Falcons vs. Eagles: Former Bulldog Brandon Boykin among Eagles' special teams threats

Atlanta Falcons special teams coordinator Keith Armstrong knows he's in for a test against the Philadelphia Eagles' team of kick returners, reports the Atlanta Journal-Constitution. DeSean Jackson, Damaris Johnson and former Georgia star Brandon Boykin are all capable of making plays, says the coach.

Philadelphia ranks in the middle of the league in kick returns, averaging 20.8 yards per return, and second from the bottom in punt returns, averaging 5.5 yards per return. Armstrong isn't complacent, stressing that the group is "slippery" and well capable of making the Falcons' coverage team miss. As Armstrong told the Journal-Constitution:

We know what DeSean can do. He can make plays. We have to respect him for that. Boykin has the speed to go make plays. (Damaris Johnson) is another that can go out there and make some plays. He does a nice job for them as well. Very slippery. Gets it up the field. He'll return some punts.

Boykin, a standout corner at UGA, has returned 18 kickoffs with an average of 22 yards per return and a long of 31 yards.

Atlanta is allowing a return on just over 50 percent of their punts, giving up an average of 5.8 yards per return. Punter Matt Bosher has pinned opponents inside their own 20 on 10 out of 27 punts, and is averaging 46.9 yards per punt, placing him in the middle of the league.