Posted January 07, 2018 at 05:30 AM | Updated January 07, 2018 at 05:30 AM
By Eliot Shorr-Parks | NJ Advance Media for NJ.com
It didn't take too long into Wild Card weekend for the Eagles to find out who they will be facing next Saturday in the divisional round of the NFL Playoffs.
The Eagles' opponent is now set after the Atlanta Falcons beat the Los Angeles Rams on Saturday night, upsetting the No. 3 seed on the road at the Los Angeles Coliseum. The Eagles and the Falcons will officially kickoff on Sat., Jan. 13 at 4:35 p.m. EST at Lincoln Financial Field.
The Eagles now have a week to prepare for their first playoff game since 2013, and for a Falcons team that was just minutes away from winning the Super Bowl in 2016.
Here is everything you need to know about the matchup:
NFL: Philadelphia Eagles at Washington Redskins
Geoff Burke | AP PHOTO
EAGLES GET THE LOW SEED
As the No. 1 seed in the NFC, the Eagles are getting the lowest possible seed they could have faced in their first playoff game. The Falcons had to clinch a playoff spot in the final week of the season, and at least offensively, are nowhere near the team they were last season.
Considering how much the Eagles have had to overcome this season -- starting with the loss of quarterback Carson Wentz -- this is one of the biggest breaks they could have gotten during Wild Card weekend.
NFL: Atlanta Falcons at Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Kim Klement | AP PHOTO
FALCONS BRING PLENTY OF PLAYOFF EXPERIENCE
The Eagles have only two players on the active roster who have won a playoff game at Lincoln Financial Field, and overall, have very limited playoff experience on the roster.
The Falcons, however, come to Philadelphia with plenty of experience in the postseason, especially on the road. The Falcons not only advanced to the Super Bowl last season, but quarterback Matt Ryan has eight games of playoff experience under his belt.
They might be a dome team heading into frigid Philadelphia, but the Falcons will likely not be intimidated at all by having to travel in the playoffs, and will be ready for the pressure the bright lights that the divisional round brings.
Matt Ryan
Butch Dill | AP PHOTO
ELITE QUARTERBACK COMING TO PHILADELPHIA
The Eagles should have their hands full with Falcons quarterback Matt Ryan, one of the top in the league at his position and the 2016 NFL MVP.
Although Ryan didn't have a huge year in 2017 -- just 20 touchdowns to 12 interceptions -- he is capable of making any throw on the field at any point of the game, and is more than capable of making the Eagles' defense pay for any mistake they might make.
All season there has been debate about whether the Eagles' secondary is better than expected or just taking advantage of playing bad quarterbacks. We will get our answer next Saturday.