Keys for Falcons vs. Eagles

By D. Orlando Ledbetter

The Atlanta Journal-Constitution

1. Redman must be sharp: Backup quarterback Chris Redman will make his 11th career start in the NFL. Redman was splendid in relief of Matt Ryan on Sunday against Tampa Bay and delivered a game-winning touchdown pass with 23 seconds left.

Against the Eagles, Redman will have to be accurate and on time with his passes.

The Eagles cornerbacks, Sheldon Brown and Asante Samuel, are considered one of the best tandems in the league. They have combined for 11 interceptions this season, and the Eagles are tied for third in the NFL with 18 interceptions. Samuel has seven picks and Brown has four.

“Every time that Red has stepped on that field, he’s done a good job,” Falcons Pro Bowl wide receiver Roddy White said. “Two years ago, when he came in and started a few games he threw the ball well and got it in people’s hands. He’ll do a good job out there.”

2. Falcons must be ready for the blitz: The offensive line had a tough time with Tampa Bay’s front as they gave up six sacks. The Falcons had to slip back into max protection in order to keep Redman upright and alive.

The Eagles’ longtime defensive coordinator Jim Johnson passed away in July. But new coordinator Sean McDermott, in his 11th season with the Eagles, learned how to operate the attack and has stayed true to its blitzing roots.

The Eagles will send anybody -- linebackers, cornerbacks or safeties -- on seek-and-destroy blitz missions. They will try to create pressure from as many different angles as possible.

The Eagles’ defense has 14 different players with at least one sack.

Right defensive end Trent Cole leads the team with 9.5 sacks. Left end Juqua Parker is second with five.

“They are aggressive,” Falcons tight end Tony Gonzalez said. “They fly around. What really stands out is that they have a lot of high energy, especially from those defensive ends.”

3. Battle of the tight ends: Both teams are led in receptions by their starting tight ends.

Gonzalez has 61 catches for 666 yards and five touchdowns for the Falcons.

Eagles tight end Brent Celek, who signed a four-year contract extension last week, leads the Eagles with 54 catches for 601 yards and five touchdowns.

“There will be two very good tight ends [on the field],” Eagles quarterback Donovan McNabb said. “A Hall of Fame tight end and future Pro Bowler, hopefully in Brent Celek. Celek is a guy who watches Tony Gonzalez. He’s been doing it for the last 12 years, and has been very effective.”

4. Re-establishing the run game: The Falcons have not rushed for more than 100 yards over the past two games. They rushed for only 75 yards on Sunday against Tampa Bay, who entered the game ranked 32nd in the NFL.

It’s very likely to be the Jerious Norwood and Jason Snelling Show. Even if Michael Turner plays, he’s not anywhere near 100 percent. He had 12 runs for 33 yards against Tampa Bay and didn’t finish his runs with his usual zeal and power.

Snelling can handle the between-the-tackles runs, while the Falcons can try to spring Norwood around the edges. Both could be effective on screen passes to slow down the Eagles’ assortment of blitzes.

Running the ball will be key in order to keep the offense out of obvious passing situations for Redman.

The Eagles rank eighth against the rush, giving up 102.8 yards per game.

5. Find the Sack Attack: The Falcons have only two sacks over the past three games.

Defensive tackle Jonathan Babineaux, who leads the team with five, got a sack against Tampa Bay. Linebacker Stephen Nicholas recorded one against the New York Giants. The defense didn’t get a sack against Carolina.

Defensive John Abraham has not had a complete sack since the fourth game of the season after recording 16.5 last season.

The Falcons have tried to generate pressure from an assortment of blitz packages, but that has left the secondary vulnerable.

“That defensive line sets the tempo,” Philadelphia coach Andy Reid said. “Those guys, they can play. I can go right down the list. Abraham, Babineaux, the big guy in [Thomas] Johnson, and Jamaal [Anderson] is playing fast and aggressive.”

Last season against Philadelphia, middle linebacker Curtis Lofton had a sack and a forced fumble.

Three key matchups

1. Falcons LT Sam Baker vs. Eagles DE Trent Cole: Baker has been battling left elbow and left ankle injuries. He will have his hands full with Trent Cole, who has 9.5 sacks and is a terror coming off the edge. Baker, who has had some trouble this season with premier pass rushers such as Dallas’ DeMarcus Ware and New Orleans’ Will Smith, will have to anchor down against Cole.

2. Falcons SS Erik Coleman vs. Eagles TE Brent Celek: Coleman has been the primary defender in helping to slow down several tight ends this season. He can add Tampa’s Kellen Winslow to the list that includes San Francisco’s Vernon Davis, Chicago’s Greg Olsen and Dallas’ Jason Witten. Celek, the Eagles’ leading receiver, is coming of a bad game where he played with an injured thumb and dropped some passes.

3. Falcons WR Roddy White vs. Eagles CB Asante Samuel: While Tony Gonzalez is the teams’ leader in receptions, White will remain the quarterback’s top target. He had 13 passes thrown his way last Sunday and caught five, including the game-winning touchdown. The Eagles are tied for third in the NFL with 18 interceptions. Samuel has seven.

Falcons will win if . . .

1. If the Dome is rocking: The Falcons are 12-1 in the Georgia Dome under coach Mike Smith. There will be a contingent of fans to see Michael Vick, the Eagles’ third-string quarterback, who plays only a couple of plays per game. He has 15 rushes for 65 yards (4.3) per carry (although 34 came on one carry) and has completed 3 of 9 passes for 6 yards. Falcons fans will have to drown out Vick fans.

2. The secondary steps it up in coverage: Eagles coach Andy Reid has long paid lip service to the run game. He counts screens and swing passes as running plays. Donovan McNabb has completed 61.4 percent of his passes and has thrown 15 touchdowns. The Falcons’ cornerbacks need to keep things in front of them and come up and hit like the New Orleans Saints defensive backs did against New England on Monday night.

3. The new kicking operation comes through: Kicker Matt Bryant and long snapper Joe Zelenka will make their Falcons debuts. They signed to replace Jason Elam and Bryan Pittman, respectively. Elam had missed a field goal in each of the past three games and was considered a detriment to any playoff aspirations.