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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 Brett Carlsen/Getty Images)
(Photo by Brett Carlsen/Getty Images) /

Darren Sproles

The former Saint has the potential to play a huge factor against his former team on Sunday, both as a runner and as a receiver. Doug Pederson has a lot of trust in Sproles, and he may get a lot of work in Sunday’s game.

Sproles has shown to be elusive when running the football and will need to use that elusiveness to break off some big runs. Pederson will also need to take advantage of mismatches with Sproles in the passing game, which can lead to some big plays.

With Sproles’ future uncertain, Sunday could be his last game. There is no doubt that the 35-year old is going to leave it all out on the field Sunday. This is his first postseason with the Eagles, and after missing last year’s Super Bowl run, there is no doubt he wants to win one just as bad as anyone else.

Avonte Maddox

The rookie out of Pittburgh has exceeded expectations in his first NFL season. Maddox had an up and down game against the Bears that showed the trials and tribulations of a rookie cornerback. In the first half he was lockdown, but in the second half, he was beaten badly on a few plays.

But, for Maddox, there has been a lot more good than there has been bad. He is going to be tasked with covering Thomas and the other New Orleans pass catchers. If the Eagles are going to slow down the Saints passing attack, Maddox will be a big reason why.

Jake Elliott

We saw last week, just how important the kicker can be in playoff games. The Eagles are in this position thanks to Cody Parkey‘s game-winning attempt being blocked and then “double-doinking” off of the left upright and then the crossbar.

One area where Elliott has excelled with the Eagles is in clutch situations. In this game, there may be a clutch kick or even a game winner, and the Eagles should feel confident that Elliott can convert on those.

Where Elliott needs to be spot on is in PATs and in earlier field goal attempts. The Eagles don’t want a missed point after or field goal to be the difference in winning this game or going home. Special teams are always important in playoff games, and that holds true in this game.

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