Posted January 07, 2018 at 05:31 AM | Updated January 07, 2018 at 07:05 AM
By Matt Lombardo | NJ Advance Media for NJ.com
The Eagles' opponent in next Saturday's NFC Divisional Playoff game is set, and it will be quarterback Matt Ryan, wide receiver Julio Jones, and the Atlanta Falcons who will invade Lincoln Financial Field with a trip to the NFC Championship Game on the line.
After dispelling the Los Angeles Rams 26-13 Saturday night at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum, the Falcons will look to win their second consecutive road playoff game while the Eagles aim to advance to the franchise's first NFC Championship Game since 2009.
Here's are five reasons to be optimistic about the Eagles' chances, and three reasons to worry that Foles might not be able to do quite enough to win a playoff game:
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Dale Zanine | USA TODAY Sports
1) Matt Ryan's struggles in Philadelphia
Even though Matt Ryan attended William Penn Charter School, his returns to Philadelphia as quarterback of the Atlanta Falcons haven't exactly been happy homecomings.
In six career games at Lincoln Financial Field, Ryan owns a record of just 3-3, with 14 touchdowns and eight interceptions while completing 60 percent of his passes for an average of 258 yards per game.
Last season, Ryan was held to 18-of-33 passing for 267 yards with one touchdown and one interception in a 24-15 Eagles' victory.
2) Falcons looked very beatable against the Rams
Until the Falcons' fourth quarter scoring drive that was capped by a Julio Jones touchdown catch, the difference in the game was a pair of Matt Bryant field goals that were set up by two Rams special teams giveaways.
Yes, the Falcons defense held the high-powered Rams to 374 yards of total offense, but only 13 points. Meanwhile, Ryan, Jones, and the offense never quite appeared to be as dominant as Atlanta's offense was during last year's playoff run, which plays into the Eagles' hand with Foles at the helm and points potentially being at a premium next week.