By Mike Golic
Special to ESPN.com
Atlanta has a three-man line and brings pressure from different areas like Pittsburgh does, and the Falcons are going to bring it quickly against Donovan McNabb. They are going to make him scramble early and test that injured ankle, and Atlanta may be able to force a turnover if McNabb is rusty or is fooled about where the pressure is coming from.
But even if he is not as mobile as usual it won't have much of a negative impact. McNabb proved after breaking his ankle in the Arizona game that he can stay in the pocket and throw the ball well, connecting on 20 of 25 throws for 255 yards and 4 touchdowns.
That was his best game of the year in terms of passing because he knew he had to move the ball through the air. He ran the traditional West Coast offense and did a great job of hitting the timing routes. McNabb has no doubt learned from that experience and from watching the success third-stringer A.J. Feeley had throwing the ball on time from the pocket.
It may take Donovan some time to shake off the rust, but he can have a good game against the Falcons.
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By Merril Hoge
Special to ESPN.com
The Falcons' 3-4 defense will pose greater problems for Donovan McNabb, who has a tough challenge anyway because he has missed eight weeks of football.
The 3-4 will give McNabb and the Eagles a much different look than what they are used to seeing from a conventional 4-3 scheme. McNabb must read and see things the same way as his linemen, his tight end and his receivers.
With four linebackers, the Falcons can always bring one of them without it being a blitz. What becomes a big problem for McNabb is when the Falcons will send a second or third linebacker. With its pressure, Atlanta should be able to create doubt and indecision in McNabb's mind about where he should throw the football, as the Falcons did against Brett Favre.
The Eagles only saw the 3-4 once this season, against the Houston Texans in Week 4, and McNabb struggled. And the Falcons are a better blitzing team than the Texans. Atlanta is precise with its blitzes and is timing them extremely well.
The Falcons also have good cover corners who can lock up receivers on the outside. If McNabb and his receivers do make the correct reads, he will still have to make great throws. It's not going to be easy pickings for McNabb. Without being in a groove or rhythm for eight weeks, McNabb faces a daunting challenge to play at an efficient level. With their blitz pressure and 3-4 scheme, the Falcons won't allow him to.
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Divisional Playoffs
