What a defensive showdown so far. As the game continues to barrel ahead like Brandon Jacobs with momentum, let’s look at the keys for Atlanta.

Let Matt Ryan call the plays no-huddle. When coach Mike Smith starts micromanaging the game, bad things happen; just ask Atlanta fans about that 4th down call against New Orleans. Matty Ice is at his best when he’s using his natural instincts, so let him use them.

Can the pass rush get to Eli Manning? Eli isn’t the most fleet-of-foot, but he has somehow found a way to make passes even with defenders clawing all over his jersey. It’s not enough to just hit him; John Abraham and crew need to sack him to prevent those miracle catches like my Patriots had to suffer in the Super Bowl. You don’t want Eli’s stupid face to torment you for the rest of the offseason.

No Playoff jitters for Julio Jones. This is why Atlanta traded a lot of picks to acquire him. It wasn’t necessarily for the NFC South title, because that will always be a toss-up in a division with the Saints. It was to finally give Matt Ryan the type of weapons he needed to get his first playoff victory. The rookie has been inconsistent throughout the season, but he cannot disappear today.