Atlanta Falcons (10-6-1) vs. Philadelphia Eagles (12-4) at Veterans Stadium, Philadelphia.
Kickoff -- 8 p.m. EST Saturday.
Coaches playoff records: Atlanta's Dan Reeves, 10-8; Philadelphia's Andy Reid, 3-2.
Falcons playoff road: Beat the Green Bay Packers, 27-7 in the wild-card round, becoming the first visiting team to win a playoff game at Lambeau Field. Michael Vick hit Shawn Jefferson with a 10-yard touchdown on Atlanta's opening possession and Artie Ulmer scored on a blocked punt return as the Falcons built a 24-0 halftime lead. Vick completed 13 of 25 passes for 117 yards, but he rushed for 64 yards on 10 carries. Atlanta rushed for 192 yards and held the Packers to 56 yards on the ground.
Eagles playoff road: First-round bye.
Atlanta offense vs. Philadelphia defense
Key Matchups: QB Michael Vick vs. 7th-ranked pass defense; RB Warrick Dunn and T.J. Duckett vs. 9th-ranked rush defense LT Bob Whitfield vs. RE Hugh Douglas.
Atlanta's less than imposing quartet of receivers -- Trevor Gaylor, Brian Finneran, Shawn Jefferson and Quinton McCord -- will struggle to get open against Philadelphia's secondary, which features Pro Bowlers Troy Vincent, Bobby Taylor and Brian Dawkins. Quarterback Michael Vick often takes off when his protection breaks down or his receivers are unable to get separation. The Eagles led the NFL with 58 sacks, but ends Hugh Douglas (12.5 sacks) and N.D. Kalu (8) may focus on containment to deter Vick from getting to the outside. The Falcons will utilize running back Warrick Dunn on screens, traps and swing passes, but the Eagles have solid cover linebackers in Carlos Emmons and Shawn Barber. Falcons Coach Dan Reeves likes to balance the finesse of Vick and Dunn by pounding 254-pound T.J. Duckett into the line.
Philadelphia offense vs. Atlanta defense
Key Matchups: QB Donovan McNabb vs. 16th-ranked pass defense; RB Duce Staley vs. 23rd-ranked run defense; WR James Thrash vs. RCB Ashley Ambrose; RT Jon Runyan vs. LE Patrick Kerney.
Donovan McNabb has not played since Nov. 17, when he broke his right ankle. Falcons defensive coordinator Wade Phillips will likely blitz McNabb, who will not be as mobile as he was before the injury. However, McNabb likely will not be rusty. He looked sharp throwing the ball in practice. A key matchup will pit Falcons left end Patrick Kerney, who led the team with 10 1/2 sacks against right tackle Jon Runyan, who has trouble with speed rushers but outweighs Kerney by 60 pounds. After wilting late in the regular season, the Falcons' run defense shut down Green Bay's Ahman Green (11 carries, 34 yards) last week and now will focus on Duce Staley. Left cornerback Ray Buchanan has been hampered by an abdominal strain and Falcons receiver Todd Pinkston has been slowed by turf toe.
