FLOWERY BRANCH -- The sixth-seeded Atlanta Falcons (11-6) are set to play the top-seeded Philadelphia Eagles (13-3) in the divisional round of the NFC playoffs at 4:35 p.m. Saturday at Lincoln Financial Field.
The Falcons have been installed as 2.5 point favorites in Las Vegas.
But last season, on the way to the Super Bowl, the Falcons blew a fourth-quarter lead and lost to the Philadelphia Eagles 24-15 at Lincoln Financial Field on Nov. 13, 2016. It was their third blown fourth-quarter lead of the season and foreshadowed what would happen in the Super Bowl.
The Falcons were 6-3 and headed into their bye week when they were tripped up by the Eagles. The Falcons lost to Buffalo this season heading into their bye week.
Here’s the report card from the last meeting of the Falcons and the Eagles:
Just when Quinn thought he had the team on a path to greatness, it took a step backward and blew a fourth quarter lead for the third time this season when the Eagles bullied the defensive front and took their lunch money.
If the Falcons could close out games, they would be 9-1 and be talking about going after one of the top seeds for the NFC playoffs. The Falcons took a 15-13 lead in the slugfest with the Eagles, but couldn't hold it.
They also blew fourth-quarter leads against the Seahawks and the (Chargers).
Quinn was not happy with the run defense getting steam rolled and the special teams giving up 146 yards on kickoff returns, including a 52-yard return.
No game balls were awarded in the loss to the Eagles in the report card.
The players were not too happy after this one, either:
Here's what the Falcons had to say after the loss.
GAME 10: Eagles 24, Falcons 15
5 things we learned from the Falcons’ loss to the Eagles
Ryan, offense slowed down to a crawl
Perkins stalls key drive with costly penalty
Defense gets blown of the line of scrimmage
Keanu Neal can expect fine but Falcons’ biggest issue is injuries (Trufant and Tamme)
Falcons go into bye week wrong way — beat up by Eagles
What Dan Quinn had to say after the loss to the Eagles
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