Eagles at Rams
Dome at America’s Center
St. Louis, Mo.
Sunday, Jan. 27, 2002
AT A GLANCE: The Eagles, 3-1 in playoff games the last
two seasons, are making their first appearance in the NFC championship game since January
1981. Their only road loss this season came against the 49ers in Week 15.
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| OVERVIEW: Considering the way both teams’ defenses
are performing right now, a game similar to their previous meeting this season could be in
the offing. In Week One in St. Louis, QB Donovan McNabb rebounded from a slow start to
pull the Eagles into a 17-all tie with a pair of TD passes to FB Cecil Martin in the final
11 minutes. The Rams’ revamped defense, featuring eight new starters, stiffened in
overtime, setting up the drive leading to Jeff Wilkins’ game-winning field goal with
7:04 left in the extra period.
It was hardly a surprise that the Eagles’ defense, which had yielded the
fourth-fewest points the previous season, did a solid job holding the Rams’
high-powered offense in check, applying steady pressure on QB Kurt Warner with an array of
blitzes from all over the field.
But the Rams’ defense, which had given up a league-high 471 points the previous
season, raised eyebrows around the league while setting the stage for one of the biggest
defensive turnarounds in league history.
While the Rams’ potent offense remains their claim to fame, their defense was the
difference in wins over the Giants, Patriots and 49ers in the regular season, as well as
their playoff victory over the Packers that featured eight takeaways, including three
interceptions of Brett Favre that were returned for scores.
The Eagles have allowed just one TD in four playoff games the last two seasons and just
five TDs in nine road games this season.
When the Eagles have the ball:
McNabb was at the top of his game in the Eagles’ playoff victory over the Bears,
using his quick feet to escape tacklers, elude sacks and buy time for his receivers to get
open. |
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| Dome at America's Center |
| St. Louis, Mo. |
| Date: Sunday, January 27, 2002 |
| 3:15 P.M. Central Standard Time |
| Type Of Turf: Artificial |
| Meeting Of The Year: Second |
| Previous Meeting: |
| |
Philadelphia |
17 |
| |
St. Louis |
(-3) 20 |
| Season Record: |
| |
Philadelphia |
13-5-0 |
| |
St. Louis |
15-2-0 |
| Season Record Vs. Spread: |
| |
Philadelphia |
12-5-1 |
| |
St. Louis |
10-6-1 |
| Home/Road Record: |
| |
Philadelphia (R) |
8-1-0 |
| |
St. Louis (H) |
7-2-0 |
| Home/Road Record Vs. Spread: |
| |
Philadelphia (R) |
8-1-0 |
| |
St. Louis (H) |
6-3-0 |
| Record On Artificial Turf: |
| |
Philadelphia |
7-4-0 |
| |
St. Louis |
11-2-0 |
| Record On Artificial Turf Vs. Spread: |
| |
Philadelphia |
6-4-1 |
| |
St. Louis |
9-3-1 |
|
| The Rams’ defense must maintain the great
discipline it has shown in coverage situations this season, especially on third-down and
in the red zone, and keep McNabb from straying from the pocket. Check the status of the
Rams’ top run stuffer, DT Jeff Zgonina, who hyperextended an elbow last Sunday. The
Rams also must continue to make sure tackles and avoid taking any plays off. On numerous
occasions when the Bears appeared to have McNabb wrapped up, the Eagles’ QB slipped
away to make a big play. Twice after being sacked, he responded with clutch completions on
the next play to set up scores. In addition to probably employing a spy to help contain
McNabb, the Rams’ speedy LB corps must keep an eye out for dump-off passes to the
Eagles’ backs, particularly Duce Staley, who tied WR James Thrash for the team lead
with a career-high 63 catches.
The Rams also must make sure they pay attention to some of the Eagles’ more
unheralded weapons, such as Martin, who caught a 13-yard TD pass vs. the Bears just before
halftime, and backup TE Jeff Thomason, who made two key catches, including a career-long
30-yarder that set up a six-yard TD reception by Staley that put the Eagles ahead for
good.
When the Rams have the ball:
The Rams’ offense took a backseat to their defense in the victory over Green Bay
last Sunday, gaining fewer than 300 yards for the first time this season.
As they did against the Bears, the Eagles’ defense must take charge physically
from the opening play from scrimmage and try to force turnovers. They must steadily change
coverages and force QB Kurt Warner into quicker decisions that disrupt his rhythm.
A key factor for the Eagles will be the condition of Pro Bowl CB Troy Vincent, whose
status is uncertain after sustaining a groin injury in the first half last Sunday.
If Vincent is sidelined, the Eagles will sorely miss his superb man coverage ability
(he didn’t allow a pass to be completed against him in six games) and physical style
of play.
The Eagles’ secondary could have its hands full with the likes of Torry Holt
(wrist; check status), who made a brilliant 50-yard catch last Sunday while being
double-covered to set up Marshall Faulk’s seven-yard scoring run, and Pro Bowler
Isaac Bruce.
Bruce had only one catch for 19 yards last Sunday, but he caught passes of 20 and 27
yards on the game-winning drive in overtime in the Rams’ season-opening victory over
Philly.
The key matchup in the trenches pits Eagles DRE Hugh Douglas, who had a team-leading
9½ sacks and knocked Bears QB Jim Miller out of last Sunday’s playoff game, vs. Rams
Pro Bowl OLT Orlando Pace. Check the status of Rams ORT Ryan Tucker (ankle).
All game previews and depth charts were compiled as of Jan. 20. |
Offense |
| WR |
87 PINKSTON, 84 F. Mitchell*, 82 D. Douglas |
| OLT |
72 T. THOMAS, 67 Schau |
| OLG |
76 WELBOURN, 74 Brzezinski |
| C |
63 FRALEY, 73 Pyne |
| ORG |
71 MAYBERRY, 66 Williams |
| ORT |
69 RUNYAN |
| TE |
89 LEWIS, 83 Thomason, 88 Bartrum, 81
Stewart* |
| WR |
80 THRASH, 85 Brown, 86 Scott |
| QB |
5 McNABB, 10 Detmer, 14 Feeley* |
| RB |
22 STALEY, 28 Buckhalter*, 30 B. Mitchell |
| FB |
38 MARTIN, 34 Reader |
Defense |
| DLE |
98 WHITING, 94 Kalu, 59 Burgess* |
| DLT |
90 SIMON, 97 Walker |
| DRT |
96 GRASMANIS, 97 Walker |
| DRE |
53 H. DOUGLAS, 91 Hamiter |
| WILL |
56 CALDWELL, 55 Caver* |
| MLB |
54 TROTTER, 52 Gardner |
| SAM |
51 EMMONS, 58 Reese |
| LCB |
23 VINCENT, 41 Hampton |
| RCB |
21 TAYLOR, 31 Harris, 29 Crutchfield* |
| SS |
43 MOORE, 45 Hauck |
| FS |
20 DAWKINS, 42 Cook |
Specialists |
| P |
7 LANDETA |
| PK |
2 AKERS |
| H |
10 DETMER, 89 Lewis |
| PR |
30 B. MITCHELL, 85 Brown, 80 Thrash |
| KR |
30 B. MITCHELL, 28 Buckhalter*, 80 Thrash |
| LS |
88 BARTRUM, 89 Lewis |
* Rookie |
|
|
Offense |
| WR |
88 HOLT, 81 Hakim |
| OLT |
76 PACE, 60 Jones |
| OLG |
61 NÜTTEN, 65 Garcia, 71 Noa |
| C |
67 McCOLLUM, 65 Garcia |
| ORG |
62 TIMMERMAN, 73 Spikes |
| ORT |
50 TUCKER, 60 Jones, 70 St. Clair |
| TE |
84 CONWELL, 86 Manumaleuna*, 45 Robinson |
| WR |
80 BRUCE, 87 Proehl, 83 Murphy |
| QB |
13 WARNER, 12 Martin, 10 Bulger |
| RB |
28 FAULK, 24 Canidate, 25 Holcombe |
| FB |
42 HODGINS, 33 Watson |
Defense |
| DLE |
72 AHANOTU, 91 Little |
| DLT |
66 YOUNG, 97 Jackson |
| DRT |
90 ZGONINA, 79 Pickett* |
| DRE |
98 WISTROM, 77 Moran |
| SLB |
58 DAVIS, 51 Allen* |
| MLB |
59 FLETCHER, 56 Cohen |
| WLB |
52 POLLEY*, 55 Fields, 57 Brigance |
| LCB |
35 WILLIAMS, 23 Butler* |
| RCB |
21 McCLEON, 32 Bly |
| SS |
31 ARCHULETA*, 38 Coady, 30 Gary* |
| FS |
20 HERRING, 38 Coady, 41 Sorensen |
Specialists |
| PK |
14 WILKINS |
| P |
4 BAKER |
| H |
87 PROEHL, 4 Baker |
| KR |
83 MURPHY, 24 Canidate, 32 Bly |
| PR |
32 BLY, 83 Murphy, 81 Hakim |
| LS |
45 ROBINSON, 90 Zgonina, 65 Garcia |
* Rookie |
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