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Key matchups
By JOANNE KORTH
Published February 6, 2005
COREY DILLON VS. JEREMIAH TROTTER
Though it seems old-fashioned, the key individual matchup involves the running game.
One must establish.
One must stop.
Running back Corey Dillon is the engine that drives the Patriots offense, a hard-nosed runner who picks up yardage by breaking tackles and discarding defenders. Middle linebacker Jeremiah Trotter is the meat of the Eagles interior run defense, a solid tackler who brings down ball carriers on the first try.
Dillon was a one-man wrecking crew with 144 rushing yards in the playoff victory against the Colts but was more quiet with 73 in the conference title game against the Steelers. If he has fewer than 100 yards today, the Patriots will struggle.
Trotter, who left Philadelphia as a free agent in 2002, returned this season and started the year on the bench. But since the speedy Trotter became a starter halfway through the regular season, the Eagles have been much improved against the run.
KEY STAT
New England has not committed a turnover in its two playoff victories and has a plus-16 turnover ratio - five giveaways, 21 takeaways - in its eight-game playoff win streak.
WHO HAS THE EDGE?
WHEN THE PATRIOTS RUN
Corey Dillon, in his first season with New England, set a franchise record with 1,635 rushing yards. He can power through the line or bounce outside. In the Eagles, he faces some of the surest tacklers in the league, led by middle linebacker Jeremiah Trotter. But Philly has not proved it can consistently stop a power running game. The Patriots will look to pound with Dillon to offset the Eagles' blitzes and set up the play-action pass.
EDGE: Patriots.
WHEN THE PATRIOTS THROW
There is nothing flashy about New England's passing attack, which relies heavily on the success of the running game. Quarterback Tom Brady can make all the throws and has a talented corps of receivers in David Givens, Deion Branch and Troy Brown. But New England will need to be balanced. The Eagles play aggressive defense and have three Pro Bowl defensive backs in corner Lito Sheppard and safeties Brian Dawkins and Michael Lewis. With blanket coverage in the secondary, the Eagles love to attack the quarterback on third and long.
EDGE: Eagles.
WHEN THE EAGLES RUN
As they did in playoff victories against the Vikings and Falcons, the Eagles will make running back Brian Westbrook the focal point of the offense. Though effective running the ball, Westbrook draws comparisons with Marshall Faulk because he also is effective in the passing game. With receiver Terrell Owens out of the lineup, Westbrook created mismatches and demanded double teams that made defenses vulnerable in other areas. The Patriots are solid defensively against the run with inside linebacker Tedy Bruschi leading the charge.
EDGE: Patriots.
WHEN THE EAGLES THROW
If Westbrook can occupy safety Rodney Harrison, that will create opportunities for quarterback Donovan McNabb to throw deep against a patchwork secondary. Whether Owens is healthy or not, the mismatch Philly is looking for is receiver Greg Lewis against receiver-turned-corner Troy Brown. New England has gotten away with Brown playing the slot receiver in nickel coverage by giving him help over the top, but if Harrison is busy with Westbrook, Lewis will have one-on-one coverage with Brown, and McNabb will take advantage.
EDGE: Eagles.
INTANGIBLES
After losing three straight NFC Championship Games, the focus for the Eagles was to finally reach the Super Bowl. Now that they have, they run the risk of being happy just to be here. The Patriots, on the other hand, seem never to get tired of winning championships. This is their third Super Bowl in four years and most players on the roster have Super Bowl experience. McNabb is hip, but Brady is the cool customer.
EDGE: Patriots.
SPECIAL TEAMS
The Patriots and Eagles treat special teams with the same importance as offense and defense. New England's unit boasts two Pro Bowl selections in Adam Vinatieri, perhaps the best clutch kicker in the game whose last-second kicks won two Super Bowls, and coverage guru Larry Izzo. Philly counters with Pro Bowl kicker David Akers, the most productive kicker in the league since 2000. Akers set an NFL record with 17 field goals of 40 or more yards in 2004. And don't be surprised to see Westbrook returning kicks. After all, it is the Super Bowl.
EDGE: Patriots.
COACHING
Top to bottom, it's hard to find better coaching staffs. New England's Bill Belichick is the latest genius, a microchip in a bad earmuff, able to dissect any opponent and find its weakness. Offensive coordinator Charlie Weis is calling his last game before taking over as coach at Notre Dame. Defensive coordinator Romeo Crennel likely will be the next coach of the Browns. Philly's Andy Reid is one of many successful offspring from the Mike Holmgren coaching tree and deserves high marks for getting his team to the NFC title game four straight years.
EDGE: Patriots.
[Last modified February 6, 2005, 00:22:15]
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