Winning ground war is Eagles' best path to victory over Falcons

DAVE MAIALETTI / Staff Photographer Eagles linebacker Nigel Bradham (53), here celebrating a fumble return for a touchdown against Dallas in November, is one of the keys to stopping the Falcons’ rushing game. Forget Matt Ryan. Forget Nick Foles. Forget Julio Jones and Alshon Jeffery and slants and posts and 50-50 balls.

Focus on sweeps and dives and draws and counters and off-tackle runs.

Lane Johnson says Saturday’s divisional-round playoff game between the Eagles and Falcons will be won or lost not through the air but on the ground.

“What we’re going to try to do is run the ball and keep them from running the ball,’’ the Eagles’ All-Pro right tackle said. “Try to make them one-dimensional.…