New Orleans at Philadelphia (01/04/2014)

Game time temps between 25-30...

Rabid fans that haven't hosted a home playoff game in years...

NFL's premier RB in McCoy...

Foles and Co. PLAYING with HOUSE MONEY and NO PRESSURE...

NOT sold on Saints def coord Ryan...he's a borderline bozo.

Saints MUST WIN this to avoid the label of being a typical dome team...They will be playing with the proverbial LUMP IN THE THROAT if it is tight late.

Eagles will have NO ANSWER for Graham...

Flip a coin. GL

Other than a very un-clutch INT at the end, Kyle Orton exceeded expectations, that was a division opponent in Dallas with everything on the line. I don't understand how that is comparable with Drew Brees and the saints who are historically bad away and in the cold. Also, Dez is a little more concerning than colston and Kenny stills.

27-20 EAGLES

McCoy 165 2 TDS

 

Last two weeks vs what I consider pass happy offenses (Bears & Cowpokes), Eagles defense has held up pretty well.  Completely shutdown the Bears two monster receivers, while that might have been partially due to the offensive onslaught that they unleashed on Chicago which continued to snowball, but still impressive.  Also, pretty much shutdown Dez Bryant (while leaving Witten open for big day) save for 1 TD on an all out blitz.

Boiling it down to the raw numbers:

Saints average 17.75 points scored through eight road games, and give up an average of 22.375 in those same eight games.

Eagles score an average of 24 points at home through eight games, and average 19.875 points given up in those same eight games.

Add up those four numbers and divide by two, you get 42, more than 10 points less than the posted total of 53.5

Weather is always a consideration as well...current forecast calls for temps in the 30's with freezing rain.  Poor conditions for a high-powered dome team offense on the road.  Great conditions for one of the best rushing teams in the league playing at home.

Saints Defense will contain Foles and the ground game for the first half, but the Eagles will eventually overcome... 

FINAL SCORE :  SAINTS 17  EAGLES 27

NO just seems like they are the team that is built for the playoffs where Philly seems like they were built to try to make the playoffs. It ain't the regular season anymore. Ill take the Saints, but Foles has some greatness in him and he might shock everyone in this one. I think next year we'll see him really blow up. This year he goes home early. Saints win

Pick Under 53.5

Ummmm, couple of things here.......

Out of 32 teams, let's see, how do the defenses rank?

Cowboys - D.F.L.

Then the Vikings at #31 worst

Bears - #30

Maybe this is why Foles looked like such a "stud" the last couple of weeks? Not only that, both the Bears and CowGirlz were playing with a skeleton crew on defense. Lots of guys signed that week, etc......

Oh, but also, the very next in futility, Philly is at #29 worst..... Keep that in mind since the Saints offense ranks not only #4 in total offense, but they're #2 in passing right behind Prince Peyton......

Now, let's take a look at another part of your quote:

{No reason to think the Eagles won't move ball up and down the field if they lean on Shady McCoy early and often.}

Yeah, Saints "D" is #4 in the league, and against the pass? #2, right behind the "Defensive Juggernaut" that is the Seattle Seahawks......

If you truly believe the Eagles are going to be putting up monster points against this, as you say "1-sided" team, and shutting down the second best passing attack in the league with their crap "D", I've got some cheap ocean front property to sell you - - in New Mexico......

Good Luck!!!!!!!!

 

 

Man can this site sue could use a weather man. I've heard everything from 4 degrees to freezing rain. Try looking at the weather channel or something. Sunny and around 29 is the predictions I see everywhere. And right on the money whoever said cold weather doesn't mean person when it comes to totals. My betting site has Phil -2.5 120/100. So by tomorrow morning, I'm in Colorado, it will be NO +3 for me. And U53.5 and not because it's cold. Because it's a playoff game and NO doesn't score as much on the road and playoff games are all about defense.

I respect TheQuadYeah, Last2thirst & MyTimeToShine the rest are a bunch of NUTS 

Everyone keeps talking about the Saints on the road. They were 3-5. But no talks about Phil at home .....only 4-4. They were 6-2 on the road. Give me NO. Too much fire power on offense.

N.O> ranked 4th in Defense and 4th in Offense. Defense a 180 from last year.  Also, might be the first game Foles craps the bed. Big game , one and done in front of the homers..........I smell an upset.

29 degrees and sunny during the day and 23 and clear in the evening. That's not a weather problem. Now -10  with -30 wind chills for SF on Sunday.....now that's a weather problem

Normally I would consider the stats/trends being posted about home/away records and saints ppg on the road.  But, these numbers are only inflating an Eagles line that doesn't deserve a - in front of it. 

Not only is Foles inexperienced in the playoffs, but the exact is true of Brees.  The man is a winner and so is his coach Sean P.  What has the Eagles coach done in the NFL? 

Eagles barely squeaked by Orton and the Cowboys!!  And if you watched the game you saw the panicked look in Foles' eyes.  Shell-schocked.  And it is only going to get tougher against the Saints.

Better defense, better coach, better qb, and the points, and public is split.  Sign me the up.

I know that any gambler doesnt Wanna bet against brees , graham and sean , thomas is out!! But u gotta with eagles this time, mccoy, foles, Jackson , locally and the weather should do it, philly 4 units       Colts -1, sd +7.5 , sf -2.5(love it 10 units)

Won't be breesey but will be shady McCoy that is Philly will fly like an eagle to the next round saints blew their opportunity to secure a bye and it's gonna haunt them 

Under 53.5

@ the quad

I don't expect them to shut down the saints pass game, just feel like they'll keep them somewhat in check. I like Trent Cole vs that new rookie LT.

Also, Vaccaro and Greer are huge losses for Saints def. My comment about the bears/cowboys had to do with the Eagles def not offense. They did ok vs some good defenses too (Cardinals).

@ quad also -

Saints def is very mediocre vs rush, #18 I think...vs the #1 rush attack in league.

 It's all good in the hood - no Dr. Dogs "Hate, Hate" here - - "eyyyyyyyyy"

Just thinking to myself, how this game might play out. Saints drop 8 in the box, take McCoy out of the equation and dare Foles to throw it (which is what sneaky a## Payton will probably do anyways) - do Foles and Kelly have the coaching/experience/ability/knowledge to overcome that? This is the "unknown" variable. But if Chip Kelly tries that same sh## on Drew Brees, with that crap Philly "D", it's gonna be a looooong day of looooong bombs.....

Good Luck, my brotha.......

New Orleans -3. The two requirements I needed to push this from a no play have happened. The line has moved to 3 and the weather report is now 20's with clear skies. The players will barely notice that it is cold until they get to the sidelines and stand around fro a while. Everybody is making a big deal about New Orleans terrible road record and there is no doubt Brees is a different QB at home in his dome. But in recent years the stats have changed, there is very little home field advantage in the first round of the playoff. These are pros, the best of the best and they know this is one and done playoffs. They come in and get the job done, home crowds and travel don't play as large an effect when everything is on the line and you are a true pro. I like the New Orleans defense way better than the Philly defense. I have much respect for Chip Kelly and his rookie phenom QB Foles, I don't think the high powered New Orleans offense is any better. But Brees is a winner and I think he gets it done today, despite his past slump in road games.

Go with the QB that has experience in the playoffs before... With that said you know who to pick!!..

New Orleans +3 is what I meant to say. It is huge when the line moves one to 3 or off it in the pros. A whole lot of NFL games are determined by a field goal so it is crucial to wait on spreads that might move onto or off that number. I never buy points, because Vegas is anything but stupid. They ALWAYS sell points in a calculated manner that gives them the edge. Any capper who buys points a lot is trying to pad their win-loss record, that doesn't matter, making money matters, period.