Like Playoff Games

Doug Pederson has mentioned several times that the Eagles have been in playoff mode for the past month. Those were elimination games for the Eagles and the team handled that pressure well so that should give them an advantage this weekend.

While it is true that the Eagles played in four straight elimination games, they were not exactly playoff games. There are some key differences.

First, in a playoff game, both teams are facing elimination. Both teams play with a heightened sense of urgency. The Giants and Skins certainly played hard the past few weeks, but they were not in playoff mode. As for Dallas, they laid an egg in a game where they were basically facing elimination.

The other big difference is the quality of competition. The Eagles played the Giants twice, the Skins and Cowboys once. The Skins and Giants were in the running for the number two overall pick in the draft (congrats to the Skins for getting that). Dallas is certainly a very talented team, but also highly flawed.

Facing Seattle on Sunday will be very different. That team went 11-5 this year, winning a lot of close games. Dallas went 8-8, losing a lot of close games. There really is a fine line between a good team and a mediocre one. The degree of difficulty will go up quite a bit on Sunday. No more facing rookie QBs and interim coaches.

The Eagles certainly have been tested and that should harden them for the tension of a playoff game.

• They were down 17-3 in the first Giants game and then dominated the second half.
• The Eagles went back and forth with the Skins. A late TD gave the Eagles the lead for good.
• Dallas trailed the entire game in Week 16. The Eagles were able to keep Dallas from scoring late and tying the game.
• The Eagles couldn’t get separation from the Giants until the fourth quarter. They were able to build a 17-point lead and control the rest of the game.

Seattle usually plays tight games or ones where they have the lead. The last month will help the Eagles in that regard. They won’t panic if they fall behind by 10 points or play in a back and forth game.

The Eagles are riding a four-game winning streak. If you believe in momentum, you’ll see the value in the Eagles being a hot team. Seattle has lost 3 of their last 4 games. Last year they had won 6 of 7 games going into the playoffs and they lost at Dallas in the wild card round.

Playoff football doesn’t care about hot streaks or momentum. You play well on that day, you win. If not, you go home.

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Eagles are currently 1.5-point underdogs at home against Seattle. If it holds, Philly would be an underdog in its 6th straight playoff game.
Doug Pederson is 4-1 in the playoffs as an underdog. No other coach since 2016 has more than 1 such playoff win. — — From @ESPNStatsInfo.

— Tim McManus (@Tim_McManus) January 2, 2020

This certainly does make you feel better about this weekend. Pederson can win games in January and February. And he certainly knows how to get the most out of a team of underdogs.

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This will definitely make you feel better about this weekend.

Miles Sanders says he expects to practice Friday. Asked if he thinks he can play, he nodded and said: “It’s the playoffs, man.”

— Les Bowen (@LesBowen) January 2, 2020

The Eagles need Sanders. He adds big play ability to the run and pass game.

Even if he does play, you do have to wonder how his ankle will hold up. Will Sanders be able to make dynamic cuts? Will Sanders be able to handle 10 to 15 touches?

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Zack Rosenblatt wrote a good piece on Josh McCown.

McCown has had a long, crazy career. He’s enjoying being on a winning team, something that is a rarity for him.

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And here is a great point by Zack.

Kinda wild to think about: If #Eagles wide receivers had all stayed healthy this season, Greg Ward would likely be on scout team pretending to be Russell Wilson this week.

Instead, he’s the No. 1 WR.

— Zack Rosenblatt (@ZackBlatt) January 2, 2020

Each football season is a long, strange journey. You never know what might happen.

We’ve been lucky to see Ward develop this year. While it would have been great to see the team stay healthy and go 12-4, there is something fun about seeing guys like Ward, Boston Scott and other young players step up. I’m really curious to see how they handle the playoffs.

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Eagles Bopourri:

– My choices for best- and worst-case Giants/Cowboys hires
– Locker room survey on who will make a big play Sunday
– Scoop of a lifetime on the Eagles’ new special teams captainhttps://t.co/tjih0lKgYv

— Bo Wulf (@Bo_Wulf) January 2, 2020

Good piece here by Bo. Cool to find out that Duke Riley is now a team captain. The Eagles traded for him during the season and it turned out to be a good deal. Riley has become a key ST’s player and he’s also been an effective role player on defense.

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