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Previewing 2019 Divisional Round matchup for Eagles against Saints

By Jake Starr

PHILADELPHIA, PA - JANUARY 04: (L-R) Drew Brees #9 of the New Orleans Saints talks with Nick Foles #9 of the Philadelphia Eagles after their NFC Wild Card Playoff game at Lincoln Financial Field on January 4, 2014 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. The New Orleans Saints defeated the Philadelphia Eagles 26 - 24. (Photo by Elsa/Getty Images)
PHILADELPHIA, PA - JANUARY 04: (L-R) Drew Brees #9 of the New Orleans Saints talks with Nick Foles #9 of the Philadelphia Eagles after their NFC Wild Card Playoff game at Lincoln Financial Field on January 4, 2014 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. The New Orleans Saints defeated the Philadelphia Eagles 26 - 24. (Photo by Elsa/Getty Images) /
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(Photo by Stacy Revere/Getty Images)
(Photo by Stacy Revere/Getty Images) /

Clean up turnovers

Usually, when you turn the ball over twice against an elite defense like the Bears, you don’t walk away from that game a winner. The Eagles were very lucky to lose the turnover battle 2-0, but still come away with a 16-15 victory last Sunday.

The Eagles did a great job of moving the ball offensively against Chicago, but two interceptions by Foles killed both of those drives. If those picks don’t happen, then the Eagles likely score around 24 points and win that game handily.

A team like the Saints will make you pay for costly turnovers. If the Eagles lose the turnover battle once again, they will not walk away from this game a winner. Foles must protect the ball at all costs. He can take risks, but must avoid any bad interceptions like the one he had in the end zone last week.

Improve the ground game

For the first time all season, the Eagles won a game in which they rushed the ball less than 25 times. It is surprising the Eagles still had decent success on offense given their struggles running the football. They averaged a putrid 1.8 yards per rush.

The ground game is going to be important on Sunday for two reasons. One, it will help the Eagles sustain long drives and keep the ball out of the hands of Brees and the Saints lethal offense. Two, it will balance out the Eagles’ offense to help put up more points because they are going to need to keep up with New Orleans.

Darren Sproles and Wendell Smallwood saw the bulk of the action last Sunday, and those two will need to be better against the Saints. That should happen since New Orleans’ run defense is not as good as Chicago’s. But getting the ground game back up to par will be a huge factor in the Eagles winning this game.

Hit on big plays

Odds are, this is going to be a game where a lot of points are going to be put up. We all know the Saints will put up points, and it is up to Foles to help the Eagles keep up. To do that, the Eagles offense is going to need to hit on some explosive plays.

Since Foles has been re-entrenched as the Eagles starter, the offense has been a lot more efficient and hit on a lot more explosive plays. That is a trend that will need to continue on Saturday if the Eagles wish to keep this game close and pull it out in the end.

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