Saints-Eagles scoreless after 1st quarter

PHILADELPHIA (AP) — Two of the league's most prolific offenses started slow and the New Orleans Saints and Philadelphia Eagles were scoreless after one quarter in an NFC wild-card playoff game Saturday night.

Neither Drew Brees nor Nick Foles could generate any points as the defenses were in control early. The teams traded punts on the first four possessions before the Saints committed a turnover.

The Saints (11-5) are seeking the franchise's first playoff win in six tries on the road. The Eagles (10-6) went worst-to-first in the NFC East under rookie coach Chip Kelly.

New Orleans had the fourth-ranked offense in the regular season and averaged 25.9 points per game. The Eagles were ranked second and averaged 27.6.

Bradley Fletcher intercepted Brees on a deep pass that intended receiver Kenny Stills misread. Fletcher returned it 24 yards to the Eagles 27, and Foles took over with short passes that moved it to the Saints 23.

Then on fourth-and-1, McCoy ran 8 yards to the Saints 15 but the Eagles faced a third-and-29 going into the second quarter.

A day after a storm dumped 8 inches of snow on Philadelphia, there was hardly any trace of it at Lincoln Financial Field. Team officials estimated workers removed between two and three million pounds of snow from the stadium and surrounding parking lots. Temperature at kickoff was 25 degrees, but the cold weather didn't prevent Saints cornerback Keenan Lewis from coming out shirtless for pregame warm-ups.

New Orleans played without Pierre Thomas, the team's leading rusher and second-leading receiver. Thomas injured his chest last week.

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AP NFL website: www.pro32.ap.org