Quarterback-Challenged Philadelphia Eagles Ride Defense to Gutsy Win Over Falcons

There will be no epic Super Bowl choke this year for the Atlanta Falcons.

The high-flying Falcons were stymied on Saturday at Lincoln Financial Field in Philadelphia by an Eagles defense that throttled them and derailed their potent offense.

As the saying goes, defense wins championships and Philly’s was more than up to the task on a chilly, windy late January afternoon in a 15-10 victory that sent the Eagles – without superstar quarterback Carson Wentz – to the NFC Championship game.

The much-maligned backup Nick Foles outplayed Atlanta’s Matt Ryan who was under heavy pressure for the entire game and was clutch in leading two key scoring drives. Foles was 23 of 30 for 246 yards and was clearly the best quarterback on the field on Saturday.

The wind was definitely a factor although Foles had to play in the same elements that Ryan did. It was another example of how difficult that it is for teams that play their home games in a domed stadium to win on the road when the weather turns cold.

The 13-3 Eagles made it clear that they were seriously offended by oddsmakers who made them the underdogs despite their dominant regular season. That, however, was attributed to the loss of Wentz who was playing at an MVP level.

Despite being shut down, the Falcons still had a chance to win the game late in the fourth quarter but some questionable offensive play calling (some things never change) in the red zone, as well as a key incomplete fourth-down pass to Julio Jones in the end zone, sealed the deal for the Eagles who are now one game away from the Super Bowl.