Saints vs Eagles NFL Playoffs Handicapping
The New Orleans Saints will travel to Lincoln Financial Field to open their postseason against the Philadelphia Eagles. The Saints have struggled on the road this season, while Philadelphia put together a better record away from home than in their own building during the regular year.
NFC Wildcard
New Orleans Saints (11-5) at Philadelphia Eagles (10-6)
Date: Saturday, January 4, 2014
Time: 8:10 PM ET
Venue: Lincoln Financial Field
City: Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
O/U Odds: 53.5
Spread: Philadelphia -2.5
Money Line: Philadelphia -141, New Orleans +121
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While neither side may be getting this game where they want it, it’s New Orleans who facing the more daunting task as they would need to pick up four consecutive wins away from the Louisiana Superdome if they want to claim the Lombardi Trophy.
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The Saints have been absolutely lights out at home this season, going 8-0 in their own backyard, but the team just hasn’t looked themselves when on the road. The team’s 3-5 road record include a late collapse against the Patriots, duds against the Jets and Rams, and a blowout at the hands of the Seahawks.
Conversely, Philadelphia’s unimpressive home record of 4-4 is a tale of two halves to their season. The Eagles dropped their first four home games, but it’s worth noting that Michael Vick started the first two of those games, and rookie Matt Barkley played extensively in the next two, while Nick Foles played wire to wire in the final four, all Eagles wins.
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Things really changed for Philadelphia when Foles took over. He was outstanding, posting a quarterback rating of 119.2, and an average per toss of 9.12, both placing him in elite company. His 27-to-2 touchdown-to-interception ratio is also outstanding. As good as he was, the heavy lifting was done by LeSean McCoy on the ground. McCoy led the league with 1,607 rushing yards, averaging 5.1 yards per carry in Chip Kelly’s offense. It was only fitting that the duo played major roles in the team’s division-clinching victory on the final day of the regular season. Foles completed 17 of 26 passes for 263 yards and two scores, while McCoy ran the ball 27 times for 131 with a receiving touchdown in a 24-22 win over the Cowboys.
As for the Saints, their offensive star was of course quarterback Drew Brees. While Peyton Manning got all the attention, Brees quietly threw for 5,162 yards and 39 touchdowns, both second only to Manning. His top target was tight end Jimmy Graham who battled through various ailments to rack up 1,215 yard and 16 touchdowns on 86 receptions.
The easy pick in this situation would be the Saints, who have made some of their opponents look downright silly this season, including their most recent 42-17 drubbing of the Buccaneers, but they’ve been a different team on the road this year, and the Eagles enter having won seven of their final eight regular season games.
The Saints are 0-6 ATS in their last six road games.
The play: Philadelphia -2.5
