By Eliot Shorr-Parks | NJ Advance Media for NJ.com
All week, as he has tried to deflect blame from quarterback Nick Foles, head coach Doug Pederson has preached that football is a team game -- and everyone will have to step up this Saturday to beat the Atlanta Falcons.
Although Pederson is intentionally underselling the importance of the quarterback position, there is no denying that even if he plays his best game, Foles is going to need some help.
The Falcons present plenty of matchup problems for the Eagles, but the Eagles also have a few spots where they can really take advantage of the Falcons as well.
Here are five key matchups the Eagles must exploit and take advantage of against the Falcons:
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Bill Streicher | AP PHOTO
NELSON AGHOLOR VS. BRIAN POOLE
Since the minute the Eagles opened OTAs last summer, Nelson Agholor has been the best receiver on the team. He was in OTAs, he was in training camp and he has been during the regular season.
Agholor's dominance in the slot matches up perfectly with the Falcons' secondary, as nickel cornerback Brian Poole is the weakest of the Falcons' three starting cornerbacks. Poole was ranked 30th of 31 nickel cornerbacks by Pro Football Focus.
The Eagles need to make sure they target Agholor early-and-often against the Falcons, and Agholor needs to make sure he beats Poole up and down the field.
Fletcher Cox,Tim Jernigan,Alex Smith
Charlie Riedel | AP PHOTO
BEN GARLAND/ALEX MACK vs. FLETCHER COX
Eagles defensive tackle Fletcher Cox must have been licking his chops watching the way Los Angeles Rams defensive tackle Aaron Donald dominated the interior of the Falcons' offensive line last Saturday. Cox might not be the player Donald is, but he is close -- and he needs to dominate.
The Falcons will likely try to get the ball out of quarterback Matt Ryan's hand quickly on Saturday, but one way to prevent that is for Cox to blowup the interior line combo of center Alex Mack and guard Ben Garland consistently.
Cox is paid to be a difference maker on the defensive side of the ball. He has to be on Saturday.