Welcome home, Eagles. After three weeks on the road, the team plays the first of two games at Lincoln Financial Field to close out the regular season. One win clinches the No. 1 seed in the NFC playoffs, a bye week, and home-field advantage in the conference postseason. And, of course, the NFC East title – a division, by the way to remind you, that hasn't had a repeat winner since the Eagles from 2001-04. That's how crazy this division has been since then.
Anyway, we have some great storylines in this game against the 6-9 Saints, a team that has a playoff pulse – New Orleans needs to win Sunday and next week against Carolina and have Tampa Bay lose its final two games of the regular season. What to watch on Sunday? Here we go ...
1. At quarterback for the Eagles, Gardner Minshew (likely)
The Eagles listed Jalen Hurts as doubtful on Friday's injury report, so barring any final-day turnaround – and the Eagles would then adjust his game status upward so there is no deception – it's going to be Minshew for his second straight start. He played well at Dallas, completing 24 of 40 passes for 355 yards, two touchdowns and two interceptions. Minshew knew where to go with the football and his timing and accuracy were on point. The Eagles moved the football up and down the field.
Now he's had another week of reps in practice and the timing and chemistry with the rest of the offense are that much better.
"It was a real good week of practice," he said on Friday.
The Eagles are playing a Saints defense that ranks second in the NFL in pass defense and that hasn't given up more than 20 points since Week 9. New Orleans is legit. Which brings us to ...
2. A new look for the Eagles' offensive line
The hopeful news is that Lane Johnson will rest, recover, and rehab his abdominal/groin injury rather than have surgery and there is a chance he can be ready for the postseason, whenever that starts for the Eagles. In the short term, though, the Eagles are faced with the task of replacing Johnson, a Pro Bowl star, at right tackle for Sunday against a good New Orleans front that features Cam Jordan, Marcus Davenport, and the much-improved Carl Granderson, who has four quarterback sacks for the Saints. New Orleans allows 132 yards per game on the ground, but the Saints are stingy against the pass. How does the offense change, if at all, without Johnson? Who will the Eagles play at that right tackle position – Jordan Mailata, Andre Dillard, Jack Driscoll?
The Eagles have options and they have had all week to formulate a plan. But it won't be a simple plug-and-play situation. Johnson is an outstanding player – Head Coach Nick Sirianni called him the best tackle in the NFL. The Eagles have quality depth here, but Johnson is special.
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January 01, 2023 at 03:06AM
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Spadaro: 6 storylines to follow Sunday - PhiladelphiaEagles.com
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