NFC Playoffs: Home-Dog Eagles Do What Home Dogs Do

It's been a head-scratcher all week.

The Philadelphia Eagles had one of the best rushing offenses all season, and yet, the angst was how they'd fare with Nick Foles at the helm instead of the injured Carson Wentz.

Seems like no one was seeing the forest for the trees.

Or the green within the green, if you will.

 

Foles was serviceable when the ball had to be thrown. Can't argue with a 23-30 day for 236 yards and letting the LeGarrette Blount do the paydirt thing.

Other than that, Coach Doug Pederson simply let his top-ranked run defense take care of business and Jake Elliott split the uprights three times on a windy day. That was enough for Philadelphia to stuff Atlanta, 15-10, and advance to the NFC title game next weekend.

 

This was not an aesthetic masterpiece, nor did many -- if any -- Eagles expect it to be.

Who knows? Maybe that's what put them on high alert, as any break to be had in this game favored them.

Foles was quick as an Arizona Wildcat on that goal-line fumble, which could've been disastrous but instead set up Blount's TD scamper.

 

Come to think of it, nobody at Arizona ever accused dude of being quick, so maybe this was the sorta burst of adrenaline that you read about when a house is on fire and someone's carrying a grand piano out of it.

Or something.

 

Actually, that's adrenaline plus balls.

Atlanta's line is dangerous, but at least they let you live when they're done with you.

 

And no fair wearing a costume.

Meanwhile, if Julio Jones wants to extend his season, he could always ask another team still in it if they need an extra DB. Dude was impressive:

 

 

Full marks to the Eagles, of course, because what they did on the day is all that counts.

As to the Falcons, their goal of making amends for last year's Super Bowl clanger is now gone, possibly dulling with age by next season.

Philadelphia knows all about that. As in since they won a ring at Franklin Field in 1960 by topping the Green Bay Packers, 17-13.

 

Wait.

Did we just see Larry Culpepper's dad out there?

 

No one will ever accuse a Philly crowd of not being involved.