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NFL

NFC: Key matchups

By RICK STROUD
Published January 23, 2005

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EAGLES LINEBACKER JEREMIAH TROTTER VS. FALCONS RUNNING BACKS WARRICK DUNN AND T.J. DUCKETT

The Falcons have the NFL's No. 1 running game, thanks in no small part to the scrambling of quarterback Michael Vick. But there is another reason. Offensive line coach Alex Gibbs is the best in the business. He was talked out of retirement for $1-million per year and it paid off. He has a bunch of quick, no-name offensive linemen like center Todd McClure, tackle Kevin Shaffer and guard Kynan Forney.

Gibbs teaches his O-line to cut block on the backside, a practice that is legal but despised by defensive players and proven effective by the Denver Broncos.

The main target of the Falcons line will be Trotter, who gave the Eagles the ability to stop the run when he became a starter in the ninth game. Trotter is a brawler and likes to take on linemen, but the Falcons will be able to cut block him.

Warrick Dunn is explosive and has four 100-yard rushing performances in his last five games. T.J. Duckett is effective hammering the defense once it is tired.

To stop the Falcons, you have to stop their running game.

KEY STAT: No team that plays its homes games in a dome has ever won a conference championship game on the road. WHO HAS THE EDGE?

FALCONS PASSING VS. EAGLES PASS DEFENSE

Michael Vick has improved as a passer, but his first instinct is to duck and run under pressure. Receivers Peerless Price and Dez White are not top-flight receivers and Vick's favorite target is tight end Alge Crumpler, the team's leading ball catcher. The strength of the Eagles defense is their secondary with three Pro Bowl players: safety Brian Dawkins, cornerback Lito Sheppard and strong safety Michael Lewis. EDGE: Eagles.

EAGLES PASSING VS. FALCONS PASS DEFENSE

No T.O.? No problem. Terrell Owens is down but the Eagles are not out. Last week, Freddie Mitchell stepped up with two touchdowns. Todd Pinkston hasn't been much of a factor. But Donovan McNabb's favorite target is now running back Brian Westbrook, who can split out of the backfield and create matchup problems. The Falcons weakness is their secondary, which is vulnerable if defensive linemen like Patrick Kerney and Rod Coleman are not pressuring McNabb.

EDGE: Falcons.

FALCONS RUNNING VS. EAGLES RUN DEFENSE

See the key matchup above. However, there are a few more keys to the Eagles' ability to stop the Falcons ground game. Defensive end Jevon Kearse is fast enough to run with Vick, with long arms to drag him down once he gets there. But the Eagles are going to have to commit their safeties to stopping the run, when in fact, they excel in pass coverage. Linebackers will have to honor Vick's play fakes, which gives Warrick Dunn a wider running lane.

EDGE: Falcons.

EAGLES RUNNING VS. FALCONS RUN DEFENSE

The Eagles like to use Westbrook as a receiver, but he's a superb runner as well. The problem is he has carried the ball 18 times just once in his career. If the weather affects the passing game, Westbrook may top that rushing mark. The wild card is McNabb, a capable scrambler who now prefers to run in order to buy time in the pocket. Atlanta's run defense is centered around a terrific front four and linebacker Keith Brooking. The Falcons have allowed 105.1 rushing yards per game.

EDGE: Falcons.

SPECIAL TEAMS

The Falcons' Allen Rossum set an NFL playoff record with three punt returns for 152 yards last week against the Rams, including a 68-yard return for a touchdown. Former South Florida star J.R. Reed serves as the Eagles kickoff returner. The Eagles have the experience in Pro Bowl place-kicker David Akers, who made an NFL record 17 beyond 40 yards. By contrast, the Falcons' Jay Feely made just 3-of-6 from 40 yards and beyond. EDGE: Eagles.

COACHING

Pity poor Andy Reid. The Eagles coach has a reverse threepeat - three consecutive losses in the NFC Championship game. So what does he do? Trade for 49ers receiver Terrell Owens, who responds with 14 TDs but suffers a broken leg and is out for the playoffs. At this rate, Reid is making Marv Levy look lucky. But this may be the Eagles best shot, especially with a healthy Brian Westbrook and an improved defense with additions like Jevon Kearse. Meanwhile, the Falcons' Jim Mora is insisting that his team is playing with 'house money.' But Mora isn't fooling anyone. As a rookie coach, he has taken the league's worst defense and has his team on the brink of a Super Bowl.

EDGE: Eagles.

INTANGIBLES

The Eagles are playing in their fourth straight NFC Championship Game, the last three in Philadelphia. If the city isn't rewarded with a Super Bowl appearance this time, they might rip apart the stadium. Falcons coach Jim Mora says the pressure is on the Eagles. But get serious. Who knows if Mora or the Falcons will ever get this far again, so they'd better make the best of it.

EDGE: Eagles.

WHO HAS THE EDGE/LIGHTER SIDE

TALKING SMACK

The Falcons are five-point underdogs and relish that role. In fact, Mora has reminded everyone countless times that the pressure is on Philly after losing three straight championship games. "We're playing with the house money," Mora said.

EDGE: Falcons.

STAR POWER

Okay. Who is the bigger star? You have Falcons quarterback Michael Vick hawking Nike shoes during those Michael Vick Experience commercials. And you have the Eagles' Donovan McNabb and his mother, slurping soup for Campbell's Chunky.

EDGE: Falcons.

END ZONE CELEBRATIONS

Too bad Terrell Owens is sitting this one out with a broken leg. Owens choreographs the best end zone celebrations in the NFL, albeit some of them he is fined for. But a fan favorite has to be the sight of T.J. Duckett, pretending to hammer the final nail in the coffin of the Rams after scoring a TD in the divisional playoff.

EDGE: Falcons.

OH, BROTHER

So much for the Vick-McNabb matchup. What about the other quarterback pairing? The Eagles' No. 2 quarterback is Koy Detmer. The Falcons No. 3 quarterback is his older brother Ty. "I think this means the most to our parents," Koy said. "They can't lose. One of us is going to the Super Bowl and that means they are going, too."

EDGE: Even.

HAIR TODAY: Eagles quarterback Donovan McNabb says he's feeling loose, just like his hair, for Sunday's NFC Championship game. To prove his point, he arrived at Friday's news conference with his hair picked out Ben Wallace style. Meanwhile, Falcons quarterback Michael Vick says he won't cut his hair until, or unless, his team reaches the Super Bowl. Vick's hair is braided.

EDGE: McNabb.

[Last modified January 23, 2005, 00:50:16]

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