionally athletic. The Eagles' line may be forced into zone-blocking situations on passing downs, meaning tackles Tra Thomas and Jon Runyan will need to help young guards Shawn Andrews and Artis Hicks. Westbrook, Smith and fullback Jon Ritchie must pick up their assignments when the Falcons blitz.
Falcons Keys For Success
1. Run the ball often. The Falcons led the NFL in rushing last season, and it's the main reason they made the playoffs. Obviously Vick was key in those statistics, but the Falcons need to establish a steady 1-2 punch of Warrick Dunn and T.J. Duckett, the unsung engine of their offense. Consistent production between the tackles will ease up the edge rush from Philadelphia's ends and limit its linebacker blitzing.
2. Beat the blitz. The Eagles have the most aggressive defense in the NFL. Blitzes come from all over the field and on every down, thus allowing the defense to often dictate offensive scheming. As Vick looks to develop his pocket passing game, he must recognize the blitz and calmly complete passes to his hot reads, forcing the Eagles to respect the Falcons' often dormant passing attack.
3. Win the special teams battle. A big part of the Eagles' success the past few seasons has been solid special teams play on coverage and return teams. The Falcons can’t afford to surrender "invisible yards" and lose the battle of field position. When punting, they need to limit returns with good hang time and placement. In the return game, the Falcons have speedy Allen Rossum to test Philadelphia's kick coverage.
When the Eagles have the Ball
Philadelphia knows Atlanta's defense doesn’t have great lateral speed and that the strength of the unit is up the middle. Expect offensive coordinator Brad Childress to stretch the field from left to right, avoiding the interior battle the Eagles likely can’t win.
Although he will play a big role throughout the game, the key to this scheme isn’t wide receiver Terrell Owens -- it's running back Brian Westbrook. The squatty tailback racked up 1,515 yards from scrimmage and nine TDs last season and is most dangerous on the edges and in the open field.
The Eagles will be able to dictate the tempo if the Falcons' front seven, primarily linebackers Ed Hartwell, Keith Brooking and Demorrio Williams, can’t contain Westbrook. The Eagles will create opportunities for Westbrook to get the ball on the perimeter, which will bring the Falcons' cornerbacks up to the line in run support, setting up Owens for single-coverage situations as the game plan unfolds.
The Falcons don’t have a legitimate lead corner, so you can expect Owens to see double coverage on every down. Owens must keep his composure, trusting Donovan McNabb will call his number when he has a favorable matchup.
McNabb, one of the league's smartest signal-callers, will exploit the Falcons' secondary if given time, so Atlanta has no option except to bring aggressive pressure, hoping to force McNabb into quick decisions. But McNabb is second only to counterpart Michael Vick in his ability to make big plays outside the pocket when he chooses to scramble away from pressure.
The Falcons' defensive line, which includes the pass-rushing prowess of end Patrick Kerney and tackle Rod Coleman, is one of the NFC's best overall units and matches up relatively well with Philadelphia's offensive line. Kerney will try to apply pressure from the edge but will focus on containing McNabb by maintaining pass-rush lane discipline, hoping that Coleman can do damage from the inside.
Williams, an athletic outside linebacker who grew into his own during the preseason, has 4.5 40-yard speed and a great initial burst out of his stance. He will be used to both shadow and blitz McNabb, depending on the down and distance. Advantage: Eagles.
FOCAL POINT
Atlanta has no answer for Terrell Owens in either single or double coverage. Neither Jason Webster nor second-year pro DeAngelo Hall have the ability to cover Owens on an island downfield and safeties Keion Carpenter and Bryan Scott aren’t elite help defenders.
The Falcons must create pressure at the line of scrimmage to keep McNabb from having time to throw the deep ball. That puts an extra burden on Coleman to get penetration and Kerney to be at full speed coming from the outside to protect the team's mismatched secondary. Advantage: Eagles.
When the Falcons have the Ball
The Falcons’ main offensive objective will be diversity. Michael Vick’s ability to run the ball, along with the traditional rushing duo of Warrick Dunn and T.J. Duckett, are without question the Falcons’ biggest strength, but overall balance is the goal.
As good as Vick is, his designed and improvised runs are more effective when mixed in with a downfield passing game. The same goes for the running backs: Dunn and Duckett both have trouble navigating through an eight-man box but can be very efficient against base 4-3 sets. Dunn can be especially dangerous when running in nickel situations against the Eagles' coverage-oriented sub-packages.
Despite the fact that Philadelphia has perhaps the NFL's best secondary, the Falcons will take their shots downfield. Expect offensive coordinator Greg Knapp to call for Vick to get the ball in the hands of tight end Alge Crumpler early, as getting Crumpler involved would set up favorable man coverage for receivers Michael Jenkins, Dez White and Roddy White -- all of whom have good size and speed.
As dangerous as he is, Vick often will be used merely as a hint of a threat in an attempt to draw consistent attention from the Eagles' defenders. If utilized properly, Vick can make ends less aggressive in their pass rush, because with what he can do with his legs, linebackers tend to shorten their drops and safeties consider abandoning their responsibilities in coverage.
Eagles defensive coordinator Jim Johnson is never one to shy away from a challenge -- in fact, when faced with one, he gets more aggressive. As he always does, Johnson will bring extreme pressure, create confusion and show several different formations and looks. With Lito Sheppard and Sheldon Brown at the corners, Johnson will feel comfortable enough to leave his defensive backs on an island and occasionally commit one of his safeties to spying on Vick.
Outside linebackers Keith Adams and Dhani Jones will blitz at some point but never in sequence. Johnson’s goal is to keep Vick guessing. Hopes are that the three-man tackle rotation of Darwin Walker, Hollis Thomas and rookie Mike Patterson will create a consistent interior push at the line of scrimmage. Advantage: Eagles.
FOCAL POINT
Vick must make solid decisions in the pocket. When pressured, Vick either tucks and runs or tries to force passes, as he believes he can make a positive play on every down. The Eagles want no part of Vick running outside the pocket, so they will look to contain him and force him to make plays from the pocket.
Vick has been working on his pocket play and must come of age this week as the Eagles have the personnel to contain him most of the time. If Philadelphia's front four can pressure and contain Vick without the aid of consistent blitzing, a multiple takeaway game is a good probability. Advantage: Eagles.
Key Matchups
Eagles DE Jevon Kearse vs. Falcons RT Todd Weiner
With his freaky athleticism and great burst off the line, Kearse is one of the most disruptive pass rushers in the NFL. How he clashes with Weiner, the Falcons’ top lineman, likely will dictate the effectiveness of both Vick and Atlanta's entire offense. If Weiner, who protects the lefthanded Vick's blind side, can make straight-on, initial contact with Kearse, the undersized end (6-4, 265) may have a difficult time breaking free. If Kearse can get his counterpart off-balance, Weiner doesn’t stand a chance. Advantage: Kearse.
Kearse Scouting Report
Strengths: Has outstanding first-step quickness and explosiveness. Is stronger than frame suggests. Does a great job anticipating snap count. Has excellent body lean and body control. Can adjust on the move. Uses hands and arms well to gain separation. Never gives up on plays and is solid against the run. Gets sacks on second and third effort.
Weaknesses: Does not change direction well. Is a straight-line runner in space. Has durability concerns.
Bottom Line: If Kearse can stay healthy, he should be a dominant end for years.
Weiner Scouting Report
Strengths: Is athletic, physical and relentless. Moves well laterally, takes adequate angles and gets to second-level blocks. Sets quickly, prevents penetration and can redirect inside. Extends his arms and forces edge rushers wide. Has a strong initial punch and a non-stop motor. Rarely loses once he locks on. Has been durable.
Weaknesses: Lacks ideal bulk and lower-body strength. Doesn’t get much movement in short-yardage situations or always handle bull rushers well. Plays with a narrow base and will lose his balance. Is vulnerable to holding calls. Has subpar awareness in pass protection.
Bottom line:Weiner isn’t powerful, but he’s a persistent run blocker and a sound pass blocker.
Eagles RT Jon Runyan vs. Falcons DE Patrick Kerney
Kerney, who had 13 sacks last season, is to Atlanta what Jevon Kearse is to Philadelphia. Kerney is the lifeblood of the Falcons' defense in the sense that the front seven feeds off his pass-rush success. Runyan (6-7, 330) has the size and strength to contain the former University of Virginia lacrosse star, though he must be sure to finish off his blocks because Kerney is a relentless hustler. Advantage: Runyan.
Runyan Scouting Report
Strengths: Is a classic mauler and ferocious competitor. Is excellent in short area and dominant at the point of attack. Can ride defensive ends past the pocket. Has excellent pop and explosiveness. Won’t lose physical battles.
Weaknesses: Has limited athleticism and range. Will struggle versus athletic ends when he doesn’t make initial contact.Is getting older.
Bottom Line: Runyan is not a good athlete, but he is a great offensive lineman. Though he may get under opposing player’s skin, his style of play and intensity make him an outstanding player.
Kerney Scouting Report
Strengths: Has excellent closing speed and great intensity. Takes good angles, uses his hands to get through traffic quickly and has sideline-to-sideline range. Locates the ball quickly. Has the upper-body strength to maintain separation. Breaks down in space and wraps up on contact. Has the initial burst to put an offensive tackle back on his heels. Can knife inside after starting outside and has an array of pass-rush moves. Plays with good leverage and can collapse the pocket. Is very durable.
Weaknesses: Lacks elite lower-body strength, can’t anchor vs. double-teams and will wear down when run at consistently. Doesn’t always play with a wide base.
Bottom line: Kerney lacks elite bulk and power, but he has the burst, athleticism and intensity to excel in a one gap-scheme.
Eagles front seven vs. Falcons QB Michael Vick
The Eagles have contained Vick in the past with a mix of attacking and reacting defensive schemes. The keys to limiting Vick are balance and patience. Outside linebackers Dhani Jones and Keith Adams cannot over-fire their gaps. An interior push from tackles Hollis Thomas and Darwin Walker will be effective as it should force Vick to one side of the field and limit his options. Considering Vick’s quickness and open-field moves, that’s easier said than done. Advantage: Vick.
Vick Scouting Report
Strengths: Has rare mobility and arm strength. Displays top-notch initial quickness, elusiveness and open-field instincts. Excels at buying second chances and has outstanding pocket presence and excels at buying second chances. Throws downfield effectively while on the run. Can make any throw and gets good velocity on passes.
Weaknesses: Is an injury risk. Lacks the height to regularly see the field from the pocket, doesn’t read defenses well and has problems finding secondary receivers. Locks onto receivers and sometimes puts too much faith in his arm. Doesn’t always commit to play fakes and has inconsistent mechanics. Fumbles too often.
Bottom line: Vick needs to improve his ability to diagnose and exploit defenses, but he is the rare player who can take over a game.
The Bottom Line
Both teams have explosive quarterbacks and well-rounded defenses. The difference will be more disciplined play from the Eagles -- especially on special teams -- in a game that should go down to the wire.
Pick: Eagles 27, Falcons 20
