FLOWERY BRANCH, Ga. — If the Atlanta Falcons’ goal ahead of Saturday’s NFC divisional playoff game against the Eagles was not to provide the opponent with any bulletin-board material, they have failed. Most peculiar about this entirely innocent failure was the manner in which it occurred.
Falcons head coach Dan Quinn and defensive coordinator Marquand Manuel clearly drilled it into the minds of their defensive players this week that Nick Foles should not be taken lightly as a starting quarterback no matter how much angst the situation has created back in Philadelphia.
“He’s an athlete now, so let’s not forget that,” Manuel said after a recent practice.