2014 NFL Wild Card Weekend Review

Jan 4, 2014; Philadelphia, PA, USA; New Orleans Saints running back

(29) runs with the ball past Philadelphia Eagles outside linebacker

(98) and Eagles cornerback

(24) in the closing minutes of fourth quarter during the 2013 NFC wild card playoff football game at Lincoln Financial Field. The Saints won 26-24. Mandatory Credit: Geoff Burke-USA TODAY Sports

New Orleans Saints 26, Philadelphia Eagles 24

This was a much better game than I figured it would have been. I was wrong in my prediction of the Saints not being able to win in Philadelphia, especially in the cold weather, but Drew Brees and Co. proved that to be a myth, at least for a week.

What I did like was how the decision to switch kickers late in the season from Garrett Hartley to Shayne Graham proved to be another championship decision by head coach Sean Payton.

I believe one of the main reasons, maybe the biggest reason the Saints won is because they were able to actually establish a running game. Mark Ingram had 18 rushes for 97 yards (one TD), while three others had at least 13 yards rushing.

Also, Brees only had to throw the ball 30 times (20-of-30 for 250 yards, one TD, two interceptions).

I just believe the running game and the Rex Ryan defensive game plan against the Eagles were the biggest reasons for the win. How often does anyone ever credit the Saints’ running attack and defense for the reason they won a game?

It was a good season for the Eagles, as they were the best in one of the worst, if not the worst division in the NFL. Chip Kelly really turned things around for the Eagles, but I do find it a bit crazy his Eagles and the former Eagles coach Andy Reid both were booted from the postseason on the same day, as they both turned around really bad teams from the ’12 season.