Eagles-Falcons scouting report

Recent history: The Eagles defeated the Falcons, 24-17, on Oct. 26, 2008, at the Linc, 27-14, and lead the series, 15-11-1.

OFFENSE

 

Eagles: 357.1 yards per game (11th)

Falcons: 339.5 yards per game (16th)

Quarterback

 

Eagles: Donovan McNabb has completed 64 percent of his passes over the last five games. Last week, he had just seven incompletions that weren't drops or batted passes. Despite engineering two fourth-quarter comebacks the last 2 weeks, just two of McNabb's 15 touchdown passes this season have come in the fourth quarter.

Falcons: With Matt Ryan out with turf toe, career backup Chris Redman will make just his fifth start in the last 7 years. Redman has a strong, accurate arm and protects the ball pretty well. He has averaged an interception every 39 attempts in his career and didn't have any in 41 attempts last week.

PICK: EAGLES

Running back

 

Eagles: With Brian Westbrook out, the Eagles have mainly become a one-back-formation team. In the last two games, 92 of their 133 offensive plays (69.2 percent) have been out of one-back sets. Rookie LeSean McCoy has averaged 4.9 yards per carry in the last five games. Fullback Leonard Weaver also is being utilized more.

Falcons: Falcons had the league's second-most productive ground game last year, averaging 152.7 yards per game. This year, they're averaging just 118.2. Injuries have been the biggest culprit. Their 245-pound workhorse, Michael Turner, likely will miss his second game in 3 weeks with an ankle injury.

PICK: EAGLES

Receiver

 

Eagles: With DeSean Jackson not expected to play, little-used Reggie Brown (just three receptions) will replace him as the "Z'' receiver in many of the two- and three-WR sets. Slot receiver Jason Avant is on fire. He's caught 17 passes in the last three games. Of his 32 receptions, 20 have produced first downs.

Falcons: A backup QB and a defense that has had problems shutting down opposing TEs will equal a lot of passes to Tony Gonzalez. He has 61 receptions, including 17 in the last two games. Chris Redman relied on him heavily last week. At 6-4, Michael Jenkins is a matchup problem, but might be sidelined by an ankle injury.

PICK: EAGLES

Offensive line