Jackson Free Press

When the New Orleans Saints won their first on-the-road playoff game in franchise history against the Philadelphia Eagles, it seemed like one injury was going to take away the victory before it was sealed.

Saints cornerback Keenan Lewis sustained an injury making a tackle late in the third quarter. Lewis was one of New Orleans' biggest signings this offseason. The Saints signed him as a free agent from the Pittsburgh Steelers, and he has been the team's No. 1 cornerback all season, which means he is typically matched up against the other team's best receiver.

Lewis displayed his coverage ability against the Eagles' big play-receiving threat, DeSean Jackson.

Before the Eagles knocked Lewis out of the game, he held Jackson without a catch. Afterward, Philadelphia quarterback Nick Foles went about attacking his replacement. In the Eagles' first play after Lewis' injury, Jackson caught a 40-yard pass.

Lewis being able to cover Jackson one-on-one allowed the rest of the Saints' defense to concentrate on stopping LeSean McCoy, who leads the NFL in rushing, as well as put pressure on Foles. Philadelphia was able to turn a 20-7 deficit into a 24-23 lead before the Saints went on a game-clinching drive capped by Shayne Graham's winning field goal.

New Orleans will need Lewis against their next round opponent, the Seattle Seahawks. Lewis should be able to help the Saints take away either Golden Tate or Doug Baldwin, the two top receivers for Seattle.

Rob Ryan's defense would then be able to focus on containing Seahawks quarterback Russell Wilson and on stopping running back Marshawn Lynch. In the last playoff meeting between these two teams, it was Lynch's running ability that ultimately cost New Orleans that game.

This season, Lewis helped turn around a defense that last year was one of the worst in NFL history. Lewis has 47 tackles, including 39 solo tackles, to go along with one forced fumble, four interceptions, 11 passes defended and one tackle for a loss.

Injuries on defense have already hit the Saints hard. New Orleans cornerbacks Jabari Greer and Patrick Robinson are already gone for the season, and so is rookie safety Kenny Vaccaro.

New Orleans just placed linebacker Parys Haralson on injured reserve after he suffered a season-ending torn pectoral muscle in the game against the Eagles.

Winning in Seattle is a tough task for any team in the NFL. That task could become nearly impossible if Lewis is unable to play this Saturday. We have to wait and see; various media reports, including ESPN and NBC's Pro Football Talk, quoted Lewis saying he was playing against the Seahawks.

New Orleans will face the Seahawks at 3:30 p.m. Saturday on Fox.