Are the Eagles deserving of the underdog label?

The Philadelphia Eagles still can't get any respect. The No. 1 seed in the NFC will again enter a playoff game as the underdog.

The Eagles were expected to lose at home to the sixth-seeded Atlanta Falcons last weekend. Philadelphia will again own home-field advantage in the NFC Championship Game against the Minnesota Vikings, however, the team is listed as a three-point underdog. Is the disrespect warranted?

The loss of quarterback Carson Wentz during an MVP-caliber season was expected to derail one of the best campaigns in Eagles history, yet, the team has proven the whole may be greater than the sum of its parts.

The team disappointed the week after Wentz tore his ACL, giving up 500 total yards in a narrow win over the Giants, but the defense rebounded to limit the Raiders' offense to 10 points the following week, kept a Cowboys team playing all of its starters to six points, and bent but did not break last week against the Falcons, allowing just 10 points.

Without their franchise leader, the Eagles' anchors - its offensive and defensive lines - are at the forefront.

The offensive line may not have opened craters for its running backs in the divisional round, but the unit kept backup quarterback Nick Foles upright, holding the Falcons' vaunted pass rush to one sack and four hits on their pivot.

The defensive line harassed 2016 NFL MVP Matt Ryan all game and limited the Falcons' rushing duo of Devonta Freeman and Tevin Coleman to 86 yards on the ground. Freeman was limited with ligament damage in his right knee, but the Eagles have been shutting down the run game all year, ranking first in rushing defense during the regular season.

Philly should own the advantage against the run game against Minnesota on Sunday. The Eagles will face a less heralded set of running backs in Latavius Murray and Jerick McKinnon, a duo that was held to 3.1 yards per carry by the Saints' average run defense last week.

That means the fortunes of the Vikings will likely rest on the arm of Case Keenum, a scenario many of Minnesota's opponents would prefer.

Offensively, Philadelphia is limited without its franchise quarterback. There's no disguising that fact. Foles will be up against the second-ranked pass and run defense in the NFL, but the Eagles can counter with a third-ranked running game powered by Pro Bowl guard Brandon Brooks and two All-Pros in right tackle Lane Johnson and center Jason Kelce.

Both clubs will go to battle hoping their backup quarterbacks can overcome top-tier defenses. In the NFC's championship game, the most distinct advantage may lie in home field, where the Eagles have lost just one game all year. On Sunday, Lincoln Financial Field may be as intimidating as ever.

The Eagles have embraced the underdog role and are using the slight to fuel their fire. Johnson and defensive end Chris Long wore dog masks after their divisional-round victory, and fans are being encouraged to wear similar masks to Sunday's game. And they intend to.

The underdog Eagles have a bone to pick with pundits and oddsmakers and they have every right to feel that way.