THE divisional round wraps up on Sunday evening with an intriguing encounter. The reigning Super Bowls champions travel to the red-hot favourites in the quest for the Lombardi.
Since 2000 the New Orleans Saints and the Philadelphia Eagles have faced off twice in the playoffs. The Saints have won both encounters, most recently in 2014 by a score of 26-24.
Stopping the run has been an issue for both defenses this season and I expect Alvin Kamara to be a major factor for the Saints in this game.
Brees hits Alvin Kamara on 4th down for another #Saints touchdown! #PHIvsNO pic.twitter.com/WdLkRILFwK
— New Orleans Saints (@Saints) November 18, 2018
Alvin Kamara to score a TD any time – 1.50
The Saints’ running back had 18 touchdowns this season (14 rushing, four receiving), tied for the most touchdowns in a single season by a New Orleans player with Dalton Hilliard in 1989 (13 rushing, five receiving).
He’s coming in fresh off a bye and I think Drew Brees, who turns 40 on Tuesday, will turn to his backfield for support. The Saints will want to get ahead early and control the clock. Bearing down on Brees with be Fletcher Cox. The giant Eagles defensive tackle set a career-high 10.5 sacks this season, however he’s only got one in his five playoff appearances.
Big game experience will be an advantage for Philly. You could see how up for it they were in Chicago last week. They did have a lucky escape with the missed field goal, but they had to get themselves into that position to be leading with less than a minute to go. The defense believes that if they can get the ball to Nick Foles then he’ll do the rest.
The Eagles’ quarterback is 4-1 in his playoff career, with his one loss coming against the Saints in the 2013 playoffs. That loss was the only playoff game Foles has been held to fewer than 200 passing yards.
Brees hits Alvin Kamara on 4th down for another #Saints touchdown! #PHIvsNO pic.twitter.com/WdLkRILFwK
— New Orleans Saints (@Saints) November 18, 2018
Nick Foles to throw over 274.5 yards – 2.08
This team believes in their QB and so do I. He doesn’t seem phased by these big games, quite the opposite. He’s going to have to throw it inside the Superdome and I’m backing him to. He wasn’t afraid the throw against one of the best defenses in the league last week and tallied 266 passing yards.
The Eagles are now 5-11 in postseason road games since the merger after their win against the Bears last weekend. Their first postseason road victory came against the Saints in the 1992 season.
Meanwhile New Orleans is 2-4 all-time in the Divisional Round of the playoffs, with both wins coming at home and all four losses coming on the road. They have also won their last six home playoff games.
New Orleans to win by 1-6 points – 4.60
I think this will be a tight contest. It could be high scoring, but I’m backing the home team here. I’ve spoken to former Saints players and they say that home crowd is literally like having a twelfth man inside their dome. The house will be rocking for this one and I’m tipping Sean Payton and company to nick it.
